1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

[Patrick H.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

Hello,
After your input as to the parts missing on my rebuilt carburetor and
after looking at the loaner (current) setup on my car I noticed that I own
the throttle bracket, return spring and accelerator linkage - it was taken off
my other carburetor setup. So all I need is the spring for the fuel filter.

Does anyone have an extra one they would like to sell?

Thanks.

Joe

Your loaner carb has the stud "built in." Your "new replacement" does not have the stud to attach the linkage to the carb. Paragon sells them - I know I've purchased some. Item 236K

You need two springs as mentioned above - one for the accelerator pump and one for the fuel filter. I "may" have some around here somewhere. Also, be sure you have a new inlet gasket as well. That's the (in)famous thin one - remember?

Patrick

[Joe W.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

Thanks Patrick.
I'll order the stud and oh yes, the infamous 1 O'clock in the morning
inlet gasket tomorrow. As for the fuel filter spring, my re-builder called me and found it on his bench.
I'll talk to him tomorrow and ask about the accelerator pump spring as well.

Joe

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

Joe;

If your rebuilder left both the Filter spring and the Accelerator pump spring on his bench, I think he owes you big time! He should do everything he can to make it right including coming to your house to install them. There is no excuse for anyone conducting a business or even a past time taking money from someone and doing a job like that. Those represent basic Carburetor 101.

Stu Fox

[Dale S.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

He would not be my choice. Dale

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

As I referred to before, the appearance of the exterior paint job may be an indication of the quality work on the inside. I agree, this fellow is a plumber and should not have a second chance with this carb (no offense to any real plumbers out there).

Stu Fox

[James W.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

There are several quality rebuilders out there. I used Holley Restoration Services to do the Quadrajunk on my 71 LS5. They recolored it, rebuilt it, repaired the stripped fuel inlet threads and bench flowed it. All I had to do was install it and set the idle.

Jim

[Joe W.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

Gents,

I do very much appreciate all of your "Candid" input as I know you are
only looking to protect me and for my best interest. However, you do not
know the whole story. I defend the re-builder because he is my friend.

After losing my job in October of 08', a co-worker and friend
told me when I find my replacement carburetor to let him know
and at no charge, offered to re-build it for me, asking only that I buy
the re-build kit.

He once owned for some 15 years a 71' corvette and to this day,
for the last 25 years, owns a 67' 427 tri-power corvette and a 68' GTO.

Granted, he appears to be a bit rusty with the assembly of the Quadrajet.
So he inadvertently put the fuel filter spring over the throttle spring
forgetting where he took it from initially.

An honest mistake. He is correcting this for me this evening.
This would account for the previous photo of the throttle pump rod being off.
Gee whizz, cut him some slack.

As for the paint work, he disassembled and cleaned it with a
carburetor cleaning kit for 2 weeks and the finish was still not what
he considered to be all that great. He then offered to paint it with the
Eastwood paint and I said ok. He did agree with your initial findings that it
didn't turn out the way he thought it would. So he is conscious.

As for me, to have the carburetor throughly cleaned and re-built by
someone who I know and trust at no charge and to apply a protective,
decorative coat of paint that as far as I'm concerned, looks 10 times better
than the last re-plating job I saw on a carburetor, is just fine with me.

No, it is not up to NCRS standards for judging, but that's also fine with me.
It's not the original carburetor. No one is going to see it mounted under the
air cleaner except for me and even if I had it judged, I would still get dinged
because it's not original to the car. So what. For now, I'm fine with it.

I no longer have the luxury to spend the money on the car like I used to.
It's the plain simple fact, it is what it is. Is it going to affect the performance
of the car? No. I'm good with that.

He's making it right for me and apologized profusely for making the error.
How much more can you ask for.

Joe

[Stuart F.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

Joe;

Sorry we've been so hard on your friend, and you for that matter. Most of us have been there and done that ourselves back in the day. Now that we've arrived (?), we tend to get kinda snooty and intolerant. But really we all just want the best for you and your Vette - so that you can enjoy it and appreciate what a great part of history you are fortunate to possess.

Early on in this thread I and others pointed out the things you can do to correct the situation with your carburetor in a way that you can learn from the process. It's not really rocket science, as they say, if one uses good old American common sense and logic. Don't be afraid to find/read some books on it. Many are generic, but you can learn something about the basic circuits, etc. You don't even need to buy these books as many people have them and will let you borrow them. You may even find some in the local library or Auto Parts Store. I often go there and find one not shrink wrapped to look at.

Sorry again about our responses, but I'm sure you know we mean well - specially for a fellow NCRS member. Good luck on the job situation too. Don't give up. Sometimes the best career moves just come along and fall into your lap when you least expect them. Happened to me several times in my working life.

Stu Fox

[Joe W.]

Re: 1970 Carburetor removal & installation help

Gents,
No harm no foul.
All good will happen given time.
I do appreciate all of the "Goodwill".
Last summer, Patrick Hulst was gracious
enough to loan me a carburetor from his collection,
as long as I need it. I really do not like "borrowing" anything
longer than necessary.

He knew late last summer I couldn't wait to get my car on the road
and helped me when he could to get it running and offered to loan me
one from his vast collection. Kudos for Patrick!

So this winter online, I met a gentleman on of all things a toy forum,
we struck up a conversation on "real cars" and a "deal" was made on a
close to original carburetor. Being short on cash with my part-time, lower
paying job, my "play money" was non-exist-ant for the car.

However, being an avid "toy person" and owning 90% of the toys I had
when I was a kid, traded some of my semi-rare Hot Wheels and cash for
the carburetor from a guy who, got the carburetor from a friend of his who,
took it off of his 1970 350/350 - 4-speed years ago and sold the car with a
Holley replacement.

A few months before I retired (temporarily) my friend at work offered
a free re-build and with his Corvette history, I couldn't pass it up.

I'm trying to get the car as close to original as possible.
The car has a lot of history that I have 80% verified and in
the process of verifying all the history, find it to be very interesting.
Once it is all confirmed, I will share with all of you. It's pretty incredible
information based on how critical the NCRS Corvette Faithful are and rightly so!

As for my job search, I appreciate the input.
After my early retirement from a Fortune 500 Tier 1 supplier as
a Senior engineering product development lab technician, I landed a
part-time job shortly after as a Prototype model maker.

I'm hoping for full time. It's probably not going to happen
any time soon, based on the economy. However, I'm thrilled
I not only have a job, but learning a new skill/trade that will hopefully
employee me for another 20 years or so.

Again, thank-you for looking out for me.

Joe