The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Rochester B Carburetor Problem

I have a 1953 Chevrolet pickup with a 1957 Chevrolet 235 engine and a 1959 Rochester B carburetor. It ran well the last time I cranked it. I did a rewire job on it and hadn't cranked it in awhile. I got it cranked and it would run as long as the choke was closed or partially closed. When I open the choke it quits running. I blew out the line from the fuel pump to the tank and took the line loose going to the carburetor and cranked the engine. I got good spurts from the fuel pump. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

It's probably either crud inside the carb or a vacuum leak.

Melvin L. Hardin,

If all you did is rewire it and not change any tune-up parameters, it sure sounds like your carburetor is the culprit. I think I would give the carburetor body the old 'tap tap' with a screwdriver to make sure the float was free.

If you can get it started and revved up, you could put your palm over the throat and choke the engine until it died. This will sometimes pull any water or crud though the jets and make things work properly again. Keep us posted.

Stuart

I just went through the same thing with the Rochester B on my '62 K20. After reading the many posts here about how to properly rebuild one, I paid thirteen bucks for the kit and got started. It took about two hours and made all the difference in the world. If you get stuck, just search this site with your specific question.

Hi Melvin L. Hardin

I had problems wiht my engine running with the choke all the way in and i rebuilt my rochester B a few months ago and it made all the difference. If you choose to rebuild it do not adjust the float settings right away because the rochester B is very picky if teh float is not exactly right it will not run properly if at all, and the best way to adjust the float is to make slight adjustments instead of following the origional specs. make sure that your float is not leaking which could also cause a lot of problems.

Chaimv

Unless you just have to stay original, think about getting a Carter YF carb for that year - it bolts right up including choke and throttle and you never look back.

Chevys before the 50s used Carter Carbs, but later switched to the troublesome cheaper Rochesters in the 50s.
If you get them going without leaks the engine runs, but not very efficiently and always too rich.
Carter kept making 235 upgrade carbs all the way to the 60s....

Cheaper rebuilt kits for any brand or year available at local car parts stores are not that good and often have missing or poor quality parts.

Give Jon at The Carburetor Shop a call - your 235 will thank you and you will gain true insights that just aren't written down.
He assembles the best carb rebuilt kits you can find anywhere.
You can also find many great posts from him as 'Carbking' in the archives.

Thanks guys! I'll probably get a rebuild kit and try that.
Melvin

Thanks for helping my papa out fellas...

-W

The truck is a '53... the engine is a 1957 235.

So... is there much difference in the carter carbs from '53-'57 ?

-W

They are cleaner and leaner.

Who knows why Chevy in the 50s switched to Rochester Bs in favor of the better engineered Carter YF carbs.
They had custom designed versions for several models and years.


http://www.stovebolt.com/bboard/cgi-bin//ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=007211#000000


......the NAPA universal manual choke conversion kit is about $20 or so.