VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Carb overflowing fuel

I am new to this forum as well as new to 32 Chevy's. I have taken on a project for my older brother that was started and then put in storage 30 years ago. It is a 32 Sedan Deluxe that had a professional frame off restoration started but it was never put back together. Thats where I come in, I have done several other Chevy's(4 Camaro's) but this vintage car is all new to me. I have worked through several issues but when I went to start the car this weekend I have gas pouring out of the carb in what seems like every opening possible. The car has all new lines and the tank was removed and sealed. I pulled the fuel pump and the carb to make sure there was no dirt in the system. I assume I will need to get a card kit and do a rebuild even though it was a fresh rebuild 30 years ago. I am a little confused becouse when I pulled the top off the carb I thought I would find the float stuck and the bowl full of fuel but it was empty. Can anyone help?Thanks

Welcome to the Forum Steveo.

There is a lot of very experienced people here to help where
we can.

My thoughts, the 1932 carb is the first of the W-1 downdraft
carbs. It has a die cast alloy top on the fuel bowl which can distort with age and not fit properly.
I also would say since your bowl is Dry that the needle and seat may be fully blocked and you will have to check that area
on the fuel supply to the bowl.

You may also want to check with "The Filling Station" lebanon OR. for a gasket or rebuilt kit.

Definitely check the needle and seat for the flooding problem. If the needle isn't seating correctly the carb. will flood. Also check the float to make sure it is not full of liquid. Another place to look would be the fuel pump pressure. If it is excessive it will blow the needle off of the seat and flood out the carburetor.

I suspect that you have a Carter W-1 carburetor and someone did not put the copper or brass gaskets under the screws in the carburetor. Without them the screws will not seat and each will leak gas. If the big headed one leaks it will drain the float bowl. Same for the small one near it.

I would have though that the JYD would have suggested the lack of gaskets. Must be he was sampling some Rocky Mountain Spring Water.

Those gaskets are in the better carb kits. Or you can send the carb to one of the experienced rebuilders and they will make sure that all is right before sending it back.

I didn't suggest the gaskets Chippy Dippy because I thought that maybe you rebuilt the carburetor and I figured that you knew better than to leave them out.

Good try. You should know that neither of us rebuilt it since it was not a first class job. Besides it was 30 years ago and I was only rebuilding carburetors for myself and a few good friends back then. Did you do them from your crib?

It was a chore to figure out how to get a genuine early '32 Carter W-1 (212S or 222S) to run right and get over 10 mpg. Then there is the 235S or 222SA that gets ~50% better mileage.

Yep...I did them from my crib when I was just a puppy...but at that time only the 1929-31 updrafts.

On the early 212-S and the 222-S, dudes that drive their cars are better off replacing that primitive carburetor with a 569-S.

You are correct about the mileage as I did just that with my 32 and instead of getting 10-12 mpg I am getting 18+ and it performs a lot better in my opinion.

Well I got the old girl running after about 45 years. My brother was there when I fired it up and it was worth all the work so far just to see his smile. I am ashamaed to tell you what all I found wrong with the carb, I'll just mention a few things link missing plugs and jets installed in the wrong locations just to name a few. I have a carb kit ordered but I may go ahead and send it out to one of you Pro'S. It does have a mid range miss and is running very rich, lots of black in the tail pipe and on the plugs. Does any one have any suggestions?
Thanks again, I'm sure I'll be asking alot of questions.

Glad you got the old girl running even if not perfectly. It is truly an exilerating experience.
With out knowing which body and jets, metering rods are installed it is hard to diagnose the carburetor. There are so many combinations that it could have a hodgepodge of parts installed. If they are not all correct for the application then obtaining the correct fuel/air ratio is not likely.

Over the years we have seen a lot of carburetors that were "rebuilt" previously with the wrong jets or the wrong metering rod, or just the wrong parts in general. The theory by some of the rebuilders that "if it will screw in it will work" is not true.

I currently have two that despite having the correct parts still don't run right. Fortunately they are my carbs so I can take my time to find out the problem.

A common problem with inexperienced rebuilders is to not get the nozzle properly installed. I have received several with that problem (and am sure Skipper has too).