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I have a Rochester 2gv that I am going to put on a 283. I soaked it for a couple of days and it still doesn't look all that good.

Has any one ever painted a carburetor and what kind of paint did you use and the color.

Thanks
Rocky

Eastwood sells paint for carbs.

I saw that but are they any good.

They are excellent. I use them when I build up a 3-2 setup. The bronze Looks good on the fuel bowl & the air horn. I then use regular black paint on the throttle body. You have to spray it several times in real light coats.

I have painted lots of them for special effects.

One of the treatments we used to use for street rods was to first chromate the zinc-alloy carburetor bodies for protection, then paint them with black epoxy paint. The steel items were then chromed; so the finished product was a splash of chrome against a glossy black background. Here is a sample:

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Edelbrock_X2_side.jpg

Remember, with any painting, wear appropriate breathing apparatus.

For those interested in the painting: after the bodies were chromated (did not paint the inside, and the paint will NOT protect the inside of the bodies), all threaded holes were masked to prevent paint getting in the threads, and the bodies painted. Once painted, the masking was carefully removed, and the bodies baked at 125 degrees F. for 30 minutes in an ELECTRIC toaster oven (DO NOT USE A GAS OVEN WITH FLAME!!!!!). Remember that epoxy does not dry, it sets; so the heat tends to even the flow.

If you look closely at the picture, you can see the green of the chromate on the surfaces where the aircleaners attach.

Have done other carbs in other colors to match engine color for some customers.

Epoxy paint is not required (although I do like it). I would guess any good high temperature engine paint, baked on, would suffice.

Don't get carried away on the baking temperature. Zinc alloy will "slump" at about 450 degrees F.

Jon.

Hi carbking
My only question is how do you chromate the body. I haven't heard of that.

Rocky

Rocky - I don't, and probably neither do you.

Chromate to zinc alloy is accomplished by first chemically cleaning the casting in caustic lye, followed by a neutralizing water bath, followed by dipping in the chromate solution. The chromate solution is a combination of nitric, sulphuric, and chromic acids.

Chromic acid is on the EPA no-no list (and it should be as it causes both cancer and dementia according to the medical people). I believe one must have an EPA permit to purchase the stuff.

The way to do this is to find a company that commercially does the chromate treatment and pay them to do so. When we were doing 500 or so carbs annually, cost of chromating the bodies and plating the linkage averaged about $225. per carb. No parts, no labor, just the chromate and plating.

Note that we are talking about chromate, NOT di-chromate. Di-chromate implys electric current and is a form of electroplating certain metals (not zinc). The chromate is simply a dip.

Jon.

carbking

I am sure I won't be doing the chromate but can I still spray on a high temp paint.

Yes.

Jon.

Hi carbking

I bought a 2GV 1972 and want to put it on a 283 is that a good fit.

Not enough information to say either way.

As a GENERAL RULE!:

We suggest that if one migrates an original equipment carburetor from one application to another application THAT IS BASICALLY STOCK; then the donor engine should be (for best results) within + or - (plus or minus) 3 percent of the donee engine.

Keeping with the above: 3 percent of 283 is approximately 9. So the donor engine should be from 274 to 292 CID (for best results, if your 283 is basically stock).

Jon.

I don't know what engine the carb came off of I think it was on a 1972 truck. But I don't know what engine. the carb didn't come off of a 283