A car I am working on had the power valve go out on a Holley 715 CFM carb.
Idle mixture screws seated shut, but engine still running, usually tells the tale of a bad power valve.
I searched through my stash of power valves.....eleventeen 6.5's, and at least one of each from 2.5 up through 7.5.....but no 8.5 like the factory specs used....Dang.
Off to the auto parts store....which turned into stores, and here is how things went.
My local O'Reilly's: The two guys working there did not know what a power valve was but they were able to look up the proper part.....after I told them it was for a Holley carburetor, and after I told them the part number would probably be 125-85.
I began the whole exchange by literally asking, "Do you have an 8.5 power valve for a Holley carb?"
Neither of them knew they had power valves hanging on the wall directly behind the counter....Unfortunately they only had a 5.5 and a 6.5.
"Thanks for your help" and off to the next store along my way to where the car is stored.
Almost across the street from the O'Reilly's is an Auto Zone: I pop in and the counter guy asks me "what are you looking for?"
I tell him, "I would like an 8.5 Power valve for a Holley carb"......long pause, and deer in headlights look, followed by, "a what?" We talk a bit....
He taps on the keyboard for a while and then asks if this is for the driver side or passenger side?....You see, his computer, when filled in to search for "Power Valve" went to some front suspension parts for a Volvo.
I spent some time explaining what a power valve was, what it went into, and where to look in the computer.
Finally he was able to access some power valves, along with about 15 other items that had NOTHING to do with carbs....we weeded through the chaffe and eventually he was ready to order a 4.5 power valve for me.
Not because it was the part I was searching for but because it was the top listed power valve on his page.
I spent a bit more time explaining the power valve numbering system and how it correlates to a vacuum signal.....which he did not understand even after the explanation.
Then he took me to the "performance section" in the store, which consisted of a few peg hooks of SPECTRE chrome stuff and a couple see through fuel filters, but no power valves.
"Thanks for the help and have a great day" and off to the next store along the way.
NAPA: I walk in and the guy is on me immediately asking what I am searching for.
I say, "I would like a Holley 8.5 power valve" to which he answers...."A what valve?"
This time I jump right in and try to skip all the build up by saying.
"I am working on a Holley carburetor and the power valve in that carb has failed"..."I need a new power valve and 8.5 is the version I am looking for." "I am pretty sure your part number will be 125-85 because that is the Holley part number."
Tipity-tapity on the keyboard and soon he asks, "what is a power valve?"
To which I answer, "It is a part inside a carburetor"
"What kind of carburetor?" he asks and I say, "Holley".
He types for a while and then he asks, "what car is this on?"
I say, "It does not matter when it comes to power valves but it is a 1966 Shelby GT-350".
Then he asks, "who makes that?" Keep in mind this was a guy old enough to look at least 30.
Of course he can't find this car in the computer so he asks a few more questions but then I ask him...."Are you able to look up Holley carb parts like gaskets, rebuild kits, floats and such things?"...."They may be under your Keystone listings."
He just stares at the screen and then says, "I think so".
At that point I said, "Hey, thanks for your help and you have a great day."
In a moment I am sitting in the parking lot realizing things have changed far more than I understood. Then I thought about calling a friend to see if he had any 8.5 power valves......Nope, like me he had everything but the 8.5.
He did suggest I try the O'Reilly's on Robert street because they still carry some performance parts and Holley stuff....Thanks man, and have a great day.
Off to the next parts store along the way.
O'Reilly's on Robert, which used to carry a LOT of performance parts, but now their selection is relegated to one sheet of pegboard....which is now about 80% more than anyone else carries.
As I walk in the guy asks me what I am looking for and I tell him.....same story, no clue, no ideas, until I ask if they have any carburetor parts in the store.
He directs me to the "performance section" as he is saying, "I don't think we have any of that stuff in the store".
They had some power valves, and some Edelbrock carb stuff too!.....but no 8.5's.....Dang.
Finally I make it to the car and I install the 7.5 power valve I have in my stock.
I tune the carb and everything runs really well again and the owner is very happy with the results.
Today I realized my old ways of going to the auto parts stores for carb parts are finished.
I know the stuff is old, and many of the parts are not regular fare anymore, but having no knowledge of a Holley carbs existence and no knowledge of a power valve?...even its existence? That seems weird to me.
I was especially troubled by the counter help...at two stores....that did not know about the performance parts that are literally hanging on the wall 8 feet from where they stand and work each and every day.
How can you be an auto parts store employee and not look around where you work?
How can you stand in a place for 5-10 hours per day and not be a bit curious about what is literally stocked within your view?
Again, I fully understand the cars and parts I am playing with are old, often 50+ years old, and I usually prepare myself for this prior to entering the store because I know something obscure like the heavy duty waterpump on my 428 is not likely to be listed in the computer......But not knowing Holley.....Even as a brand name?
Today I was in four different auto parts stores, and I dealt with 6 different employees. NONE of them knew what I was looking for.....even when they had an image on the screen it did not trigger any useful outcome.
I try real hard to purchase from local businesses but it seems all my carb business will be through Mikes Carburetor Parts from now on.