The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Shop says i need a new carb

1950 3600 with the 235. they rebuilt the carb, but still cant get it to run right, and have decided that the carb isnt fixable, and it needs to be replaced. Unfortunately all the places i have found are all on back order. Do you guys have any advice?

Thanks!!

Did it run before you sent it to the shop?

What carb do you have?

It never ran right. It hasnt been driven in 15+ years and is just now at the end of a full frame off restoration, and this is the last thing to complete. its the single barrel rochester. the engine is out of a 1958 chevy if that matters.

Brad without knowing if the shop troubleshot the entire engine as a whole and then determined it was the carb that was causing it to run poorly, assuming it is the carb, we have vendors who sell replacement Roch Bs, but I would get a second opinion on the Carb before replacing it. Lots of young mechanics that do not know how these vintage carbs work WOULD throw up their hands and tell you to get another one.

Thanks. He even sent it over to another mechanic for a week or so, and he came to the same conclusion... but who knows.. Do you know where i could get a replacement?

Did you clean/clear the fuel tank and fuel lines?
Do you have a fuel filter with a new element (where is the filter located)?

Rockauto.com supposedly has a Rochester carburetor for a 1958 Chev truck?

"It's the carburetor" is the last retreat of an incompetent mechanic. A carburetor is nothing but a chunk of metal with a bunch of precision-drilled holes in it- - - -there's not a whole lot that can go wrong with it. If the throttle shaft bores aren't worn to the point that it's leaking a lot of air around the venturi, and the carb is correct for the engine it's on, your problem is most likely somewhere else. That being said, "Rochester" might be the problem- - - -"Carter" would be better! When Chevy began building their own carbs in the late 1940's instead of buying their carbs from Carter, the CEO of Carter vowed to sell a million replacement carburetors for Chevy engines. It took several years to accomplish that goal, but the 1-millionth Carter replacement for the Rochester got gold-plated and presented to the CEO of GM! Their slogan back then was "The ABC's of carburetion are 'Always Buy Carter'!"
Jerry

I just did a quick check and both the Filling Station and Jim Carter sell rebuilt Rochester Bs. I am sure all the others do too.

Personally I like the simplicity of the Rochester. There has been the odd one that I finally gave up on but generally they are a pretty easy rebuild. I have had one running my truck for the last nine years.

is your 58 235 a car or truck engine?

Manual or electric choke?

Carb spacing?

Manifold?



Here's a list CarbKing put together, if you decide to go with carter
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/727247/1.html

up top here on the bolt... links, then the parts section for a new or used one, services section for the rebuild places, go explore.

-W

The Rochester B's with manual choke for the 235 are difficult to find. Most of them have been thrown away over the years by disgruntled owners. The remaining units are in demand by a few individuals that want them for dual set-ups (easier to deal with the manual choke on multiple carbs). As far as the Rochester B's with automatic choke, we have been trying to GIVE them away for years, with little success!

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Free_carbs.htm

Carter manual choke carbs are almost as difficult in the 235 size. The manual choke 216 carbs are available.

The 3211s Carter (Auto choke) replacement for the 1957-1962 235 engines are available.

Jon.

The Carter YF 2101s also fits the 235 from what I can gather.

Not uncommon to see rebuildable ones on eBay for reasonable prices.

For my 2 cents worth, If you are going to spend the money on a replacement, spend it on a Carter.

Except for corrosion, everything else can be fixed - just not by that shop.

Since you are having someone under the age of 80 working on your engine, you might want to check the carb gasket to make sure that it is correct for the carburetor. There is a hole which must not be blocked by the gasket.
Carl

I am a died in the wool Carter fan. Appears others are too.

I used Carb kings list and found them on E-bay. You may also find a W-1 , if you have the smaller spacing on your intake. There was a Stromberg on e-bay the other day as well. Have you made sure the heat riser is free and working correctly?

Do you have another carb for a Test?

Send your carb to Recarbo...they test and rebuild not just a dust and clean easy to do business with.
Steve

That was my first thought when I started reading this thread!

Have you checked all the other variables such as: compression, timing, coil, all the components of the distributor, spark plugs, spark plug wires, fuel pump, etc.?

Rick

I agree with who me, recarbo...... they rebuilt the one I had on my 52, got it back,installed, never touched it, purred like a kitten, it was still running well when I sold the truck some 6 yrs later...

Carter/Rochester. Either one could have worn throttle shafts/bores. These old carbs are relatively simple, as Jerry says. This is why, sooner or later, you need to rebuild one or learn to examine the workings a little. What kind of shop would rebuild a carb that can't be rebuilt? What is easier than a 1 barrel? If carbking will sell you a carb that is suitable for your motor, you may consider purchasing or having yours rebuilt. Click his link to inquire. He has some "trading" options that may save you money if you have any of the items.

So if it turns out to be the carb by chance is the mechanic still incompetent?

If overhauling the carb fixed the problem, then no. But most problems that are diagnosed as "carburetor problems" are actually caused by the ignition system.

What if he rebuilt the transmission and then said the transmission isn't fixable and needs to be replaced?

he would be running for president

Did you say he or she?

Bart what you asked a post earlier reminds me of AAMCO. (Double A BEEP BEEP -M-C-O)

Yep, and they are still in business around here.