- Reaction score
- 14
- Thunderbird Year
- 1957
A few days ago I started my D code 312 1957 Thunderbird and it ran very poorly. I backed it out of the garage and it stalled. It would not restart so I decided it was flooded and held the accelerator pedal to the floor to start it. It did start but again ran very poorly, then I smelled raw gas. I turned her off and checked under the hood and to my horror found the engine covered with gas and drips and small puddles of gas under the car! I mopped up all the gas I could get to and went right into the house and ordered a Halon fire extinguisher for the car. I probably came as close as I ever want to come to having a car fire.
The carburetor was wet with gas around the rear float section. I was able to tighten all 8 screws (front and back float sections) between 1/2 and 1 1/2 turns without over tightening them. On restart and about 15 miles of driving the car ran great and there were no further leaks. Here's my question. I had never before tried starting the car with the pedal floored. Is there any reason that could have caused the fuel leak problem or was it the loose carburetor screws? BTW, this is a professionally rebuilt carburetor that i put on the car about a year ago.
Thanks, Vern
The carburetor was wet with gas around the rear float section. I was able to tighten all 8 screws (front and back float sections) between 1/2 and 1 1/2 turns without over tightening them. On restart and about 15 miles of driving the car ran great and there were no further leaks. Here's my question. I had never before tried starting the car with the pedal floored. Is there any reason that could have caused the fuel leak problem or was it the loose carburetor screws? BTW, this is a professionally rebuilt carburetor that i put on the car about a year ago.
Thanks, Vern
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