I’ve read your article on carb tuning about 5 times. I have a 650 cfm SS-AN annular discharge Quick Fuel carburetor with the changeable jets behind the power valve. Are they called emulsion jets? I’m trying to change mine and I can’t seem to find a kit let alone find the name of them. I know they are smaller than the air bleeds on top of the carb. Any help would be great.

S.D.

The restrictors located behind the power valve are called power valve channel restrictors (PVCR). They are generally the same thread size as the emulsion restrictors that are located in the main well of the metering block. These are a 6-32 thread size. The emulsion bleeds you mentioned are the two, three, or sometimes five little restrictors located vertically in the main well of the metering block. The air bleeds you mentioned are the ones on top of the carburetor venturi and use a larger 10-32 thread size. 

This is a Holley metering block with screw-in power valve channel restrictors (PVCR) as shown by the arrows. (Image/Jeff Smith)

Depending upon the model of your Quick Fuel carb, those PVCRs can be changed by using the same 6-32 screw-in brass restrictors used in the main metering well. If you don’t know the size of your PVCR restrictors, you can call Holley’s tech line and they can tell you. All you need is your carb part number (SS-650-AN). If you bought the carb new, the Quick Fuel carburetors come with a printed card in the box that details all the internal circuit sizes including the PVCR.

How to Measure Restrictor Size

If you don’t have the card, measuring these restrictors accurately will require a set of small, specialty tools called pin gages. These are calibrated pins in 0.001 inch increments usually sold as a kit from 0.010 inch to 0.060 inch. These pins allow you to accurately measure the existing PVCR size which will then let you decide which direction you want to go.

Accuracy is important because with these small restrictors, a change of 0.002 inch diameter is a big change in area. Using a 0.050 inch PVCR as an example, if we change to a 0.048 inch diameter, this 0.002 inch reduces the flow area by eight percent, so you can see why accurate measurements are important.

Not all Holley metering blocks are equipped with the screw-in bleeds. In many Holley carbs the metering block is just drilled. Here, we are measuring the PVCR with a pin gage. (Image/Jeff Smith)

Determining Your Ideal Restrictor Sizing

The individual and I ended up trading emails a couple of times about his specific application, are he was asking about the PVCR restrictors for a street-driven car. He wanted to enlarge the PVCR a couple of sizes and then reduce his primary main jets by a comparable amount of flow area. This is helpful for street engines where light throttle may produce a rich air-fuel ratio when the carb is running on the primary main jets. This often occurs at roughly 20 to 25 percent throttle opening at a point before the power valve opens.

By increasing the PVCR size, when heavier throttle is applied and the power valve opens, the larger PVCR will compensate for the leaner jetting in the main jets. This is a way to allow the engine to run somewhat leaner during street driving yet still have sufficient fuel flow to keep the air/fuel ratio safe under heavier throttle action. This would be especially helpful if you were tuning a Holley two-barrel carb where you don’t have the luxury of second pair of throttle bores and jets to make up for slightly leaner primary side.

If You Don’t Have Screw-In Bleeds…

Up until now, we have discussed changing the PVCR by using screw-in bleeds. However, many Holley carburetors are not fitted with screw-in bleeds. This makes these changes more difficult since increasing the PVCR size will mean permanently drilling the hole larger. While this can be accomplished simply enough, this permanent change makes reducing the flow area more difficult. One way would be to fill the restrictors with epoxy and then re-drill them in a smaller size. At that point it might be worth the money to invest in a billet aluminum metering block that is already fitted with screw-in bleeds that allow quick and easy changes to not only the PVCR but also the idle feed restrictors and the emulsion bleeds.

None of this is required tuning for a mild street car where you may not care if the primary heavy cruise air/fuel ratio is a tad rich. But if you’re one of those few who enjoy tinkering with a carburetor to extract the ultimate performance, there are improvements to be had with these tweaks that will offer excellent part-throttle performance without the complexity of EFI.

Quick Fuel Bleed Restrictor Parts List

  • Quick Fuel 6-32 bleed restrictor, 0.032″ – QFT-7-32QFT
  • Quick Fuel 6-32 bleed restrictor, 0.040″ – QFT-7-40QFT
  • Quick Fuel 6-32 bleed restrictor, 0.057″ – QFT-7-57QFT
Keywords
Ask Away, carburetor tech, Holley, Jeff Smith, Jets, Quick Fuel
Share this Article
Author: Jeff Smith

Jeff Smith has had a passion for cars since he began working at his grandfather's gas station at the age 10. After graduating from Iowa State University with a journalism degree in 1978, he combined his two passions: cars and writing. Smith began writing for Car Craft magazine in 1979 and became editor in 1984. In 1987, he assumed the role of editor for Hot Rod magazine before returning to his first love of writing technical stories. Since 2003, Jeff has held various positions at Car Craft (including editor), has written books on small block Chevy performance, and even cultivated an impressive collection of 1965 and 1966 Chevelles. Now he serves as a regular contributor to OnAllCylinders.