Hello all, new to the forum and looing forward to participating.
I am primarily a motorcycle guy, but got involved in a customer's hot rod project after a previous mechanic abandoned the project. after months of work wiring, plumbing, interior and exterior finishing, got to the point to start the motor. It strted, ran, then I heard a bad noise... clicking in the cylinders. The previous mechanic left what looks like a small washer in the blower. I pulled off the top end, and found pieces in cylinders 3 and 2. Made the necessary repairs, inspections and re-assembled the top end. While I had the engine apart I checked over the "rebuilt" carburetors and found that the previous mechanic had left them way out of ajustment, 3 floats high one low, Idle air screws all unbalanced, etc. Adjusted everything on them to give me a starting reference setting according to Holley instructions (more on that later).
Now, on starting, the motor will run for about 5-10 seconds, then shut down. Generally, it will restart immediately, occaisionally blows back, then stops again 5-10 seconds later. This is bad, but just as an experiment, I have started it and as it dies, hit the strter again, and it will continue to run for another 5-10 seconds.
I have read that the blower requires more fuel from the carbs, but these seem to be out of the box Holleys, standard size fuel valves, jets, pumpers, etc. no mods to the primary and secondary butterflies. I'm getting 6 psi at the fuel regulator. All of which would lead you to believe that the engine is starving for fuel, but the carbs seem to be overly wet, and the plugs carbonized.
Any suggestions, further questions, anything to help me move in the right direction would be greatly appreciated. Experts help for a newby on this setup, please!!!