Holley carb issues

The carb on my 5.8 acts up occasionally. Runs like a dream and the next time you start it it is flooding out and won't idle below 2000 rpm. When I remove the spark arrestor to see what is going on the fuel is dumping out the jets and the fuel bowl vent like a waterfall.
The carb is brand new, not rebuilt or reconditioned.
Motor pulls through the rpm band with lots of power and when you come to a stop it may be idling like a fine swiss watch.
Anyone got any experience with this or ideas to try and cure.

Sounds like a stuck/sticky float.

dsums, jim hit the nail on the head,contamination is the root of all evil on a Holley,an in line filter is one way but a water seperator/fuel filter serves 2 jobs as the nane implies.Boat US or even Wally World has it and replacement filters.About 25.00 and a place to install it,your Holley will love you.           boat dr

Thanks for your help. I have an in-line filter and it looks clean. After going back on Holley's website it would appear they recommended the wrong carb to me in Aug. They told me to get the 600 cfm P/N 0-80457S. When I purchased this I thought it should have had the vents turned down into the bowl and it didn't. After going back online it shows P/N 0-80319-1, designed for small block Ford marine engines. I sent an e-mail to them but probably just have to buy the other one and take the hit. Should have paid more attention to my instincts but the water was calling and for the most part it ran great. Did use a lot of fuel though. Stay tuned.

Boat dr, that filter has been on my boat for about 10 years, never leaked. Also, there is a water separator up stream from it, my real filter. I really only use it for visual check for fuel flow.

boat dr, you only need metal lines for fuel injection, carbs don't carry the pressure that EFI does. I have that same filter on my 79 F-250 with a built 460 and a high volume fuel pump.

You can also get this same filter with flared ends for steel line, I believe.

87BFN, my question to you is it worth an engine fire,and the problems caused by a little fire in a boat? Second question,did your boat come with a steel line from fuel pump to the carb,i think the answer is yes.USCG and the BIA has certain guidelines that must be adhered to by all boat makers. these include fuel storage,fuel pumps and carburators. There is also rules that apply to all electrical devices,alternators,starters,swithes and wiring........this is mandated to the boat builder by USCG and BIA.........

But the owner can do anything he wants,87 that means if you can do it ,do it.....BOOM

Early 70's I suspect.

Tim:

I strongly recommend that you scrap the rubber line and filter between the pump and carb and go with steel. To me, a no brainer safety issue regardless of the pressure the mechanical pump puts out.

I believe that the early style marine mechanical fuel pumps with the gla$$ bowl are not what they seem. The gla$$ bowl is not a sediment bowl, but more of a trap to catch any fuel that leaked out of the vent hole due to a ruptured diaphram. The bowl is gla$$ so you could see that you had a problem with the pump and need to make repairs. The modern pumps use a clear vinyl hose that is routed tothe spark arresor. Any leaking fuel is then burned by the engine and not dumped into the build. The hose is clear so you could see that you had a problem and need to make repairs.Could be wrong on gla$$ bowl thing, not 100% sure.