Red choke lever and leaky carb area with photos.

[DynaBro]

Issue #1: The little red plastic lever seems to be sticking, or not working the choke system correctly. It's supposed to close the carb flap so idle is lower and correct, but fails to do so when the car is cold. I have to really mess with the pedal for a while to get it to start doing what it is supposed to do and allow the idle settings to take over.

Issue 2: Fluid collecting under intake manifold. Constant smell of fuel. But brown.

Any thoughts?

 

[kiwigtx]

I think you have had a massive back-fire or two in the recent past ....the turkey pan is likely split - leading to pressure inside the engine forcing oil out the split.

The smell of fuel is likely also from an over-rich condition and/or fuel leaking by the fuel pump and into the engine oil.
Possibly even just leaking fuel down the carb while running.

It would be worth removing the carb and intake to inspect and re-assemble if necessary.

 

[DynaBro]

****.

 

[kiwigtx]

****.

Hopefully not....you should just find oil residue and dirt mixed in.

You could try getting a clean rag and push it under the intake carefully with a wire coat hanger.
If the rag snags, you'll know the turkey pan is damaged. That would be a good way to inspect the oily mess on the rag also.

 

[davek]

pull the carb and clean it. Not a big deal you can do it.

 

[DynaBro]

pull the carb and clean it. Not a big deal you can do it.

It’s super clean though. At least outside. Figured the choke issue could just be one spring or thereabouts. The rest…. Well best get to it

 

[DynaBro]

I'm ordering the gasket kit and hoping it's just leakage and not a cracked pan. Read a lot of posts about the things leaking and not too many about the pan being damaged. Maybe I'll get lucky.

 

[RemCharger]

Wouldn't hurt to give it a quick clean up and re-do..

 

[DynaBro]

Wouldn't hurt to give it a quick clean up and re-do..View attachment 1751981

Assumed I would have to.

 

[Jonas Nordstrom]

That Red lever returns your idle to normal when the choke has been heated up, it does so by falling down.
There is another small metal lever coming from inside the choke house that keeps that red lever from falling down until choke is heated up.

So, check the spring etc inside the choke house and clean it up.

If the red lever would be sticking at the up position you would never be able to return to normal idle. (In the pic it is in the down position)

 

[kiwigtx]

I'm ordering the gasket kit and hoping it's just leakage and not a cracked pan. Read a lot of posts about the things leaking and not too many about the pan being damaged. Maybe I'll get lucky.

I only mentioned the turkey pan could be split because it happened to me a long time ago. A 440 builds up a lot of pressure when running hard, and a backfire can be more than enough to rupture a pan. I had a split about 4-inches long right in the middle from such a backfire.

That's a lot of oil for a weep or minor leak, so it's worth the trouble to check the source and clean the mess.

 

[DynaBro]

If the red lever would be sticking at the up position you would never be able to return to normal idle. (In the pic it is in the down position)

I put it there to lower the rev. When the car starts it sticks in up up position. I'll open it up and inspect the springs thanks.

That's a lot of oil for a weep or minor leak, so it's worth the trouble to check the source and clean the mess.

I think the gasket kit includes the pan? The pan IS the gasket? Amazon.com

 

[RemCharger]

The pan is the gasket.

 

[DynaBro]

Unreal. I take manifold bolts were BARELY finger tight. Carb mounting bolts were also just shy of loose. Turkey pan was fine, but replacing anyway. I’m just shocked. Haven’t dove into the weepy carb yet.

Any tips for keeping the old RTV and flaking paint out of the motor while I clean it off? Thinking of cutting a piece of cardboard and seating it in there while I work to catch it.

 

[DynaBro]

Question: the strip pieces that hold the turkey pan down on either end have one side that's a 90 degree bend and one side that's sort of a blade. Which faces inside?