Hey 50Chev!
I have rebuilt two of the Rochester BC carburetors (54 Chevy) and just finished a Carter BBD (66 Chrysler).
Here's what helped me not to screw these all up:
- Patience, patience, patience: Work slowly and deliberately
- don't rush yourself reading the Shop Manual or the "kit" graphics. Take your time, read your manual's instructions till you really know them.
- if you want, document your steps to removing and disassembling the carb using a digital camera (great for reference when you are RE-building and the manual and "kit" graphics stink).
- take written crib notes if you want. All this helps teach you and prep you for the next rebuild.
- as the others already mentioned, dedicate a clean area to do this.
- @@@@@@ My suggestion is to to all your work in an old drawer or dedicated clean box or other containment. THREE times on the Carter I DROPPED teeny-weeny parts and only with God's help did I find them. If I hadn't, I'd be buying a junker to cannabalize which would have been a big bummer and major delay.
- Soak the parts thoroughly. I used GUNK Carburetor cleaner (comes with a little basket for soaking.
- Air dry! Use about 20-30 PSI low low pressure. DO NOT try and air dry the parts while they are all sitting dumbly in the carb soak basket or you'll see them fly out from the air jet and you've good as lost them (I did this even when my conscience was screaming not to and took two days to find a lost part).
Here's a thought if you have the time. Go to the boneyard and get an identical carburetor and re-build it for practice. If it works, put it in the car and rebuild your original as a spare! This way, if you screw up the junker, you will know better. Also, a junker or three on your shelves is/are a good source for those parts you can't buy.
Cheers from NASCAR country....
