I'm really getting tired of fooling with this old truck. I feel like I have a $15,000 piece of yard art. Went to rebuild the Rochester 1 barrel carb today and run into another problem. Went to put carb back together after taking it apart and cleaning it and one of the screws would not go back into the butterfly on the throttle body. Somehow between the time I took it out and cleaned the carb and went to put it back in, the threads got screwed up. I don't have a clue how that happened. Anyway, after two hours of fiddling around with it, I ended up losing the screw. Now I have a worthless carburetor and a truck that won't run until I get another carb. Some days I wish I could just sell the thing and get my money back.
Feel for ya bro. Turn the light out in the garage and go into the house, a new day tomorrow with a fresh state of mind.
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
Sometimes those threads will be ok but once the screws are removed...they don't want to go back in because they've been buggered a bit on the end. I have new screws for the Rochesters. If you need one, just let me know. It might be ok.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
Another thing you can try, Darrell is to take the recalcitrant screw and very carefully shave the tip of it with a tiny file or fine sandpaper at a slight bevel. It isn't fun work, but I've gotten several to go back in by doing this over the years.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
Sometimes those threads will be ok but once the screws are removed...they don't want to go back in because they've been buggered a bit on the end. I have new screws for the Rochesters. If you need one, just let me know. It might be ok.
Thanks Jon. I will be needing a new one. While I was trying to put the one back in that I could not get started, I dropped it and I haven't been able to find it. These are the smaller brass screws on the butterfly in the throttle body, not the larger ones in the choke butterfly. How much do you need for one?
Don't get discouraged. I've felt that way before when I first got my truck. Made some mistakes. There is a wealth of knowledge on this site and many people are available to help you. I have learned so much talking with people here. I'm glad that I never got rid of my truck. Hang in there.
I did the same thing i think those screws may have been bent or peened on the ends so they dont come out of the shaft and when you unscrewxthem it messes up the end threads.
Just send me a PM with your postal address. Smaller diameter and a finer thread with a head about 3/16" in diameter as I recall. I'll get my box of Rochester parts out of the attic and send one off in tomorrow's post. Do you only need one?
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
The lesson to be learned here is don't try to remove throttle plates from the shaft unless there's a good reason to do so. If you do, drill the peened end of the screw away and use new screws to reinstall the throttle plates. You can loosen the screws slightly and tap on the plates to make sure they're centered in the bore, then retighten the screws but don't dismantle things all the way unless you've got new screws on hand. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
Beer me! That's what I do when I get in a pickle. Just as when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade, when I get in a pickle, I get pickled. Well a little bit anyway.
1952 5-window - return to "as built" condition | 1950 3100 with a 235 and a T-5 transmission
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
One day at a time! If you ever want to know all the crap that happened to me just ask! I had a years worth of experience that was not fun. Once you are up and running, it will all be worth it! In the mean time, Carl can you pass me a beer?
Yeah, we all been there! What I do in that case.....after working for hours and hours and hours on something and not only am I not making progress, but actually going backwards, is go over and get my BFH, raise it high over my head, start approaching the truck with it, and then the truck says, "Please don't,..I didn't do anything wrong". Then I go over and turn out the lights and grab a beer (or another one)! Remember, the joy is in the journey...the joy is in the journey....
~ Victor 1941 3/4-Ton Pickup (in process). Read about it in the DITY Gallery 1955 Grumman Kurbside "Doughboy" 235/3 on tree w/ OD 1957 3100 - moved on 1959 C4500 Short Bus "Magic Bus" - moved on 1959 G3800 1 Ton Dually "Chief" - moved on 1958 C4400 Viking "Thor" ~ moved on to fellow Bolter
The lesson to be learned here is don't try to remove throttle plates from the shaft unless there's a good reason to do so. If you do, drill the peened end of the screw away and use new screws to reinstall the throttle plates. You can loosen the screws slightly and tap on the plates to make sure they're centered in the bore, then retighten the screws but don't dismantle things all the way unless you've got new screws on hand. Jerry
THIS!
1953 Chevrolet 3100 261 cu inch, sm420, 3.55 rear, torque tube still,omaha orange, still 6 volt, RPO green glass, side carrier spare, all done In the DITY Gallery Video of the 261 running
1964 GMC 1000 305 Big Block V6, sm420, the next cab off restoration
If you can't get a screw to work in it I have an extra throttle body for a 216 Roch. model B. Ive even put a sheet metal screw in one before. Worked fine. George
They say money can't buy happiness. It can buy old Chevy trucks though. Same thing. 1972 Chevy c10 Cheyenne Super In the Gallery Forum
The lesson to be learned here is don't try to remove throttle plates from the shaft unless there's a good reason to do so. If you do, drill the peened end of the screw away and use new screws to reinstall the throttle plates. You can loosen the screws slightly and tap on the plates to make sure they're centered in the bore, then retighten the screws but don't dismantle things all the way unless you've got new screws on hand. Jerry
I twisted the heads right off two screws because I didn't know they were peened on the end. Sent the carb off for a rebuild and they repaired everything. Lesson learned.
Tip of the day: Small parts are seldom lost if . . . . you sit in the bathtub to work. (Make sure to put the plug in the drain first!)
Like VEW says it is the journey, but the road is not a super highway. On my panel, the journey is about 16 years long so far, this includes 3 body shops who decided they were only kidding when they agreed to fix things, and a lot of money. Just keep driving on.
I guess my mistake was watching a youtube video by Mike's Carburetors walking through how to rebuild a Rochester 1 Barrel Carb. He made the statement that he didn't consider a carburetor rebuilt unless you take out the butterflies. I thought once about not doing it, but then did. I thought I was ok, because the screws came out ok. All but one went back in with no problem. Lesson learned is not do that again.
Originally Posted by Hotrod Lincoln
The lesson to be learned here is don't try to remove throttle plates from the shaft unless there's a good reason to do so. If you do, drill the peened end of the screw away and use new screws to reinstall the throttle plates. You can loosen the screws slightly and tap on the plates to make sure they're centered in the bore, then retighten the screws but don't dismantle things all the way unless you've got new screws on hand. Jerry
Send your carb to Carolina Carburetor. http://www.mycarburetordoctor.com/ 910-762-4695 Butch is the very best at rebuilding carbs. He rebuilt the carb on my truck, it starts and runs very well as long as I remember to turn the kill switch off! After rebuild, he runs the carb on a test bench that assures everything is 100%.
I'll second that recommendation for Butch at Carolina Carburetor. He rebuilt my Rochester & did it quickly at a good price.
~Denny 1953 Chevy 3100 w/1960 261 cid, 848 head | Weber 32/36 progressive 2 barrel carb. | Three on the tree & 3:55 torque tube | 12 V w/Gener-Nator & 6 V starter In the Gallery Forum 1998 Chevy Suburban 350 ci awd/4wd
There is an automotive shop here in town that has a sign that reads, "thanks to YouTube mechanics,our shop is always full" being an automotive/heavy duty tech my self, i do ,at times get the" but i saw a guy on you tube that ......."( fill in the blank however you want) . Now, a small precent of them do know what they are talking about, the rest know just enough to be dangerous and leaving one scratching his head asking "really?"
Dad said it very well back in the 1950's- - - - -"Getting repair work at a service station is like getting brain surgery at a drug store!" I stay busy in nine southeastern states now, investigating claims of improper repair work and subsequent damage to people's cars done by places like Firestone, Goodyear, and other tire stores, oil change and "quick service" businesses. On the other side of the coin, dealer service departments are often in cahoots with the sales end of the business- - - -as soon as a car is paid for and/or out of warranty, it's time to sell the customer another new car. The prices to keep the "old" one on the road suddenly gets VERY expensive! A good independent shop with a long history of providing good service at reasonable cost is hard to find, but doing business with those places has always been the best choice. Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt! There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
I took my F250 to a local shop known for good work on Powerstrokes to get some work done that I didn't have the capability to do myself. In some discussions with the shop owner, he made a comment that the local Ford Dealer was his best source of work. Customers came to him after they either got an enormous repair quote or worse, had a "repair" done at the dealership that didn't fix their problem.
Kevin 1951 Chevy 3100 work truck Follow this saga in Project Journal Photos 1929 Ford pickup restored from the ground up. | 1929 Ford Special Coupe (First car) Busting rust since the mid-60's If you're smart enough to take it apart, you darn well better be smart enough to put it back together.
