454 fuel leakdown, add Holley red or new carb?
 

So I have the ol' fuel leak down problem on my mid 90's 454. The choke spring is tired as well.

I don't really want to drop $600 on a new carb so I was wondering if just adding a Holley red pump would do the trick.

Thanks

I'd rebuild the carb and fix the problem.

x2

Ar you running a mechinical fuel pump, If so the check valve in the pump could be bad

the qj,s from that era were famous for the fuel bowls leaking down.i rebuilt the ones from my 1990 sea ray last year.they have small welsh plugs that seal a drilled passage and after enough hot and cold cycles they leak.the cure is a little epoxy around the plugs.i charge 100 bucks plus parts to rebuild them,pretty easy job.edit in,i get my carb parts from allstate carb&fuel injection.

I need to rebuild my carbs on my cruiser. Could this be the excessive turn over before starting, sluggish performance till it has been run out for a bit, foul a plug once in a while and poor idle?

Yep forgot OP probably had a QJ carb

yes,and the choke pull off should also be replaced.

Mike is correct in post 5 also wise to weigh your floats to make sure they are not internally holding fuel and or weighted plus the correct level adjustment is always important.

Just adding info, it is always wise for needle & seat replacement x amount years anyways plus if your carb app has a accelerator pump that 4 surely needs replacing plus very free movement in its chamber. Todays fuel can stick them and or shrink and or tear them. up. Very common especially today.

They guy with hard starts can also be from a bad and or sticking accelerator pump.

Do a google search for Cliff Ruggles - http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/services.html

He offers a first rate Q-jet rebuilding service, and he also sells kits that have the neoprene seats and floats that are resistant to the ethanol that is finding its way into marine fuel these days. As mentioned above, Q-jets are prone to leaking from the plugs in the fuel bowls. There are several of them. Epoxy will help for a while, but it will eventually degrade and start leaking again. The best permanent fix is to drill and tap them, and then put in some threaded plugs with a high quality epoxy on the threads. It is easier than it sounds.