It sounds like you are having a fuel pressure problem with both your motors. I also had the same problem this year and converted back to mechanical fuel pumps that mercury uses on the HP500's. Electric feul pumps have a tendency to push fuel opposed to pulling fuel from the tank like we all think. Install mechanical guages at your carborators and watch your fuel pressures at various speeds, and you usually will see a fluctuation in your pressure. Keith Eckert and Bobby Saccenti helped me solve my problem with my Apache. Please feel free to call me. Little Tommy 1-414-349-8567

the model number is 4150 Hp series. The numbers stamped to the right of those is 80558 and below that is 1689. Is there any other way to tell if I have the blow out proof power valves? I've got pressure gauges on the carbs right at the carbs.

I bought my Holley HP 830 carbs in January of 2001 and they DID have the blow out power valve protection which I was happy about because mine had backfired a few times.

I found the paperwork....I bought them in early 1999....Glenn

Just had a conversation with the guy that put my motors together....he said I should have a minimum of 8.5 power valve with the cams he put in them....he said they might even need a 10.5. I just checked the existing valves in the carbs and they are only 6.5 dunno if thats gonna do the fix or not

You must be running very high vac. at idle. The power valve should be about 1 1/2 to 2 less than your manifold vacuum at idle now.

I think he's going in the wrong direction but, I learn somthing new every day.:-)

Ask him what the vacuum gage reads.

Bob

I'll find out tomorrow. Picked up a vacuum gauge, am putting distributors back in with new composite gears, and carbs back on with jets squared at 86 and 8.5 power valves. Will be checking vacuum thru manifold .....not carb pull off tube. I'm just hoping to solve the problem of the puddling of fuel in the manifolds...I'm sure everything else will fall together if I can at least accomplish that. Thanks for the figure on the recommended numerical relationship of power valve number to Hg....this should be interesting. At least the weather is gonna hold up...(Lake St Clair...Michigan)

Hey Little Tommy...thanks for the offer of assistance. I did'nt wanna bug you till after I make these changes and see which way things go....I'm saving you for the last page of this chronicle in case I need you. I'll watch the pressure gauges closer tomorrow....but as I recall they stayed pretty steady....thanks

Your power valves are opening too soon. You should drop down to 6.5 or 4.5. What is your vacuum reading at 2000rpm?

Sorry, I just reread your post. I thought you had 8.5's in there already. I would still try 4.5 power valves. Boats under even a small load do not pull much vacuum.