Intake manifold and underside of Carb

[MohaveChuck]

I wanted to send these pics in a private message to Racerden but couldn't figure out how to post in private message.

So It is open to comments from you all also.

I pulled my 750cfm carb off and wanted opinions on the "varnish" in the intake and underside of carb.

The carb was flooding the last few trips and it looks like one side of the carb had a lot more varnish then the other side. So I am guessing that was the problem side.

So what do you think, normal?

Can I leave the intake alone or try to clean what I can without taking in off?

Chuck

 

[3queens]

rebuild carb
remove intake and clean not worth the problems you could have on your boat
run it
change spark plugs....cause they guna get dirty from all that varnish
.my .02

 

[CampbellCarl]

Looks more like your boat has fiberglass tanks that have begun the 'delam' process thanks to the ethenol that is now in our fuel.

 

[rivermobster]

What did the fuel in the carb look like? Pump some into a glass and post the pic...

Carl may be on to something for sure.

 

[racerden]

Hi Chuck,
I agree with Carl. Judging by the looks and your random flood concern, looks like the tanks are breaking down a bit. No need to worry quite yet, get re-aquainted with your fuel filter now 3-4 times per season. A good practice would be to pick up one of the 5"x1.5" in-line aluminum filters Summit sells and install it in front of your regular filter for a while. They are not expensive, are cleanable, will catch the big chunks and will give you a good idea whats going on if indeed the fibreglass tanks are 'aging'. If you do choose this direction, be sure to use this in a play application, don't race or do any extended WFO's with the two filters in use. (I use this secondary filter deal whenever my tanks are pulled for repairs/polishing etc. Works very good until everythings clean again then I remove it)
Denny

 

[ace one]

Hey when you are done with the carb rebuild get yourself a couple of cans of Quicksilver Power Tune internal engine cleaner (Quicksilver part #92-858080Q03) it is a spray that you can just spray down the carb while it is running and it will clean the internal parts of you engine and remove carbon and other debris out of the intake manifold, deposits off of the valves, pistons and free up any sticky rings, it works great, spray it and then let it sit in the motor for a while, restart and maybe spray a bit more and run long enough to burn it completely out and then change your spark plugs and engine oil, filter etc.....good luck with your issues! :thumbup:

 

[MohaveChuck]

Thanks everyone.

I thought I was avoiding the ethanol fuel because the boat was in Parker for most of its life then I bought it about 9 years ago and only fuel it in Mohave or Parker.

Chuck

 

[CampbellCarl]

I worry that the 'sludge' can (and does) end up on valve stems causing them to stick open (or not close easily) thereby causing major engine damage.

I haven't run my Howard cruiser because of this. I won't run it until I can install aluminum or SS tanks as replacemements.

 

[ace one]

I worry that the 'sludge' can (and does) end up on valve stems causing them to stick open (or not close easily) thereby causing major engine damage.

I haven't run my Howard cruiser because of this. I won't run it until I can install aluminum or SS tanks as replacemements.

you should try the Quicksilver Power Tune product, I just took a engine apart to rebuild and basically freshin up and we ran the power tune through it just before and the valves and tops of the pistons and head chambers were all clean and this was a Mercruiser Black Scorpion with 1200 hours on it.

 

[Outdrive1]

you should try the Quicksilver Power Tune product, I just took a engine apart to rebuild and basically freshin up and we ran the power tune through it just before and the valves and tops of the pistons and head chambers were all clean and this was a Mercruiser Black Scorpion with 1200 hours on it.

Power tune is the shit! :thumbup:

 

[MohaveChuck]

Carl,
Please let me know where you get your tanks.

It has moved up to top of list.

Chuck

 

[CampbellCarl]

I've already bought some old GN race boat tanks 25 gallons each, thinking that I would abandon the glass belly tanks, drain them and fill them with foam. Then add the GN tanks as saddle (gunnel) tanks as I have lots of room between the interior upholstery and the fiberglass side of the boat.

Lots of possiblities, Tank-It in Havasu has a good reputation as well as Imco in (San Dimas I think).

Where are your tanks now? Belly (under floor) or side saddle (gunnel) tanks?

 

[MohaveChuck]

Side tanks.

I'm going to keep my eye out for something used that will work.

I know the new ones can be expensive.

Chuck

 

[CampbellCarl]

You might send a PM to Mouzer over on the PB forums. He recently picked up some new gunnel tanks from a defunct boat builder.

 

[spotondl]

My Howard needs tanks too. They are the belly type & have deteriorated to the point that they are leaking raw fuel into the bilge at the rear corner. Someone cut the fiberglass tank tops & inserted aluminum tanks inside the glass tanks once I believe & thought that may be the route I have to take as well. Other solutions?


Spot

 

[Outdrive1]

My Howard needs tanks too. They are the belly type & have deteriorated to the point that they are leaking raw fuel into the bilge at the rear corner. Someone cut the fiberglass tank tops & inserted aluminum tanks inside the glass tanks once I believe & thought that may be the route I have to take as well. Other solutions?


Spot

Maybe Marko will chime in, I think he did that on his Howard.

 

[Marko]

Yep...glass tanks in the floor went bad. had a buddy build these and put these reliefs in em so I could use the original side panels with drink holders and speakers. 22 gal.s each.
You should check your fuel filter, it might have a bunch of pieces of gel from the tanks and will clog it up in no time . Good luck, hope thats not the problem.

 

[spotondl]

Yep...glass tanks in the floor went bad. had a buddy build these and put these reliefs in em so I could use the original side panels with drink holders and speakers. 22 gal.s each.
You should check your fuel filter, it might have a bunch of pieces of gel from the tanks and will clog it up in no time . Good luck, hope thats not the problem.

My Howard is apart right now so now is the time to do this tank work. Is your new tank setup modified so it's both belly and gunnel?

Somewhere I read that someone cut the top off the old glass tanks & bedded aluminum tanks in the old tank recess with foam of some sort. Is that what you did?

Also, if you don't mind, what was your ballpark cost for you new tank setup?


Spot

 

[Marko]

I didn't put any tanks in the floor , I didn't want to pull all the carpet and cut the floors up. I talked with Gene at Howard boats and he said they just put side tanks in all of the ones they do. Imco has the measurements for em all ready to go. I bought the material and my buddy made mine for free but I hear Imco gets about $1600.00 for both tanks. :eek I capped off the old fill holes and put pipe plugs in the pick ups. I didnt fill em with foam cause if water somehow got into the old tank I didn't want the foam to soak it up, eventually it would get heavy. If you dont have any drink holders or speakers in your side panels it will be pretty easy, it took us a little bit to figure out where all the cutouts had to be to miss everything. I didn't put any vents in mine cause it had vented filler caps and they seem to work fine. We did put 3/8" dip tubes for the pick ups ( CG approved) and put sending units in each tank with a switch under the dash to toggle between tanks. So far so good! :thumbup:

By the way, I've heard a lot of good things about "Tank it" in Havasu, and he is really reasonable.

 

[530RL]

We make all our aluminum fuel tanks for our sand cars due to each car has different space depending upon engine, transaxle, and accessories. We just make them out of cardboard and they weld them up in aluminum. I have to believe one could do the same for a boat. Lot's of fabricators out there who can do this if you give them a cardboard mock up.

 

[Marko]

Yep, thats what we did, used cardboard to make the panels. Luckily knew someone who could shear them to size and had a break to bend them so he only had to weld 2 long seams on each tank.