Back in the day, to get good training, you sent your young mechanic to Rochester, Carter etc. sponsored training classes. The school had the tools, equipment, parts, diagrams and specification sheets (big thick carburetor book). Students received theory and hands-on experience. They were graded by completion of tasks. As far as I know none of that exists today except maybe becoming one of "Carbking's Padawans".
"So where to get the proper size seat if mine isn't?"
This is covered in carburetor school. First determine which model Rochester carburetor was factory installed on your vehicle (or if transplanted, engine) when it was new. Compare this with the ID tag held by a fuel bowl screw on your current carburetor. If you don't have a tag (big frown), you use your Rochester Service Manual and compare the throttle assembly base stamping to the model listing BUT if the numbers agree this doesn't mean all the other carburetor parts are correct. The service manual specification sheet for that model will list the drill sizes and other needed data. The Rochester/GM fuel valve part number would be listed so one could be ordered. If the carburetor on the engine was the wrong model, the mechanic would inform the vehicle owner and replacement options would be discussed.
All of the above is a fruitless pursuit if you are running the vehicle with Ethanol gas that has been sitting for years in a standard steel fuel tank.
Last edited by buoymaker; 10/07/2022 6:06 PM.
