I rebuilt my carburetor last night. This probably won't be the last time I look at a pile of parts and wonder what I've gotten myself into. My rebuild kit came in Sunday at Advance Auto Parts. On the way out the door I noticed the big sticker warning that opened kits could not be returned. I was going to read the instructions at the coffee shop, but when I opened the box I noticed that there was a hole in the plastic. On closer inspection, I realized that the plastic had been opened, then taped shut. There was a tiny clip stuck to the tape (which is how I noticed the hole) and another clip loose in the bottom of the box. After I finished my coffee, I packed everything back up and headed back to the store. When I explained the situation, the guy at the counter asked if I had opened the box. No, the box was open when I bought it. "You're sure you didn't open it?" Quite sure, yes. The guy couldn't tell me what was supposed to be in the package (my main concern), but the kits are only $10, so I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. Later that afternoon I discovered the data sheet was missing. I knew I'd put it back in the box when I went to the store, so back I went. "Did you look in the box?" Yes, I looked in the box. "Is it in your car?" No. "Are you sure it's not in the box?" So now I'm doing my first carb rebuild, on my own with minimal instruction and maybe some missing parts. I wasn't too sure what I'd find when I got in there. The automatic choke is missing screws and stuffed with paper towels, the manual choke cable is stuck or broken, and the fuel filter is in desperate need of cleaning. The clamp on the braided fuel line threw me off a little (I didn't realize there was a nut under it), but I eventually got the carb off. I had planned to do***ent everything carefully, since all I had to go on was a fuzzy picture from the old car manual project and an unlabeled exploded diagram I'd found somewhere else. About the time I took this picture, I noticed it was getting dark. Soon after, I spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out where I'd missed a step. I eventually decided that either the power piston was missing or I was being far too gentle. If it's one of those super skinny tubes under the main well support, then I wasn't trying hard enough. If not, it was missing. Either is a distinct possibility. It was dark and I was getting pretty mosquito bitten, so I moved inside. Everything else went pretty smoothly, except I couldn't get the pump discharge guide out. I tried everything--lots of carb cleaner, screwdrivers, pliers... I eventually gave up. By the time I got everything back together, I'd spent a couple of hours kneeling on cement. I was short a couple of pieces in some areas and had extras in others, but I wasn't sure if that's because things were missing or I didn't know what I was doing. I was tired, sore, hungry, and frustrated, and it started to rain when I took the carb out to bolt it back on. As I tightened the last bolt (by headlamp), I realized I'd forgotten to tighten the screws attaching the float bowl to the throttle body. I don't have any of those groovy S-shaped screwdrivers, but I do have a swiss army knife with a two-position screwdriver. As handy as it is, it's never the right tool for the job, but it worked this time, so I WIN, DAMMIT! I really expected the worst, but the car started pretty easily. It needs some major adjustments because I forgot to do that, but I called it a victory and raised a celebratory finger to Advance Auto Parts and the last guy who rebuilt the carburetor.
Congratulations brother. You have now had the full carb rebuild experience. Most people think that the work lies in the mechanics but you now know the secret. The real work takes place at the parts store where the counter guy is a *****, thinks you're a thief AND a *****, and doesn't know one end of a car from the other. Don't tell me, let me guess: When you first ordered the kit they wanted a boat load of numbers off the carb that were no longer there because the tag was gone right? When you told them the tag was gone, they stared blankly at each other as if they had never heard of that before. Then when you finally lead them through their own parts books, pointing out the right parts along the way, they then told you they couldn't order the kit right? Then they found out they could but it would be two weeks. And then things pick up with your story of already opened kits with missing parts that they want to blame on you because some pimply faced kid that worked there took out a part for his own carb and didn't tell anyone cuz he didn't want to get in trouble. Yep, that's a carb rebuild. But you did what all good mechanics do, forged ahead, figuring things out for yourself until the project is finished and it works. Good job man. Now you can laugh out loud and look sideways at the next guy that says, "hey, all ya gotta do is put a kit in the carb." LOL Keep roddin' dude, Big Daddy Eric
Back about '62 rebuilt my first carb, soaked in 5 gallon bucket of carb cleaner, rinsed with water next day, got down on the concrete, got the water/carb cleaner all over my jeans. Burned like hell!! Rochester 2GC. Year or so later had a J-2 Olds in 46 Ford coupe, came with the factory 3x2 setup in the trunk. Being the smart mechanic I still am I tore all 3 carbs down dumped in same bucket of carb cleaner. Never could the setup get to idle good, years later discovered ruined seals in bases of end carbs. Never knew they were there. Wish I had those J-2 carbs now. Good to see someone jumping in and learning by doing it themself. I have screwed a lot of stuff up in the last 44 years but I didn't mess up twice on the same thing, learned a lot of lessons hard way.
From the pics I'll guess a Rochester "B" or "BC". I have a BC that I need to rebuild now for my '53, but there's no kit anywhere in town, so it waits... BTW, I have a 1959 "Motor's Auto Repair Manual" for '52 to '59 cars. If I remember right there's a whole chapter in the back devoted to those 50's model Rochester carbs (specs, rebuild procedures, etc). If I don't forget I'll scan it in tommorow and send it to ya'.
Sounds better than my first attempt by a long shot. Missed your intro so welcome from another Central Illinoisian stuck in hot rod purgatory! Bill
Good guess, ComingApart. Scans would be great if you wouldn't mind. I'm still building my library. And WildWilly, if you ever need an excuse to go for a drive, Champaign's not that far away.
[ QUOTE ] got down on the concrete, got the water/carb cleaner all over my jeans. Burned like hell!! [/ QUOTE ] Burns like a ******* on the webs between the fingers too doesn't it? LOL BDE
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