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Thu Dec 04, 2003 2:06 pm

I have a carb in my 74 super that is about on it's last leg - I want to simply replace it with another carb i have that is on an engine that has been sitting for about 2 years - being started maybe once in that period. Should I do anything to prep this carn for daily road service? It may have gummed up due to sitting(?) (I am in the middle of FL humdiity, but also in a place where the engine has been exposed to freezing degrees maybe 5 times over the alst couple years if that makes a difference)
Any suggestions for me?

thanks in advance! -b

Thu Dec 04, 2003 2:13 pm

just clean it well, maybe buy a rebuild kit for it just in case...

Thu Dec 04, 2003 2:24 pm

Where ya at, Bugsville?

I'd go through it also, just to be safe. Disassemble, soak (gallon carb cleaner), rinse (water), blow through all passages with compressed air, and re-assemble.

Fri Dec 05, 2003 6:54 am

Thanks for the tips - I'm gonna try and clean it with some spray cleaner and put it on and see what happens. I've never done a carb rebuild, but got an old magazine article about it :wink: - so this may be a good time to do it (especially when the dad-in-law is down over xmas - old muscle car iowan farmer guy)

uncleBob - I'm in Gainesville

thanks all!
- b

Fri Dec 05, 2003 7:18 am

Gainesville isn't far from me at all. I'm in Middleburg, SW of Jax.

Anyway, I wouldn't waste your time with the carb-cleaner in a spray can. It does NOT work. The paint-can gallon cleaner with the small parts basket is a must. But, that stuff is VERY aggressive with rubber, so be sure not to get any rubber near it.

Won't hurt to put the carb on to see what happens, though. The carb disassembly/rebuild is a lot easier than most people think.

Sat Dec 06, 2003 2:34 pm

bugsville wrote: I've never done a carb rebuild, but got an old magazine article about it - b

FWIW, not being a skilled mechanic, I rebuilt the carb on my '66 bus without a hitch. Followed the directions in the kit, disassembled it, let it soak over night in a gallon of carb cleaner, cleaned and dried everything up the next day, reassembled it, installed it, set the adjustment screws per the instructions and BAM, it started on the first crank. I was blown away. Spent a little time to fine tune it, but it was surprisingly easy.

Don't be afraid, they're pretty simple.

jeffrey

Sat Dec 06, 2003 7:22 pm

The carb swap was a success! Started right up and does run stronger, but still some hesitation at startup... not the 'flat spot' it had before, but a different problem it had before the swap as well with slow pedal response, but that'll be another thread if you have any ideas on it. (I'm thinking too much slack in the one size fits all accel cable)

I do have plans to rebuild the new old carb over the holiday time. Any suggestions on who sells the best rebuild kit or are there no significant quality deviations amongst the different sources?

Thanks all!
- b

Sun Dec 07, 2003 8:39 am

Surprisingly, Napa carries the solex rebuild kits.

Sun Dec 07, 2003 8:51 pm

Well i moved the carb to put a new gasket on (used the old one previosuly), got it put back together, started the engine - ran great, then cut out and wouldn't idle. The fule line to the bowl of the carb was soaked with gas. My theory is the carb is filling with gas, but something is stuck or clogged and it isn't atcually moving the gas out of the bowl (?)

Any input?

Probably gonna pull the main jet, see if I can't blow it out and see what happens. But I think a rebuild may be in order.

Mon Dec 08, 2003 6:49 am

Stuck float?

Why is your fuel line soaked with gas? Might want to make sure the brass fuel inlet is seated good in the carb body. It's good practice to 'peen' the carb body around the brass fuel inlet to keep the inlet pressed into the carb body. After time, the fuel inlet may work loose, pop out, and spray gas all over the motor.

Tue Dec 09, 2003 1:06 pm

well, got my rebuild kit and am all geared up to do teh teardown and overnight soak this evening! I went and tested the throttle shaft linkage on the "good" carb - or so i thoguht and she moved all back and forth on me - from what i;ve read - that iosn;t good - I checked the carb that WAS ont eh car and the throttle shaft linkage is tight, although the throttle shaft (the one above) is a wee bit loose, but not REALLY REALLY loose.

So I figure i'll rebuild the latter carb, which was in the car when i got it - only thing is... It's got a nickle or dime JB welded into the front of it - I researched and apparently this isnt that big of a deal and not as wrong as might be thought at first. Question is - will the coin elded in there stand up to the carb cleaner?

any suggestions are once again appreciated!
- b

Tue Dec 09, 2003 2:52 pm

The dime epoxied into the freeze plug is a common shadetree fix. I wouldn't worry about it. Double check after you've got it cleaned and rebuilt.

The throttle shaft that runs through the body of the carb is the one you're worried about, not the linkage.

Good luck with the rebuild!

Mon Dec 15, 2003 7:55 am

well i rebuilt the carb with no problem at all. Broke the black plastic piece under the choke cause it was tight swole in there, but replaced it with one off my other carb. When i put the choke in, i thought I did it correctly, but instead of the wirte connector being at 45 degrees it was at about 5 degrees. So I stuck it back in the car. and it started!

Attempted to adjust air idle screw, but it didn't seem to make any difference. I ran the cart around the block and it ran ok, except the throttle stuck open a few times and I had to gas it to keep it from stalling. When i looked at it in the yard, the bottom of the carb and top of manifold were both reaslly cold and condensating.

Also looked like the cam stop was not even close to hitting the idler screw. I am assuming this is a problem with the choke. So I went and loosened the screws holding it on and turned it to how it was before. Started it up and it ran, roughly.

I also had taken apart th throttle linkage - how shoul di adjust the long hex nut on there? Could this be part of my problem? Or is my choke shot? I have one ont he otehr carb, but it looks liek the ceramic is a bit chipped and cracked.

thankya again!
- b