The Ford Barn

Smitty · 04-20-2023, 09:30 PM

Hi All,
Anyone have experience with Holley 1904 carb? Tried one on my H-226 flat 6, ran incredible then flooded out.

Thanks, Steve

1952henry · 04-21-2023, 09:03 AM

Check needle valve. The original steel needle was probably replaced with a rubber-tipped needle at some point.

Smitty · 04-22-2023, 06:00 AM

I found the gasket that came with this NOS unit did not fit correctly and allowed a slight vacuum leak. I made a new correct size gasket and problem solved. My only issue now id no place to connect distributor vacuum line.
Runs great now.

scicala · 04-22-2023, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smitty

I found the gasket that came with this NOS unit did not fit correctly and allowed a slight vacuum leak. I made a new correct size gasket and problem solved. My only issue now id no place to connect distributor vacuum line.
Runs great now.

I don't understand how it ran great for while then flooded out, and a vacuum leak was the cause ?
Also, a 1904 Holley for a Ford 6 cyl. should have a vacuum port for the loadomatic distributor about halfway up the carb,

Sal

1952henry · 04-22-2023, 03:30 PM

International Harvesters used the 1904 as well, but can’t recall if they had the vacuum port as Sal mentioned. If your 1904 is from a Ford, it should have a Ford list #.

38 coupe · 04-23-2023, 03:33 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I run a 1904 on the 215 six in my 53 sedan since that is what the factory installed and it clears the hood. It works decently, but is not a better design carburetor than the Holley 847 in my opinion.
As 1952henry stated he Ford installed 1904 carburetors have a vacuum port with the correct signal for the stock vacuum only distributor.

Smitty · 04-25-2023, 07:54 AM

I have had numerous Holley 847 carbs on my H-226 with no luck. All of mine tend to sweat gas and stumble badly on acceleration. Need to bring rpm up to drive away. Accelerator pump drizzles gas, not a spray like on the 1904. I have had several with a couple having been rebuilt. Cannot make any of them work well...

RalphG · 04-25-2023, 09:06 AM

I have the 1904 on 3 different International sixes. One of them runs ok but no matter what I try on the others I can't get them to idle or run smooth under a thousand or more rpm. At full throttle they pull like crazy but take my foot off the gas and they want to die. They have a vacum port somewhere up on the side of the carb that goes to the distributor advance.

Smitty · 04-25-2023, 08:27 PM

Interesting..my 1904 is a new old stock. Runs great at all rpm. Perhaps there is a difference in samples..

Zax40 · 04-26-2023, 08:26 AM

It can be tough to find a 1904 in useable shape these days. The front bowl screws are often stripped out from over tightening. The throttle shaft opening can have wear that leads to vacuum leaks. I had to buy a couple used ones for my 53 Customline w/215 before I found one that was in good enough shape to rebuild and be useable.

04-20-2023, 09:30 PM	#1
Smitty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston North Shore Posts: 752	Holley 1904 Carburetor Hi All, Anyone have experience with Holley 1904 carb? Tried one on my H-226 flat 6, ran incredible then flooded out. Thanks, Steve

04-21-2023, 09:03 AM	#2
1952henry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,621	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor Check needle valve. The original steel needle was probably replaced with a rubber-tipped needle at some point. __________________ I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

04-22-2023, 06:00 AM	#3
Smitty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston North Shore Posts: 752	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor I found the gasket that came with this NOS unit did not fit correctly and allowed a slight vacuum leak. I made a new correct size gasket and problem solved. My only issue now id no place to connect distributor vacuum line. Runs great now.

04-22-2023, 03:30 PM	#5
1952henry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,621	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor International Harvesters used the 1904 as well, but can’t recall if they had the vacuum port as Sal mentioned. If your 1904 is from a Ford, it should have a Ford list #. __________________ I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

04-23-2023, 03:33 PM	#6
38 coupe Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 1,634	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I run a 1904 on the 215 six in my 53 sedan since that is what the factory installed and it clears the hood. It works decently, but is not a better design carburetor than the Holley 847 in my opinion. As 1952henry stated he Ford installed 1904 carburetors have a vacuum port with the correct signal for the stock vacuum only distributor.

04-25-2023, 07:54 AM	#7
Smitty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston North Shore Posts: 752	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor I have had numerous Holley 847 carbs on my H-226 with no luck. All of mine tend to sweat gas and stumble badly on acceleration. Need to bring rpm up to drive away. Accelerator pump drizzles gas, not a spray like on the 1904. I have had several with a couple having been rebuilt. Cannot make any of them work well...

04-25-2023, 09:06 AM	#8
RalphG Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Sask. Canada Posts: 2,424	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor I have the 1904 on 3 different International sixes. One of them runs ok but no matter what I try on the others I can't get them to idle or run smooth under a thousand or more rpm. At full throttle they pull like crazy but take my foot off the gas and they want to die. They have a vacum port somewhere up on the side of the carb that goes to the distributor advance. __________________ https://www.youtube.com/user/roosty6/videos

04-25-2023, 08:27 PM	#9
Smitty Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Boston North Shore Posts: 752	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor Interesting..my 1904 is a new old stock. Runs great at all rpm. Perhaps there is a difference in samples..

04-26-2023, 08:26 AM	#10
Zax40 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 305	Re: Holley 1904 Carburetor It can be tough to find a 1904 in useable shape these days. The front bowl screws are often stripped out from over tightening. The throttle shaft opening can have wear that leads to vacuum leaks. I had to buy a couple used ones for my 53 Customline w/215 before I found one that was in good enough shape to rebuild and be useable.