C3 Carb dating and current restoration costs?

[Don W.]

Hi,
Is the 6 month rule still correct for a dated carb? What is the point delta for a generic service replacement and and correct carb dated within 6 months. And finally, what the going rate to buy a "restored" quadrajet?
Thanks...Don

[Tom R.]

Re: C3 Carb dating and current restoration costs?

Hi,
Is the 6 month rule still correct for a dated carb? What is the point delta for a generic service replacement but correct carb dated within 6 months. And finally, what the going rate to buy a "restored" quadrajet?
Thanks...Don

Don
For clarification, you can see I edited your first question by replacing and with a but, assuming you question relates to a single item that meets the two conditions.

I'll offer the perspective from a late model C3. Originality points score 30 while condition peak out at 20. Twenty-five points are assigned to the part number; five points to its date and per tech manual "no more than 6 months before vehicle assembly." Deduct all 30 points for other than a Rochester Quadrajet. So a restored carb with correct finish could earn the 20 condition points for a combined total of 50. A discussion of the originality follows.

I believe the general approach is to view the carb (Rochester) as a GM service replacement part and the tech manual states that a deduction could be as minimal as 10% on a non-dated or numbered part or as large as 90% for an incorrectly dated, numbered and configured part. The five elements of originality are finish, date, installation, completion and configuration each of which are weighted at 20 percent. So a service replacement carb correctly installed, with a correct configuration and complete (ports, linkage, gaskets, etc) could earn upwards to 60% of the 25 points. Than you have issues related to finish (20%) gold dichromate. Assuming a correctly dated Rochester carb but service replacement, could be assigned from 25 (condition + date) to 45 points (20% deduct for part number). Note that to earn the latter, all the assumptions must align correctly.

Others may offer alternative views and may catch something I have overlooked but I believe this offers the nature of a discussion the judges will have in regards to a service replacement carb with a date code that falls within six months of the assembly date.

[Don W.]

Re: C3 Carb dating and current restoration costs?

Thanks Tom for detailed response...Don

[Dale C.]

Re: C3 Carb dating and current restoration costs?

Don
What year are you looking at and what's the engine? Cost can be all over the place. If it's like a #'s correct BB 68 Quad jet, hold onto your wallet as the supply has about dried up. See ebay #181420415250 and it's not correct, wrong choke pull off.
Dale

[Don W.]

Re: C3 Carb dating and current restoration costs?

Hi Dale,

So are you saying that 68/69 q-jets that are correct and not around anywhere to purchase? The ebay item is very expensive at over $2K; so, for example, is the wrong choke correctable or does that mean it has the totally wrong casting for what's advertised?

Thank you,
Don

[Dale C.]

Re: C3 Carb dating and current restoration costs?

Don
Not saying that they are not around, it's that there is a lot of variance in the availability and that's why the year and model are so important. (68 more rare than 69)' That 728209 FG on ebay is at the high end cause the 68 was such a one year only in so many areas. That bring up another concern, numbers. That carb, to me, is also suspect as to numbering cause I think there was a notable difference in the original stamping of the two 2's. Its in the NCRS blogs that there was a distrainable difference in the 2s. That info could be incorrect also so I guess anything about these cars is kind of a crapshoot.
Dale