carburetion · FF-0174

How can you tell by hand that a Flathead's carburetors are too lean?

With the engine running, Ed chokes a carburetor just a little with his fingers. The engine speeds up, which tells him the mixture is too lean, so the jets should be changed to maybe three or four numbers higher. He points out that all he did was close off the air a little, and calls it a hot rodder's trick.

Expert

Ed Smith

Evidence

expert attributed

Component

carburetor jetting

Applicable scope

1953 Ford Flathead V8 with three two-barrel carburetors; general carburetor tuning check