Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Engine, fuel system, cooling system, heating, carburetors, exhaust, transmission, wheels, and other items related to the moving the car.

Moderator: Dan Szwarc

Post Reply
Todzilla
Lincoln Maniac
Posts: 371
Joined: Fri May 20, 2005 12:31 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia
Contact:

Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by Todzilla »

Hello everyone, it's been a little while since I was last here...

Long story short I have a 1964 Continental Sedan (Silver Sand Iridescent – i'm the 2nd owner) that has a sticking carburettor... which led to a small under bonnet fire because it looks like the floats might've failed in the carburettor causing it to just keep pumping fuel out... it's taken me a little while to deal with this because it basically blew up in my face! Luckily I wasn't burned, a tad singed perhaps, but regardless it scared me enough to push the car back into the garage for quite a while...

But now it's time to get back on the horse as they say. I need to rebuild or replace the carburettor. Simple? The one fly in the ointment is that I'm in Australia so Lincoln specialists are rarer than rooster lips!

So assuming I order either a rebuild kit and find a carburettor specialist here, or do I just order a new carburettor completely? What are peoples experiences or recommendations of each?


Thank you in advance.

Tod

PS: I'm a bit of an originality boffin though, so I guess a rebuild might be better...
User avatar
thegermanfan
Lincoln Maniac
Posts: 448
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2006 1:41 pm
Location: Germany
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by thegermanfan »

Original means less hassle since these cars ran fine when new. So usually a rebuild should work out well. A carburetor service manual is a good idea. It helped me a lot to understand how the carb operates. But there are lots of video tutorials online. They should help with actual disassembly and adjustment procedures. I strongly suggest buying a cheap junk carburetor for practicing and as a spare parts reservoir. Just make sure the junkyard carb is complete and matches your car.
Stay away from cheap rebuild carbs on eb*y etc. They often have missing parts even on the advertised photos. They might be technically functional, but can not be tuned correctly when incomplete. these cheap rebuilds often are just agressivly cleaned and then plated and reassembled.
1974 Lincoln Mark IV -triple black-
User avatar
TonyC
TLFer for Life
Posts: 10690
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:01 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by TonyC »

Hello, Tod! Glad to see you back!

I'm sorry to read about the incident that took you away for so long...but I have to say, I'm puzzled as to the cause. Carters just don't do what happened to you! I'd expect that from a Holley, but never a Carter! However, since it happened, there are some things you need to know.

Since you've been away, one of our premier Usual Suspects, who also happened to market the best rebuild kit for these carburetors ever, had suffered their own fire and as a result have done a nearly-total overhaul of the business. Regrettably, one of those overhauls affected the availability of those rebuild kits: They are no longer available. Earlier this year I messaged them about bringing that kit back, and they said they severed ties with the original supplier, that they would look into checking for a new supplier but they could not make any predictions of when or even if they could accomplish that. That makes rebuilds all the harder. There is one outfit, Mike's Carburetor Parts, that sells a fairly-decent kit; here is a link to what they have for Carter AFB carburetors (which is what your car has, or had originally): https://www.carburetor-parts.com/afbparts.html . However, their kits are not all-inclusive, as the Baker kits were; they do not have new jets, nor a new dashpot piston; where the latter is concerned, they do include a new leather umbrella component that is supposed to replace the umbrella piece in the original dashpot...but installing it is very complicated, something even I would not care to try without supervision from someone who has done that job. However, if you can find a rebuilder in your area who has that experience, then maybe that issue won't be so much of an issue.

The other alternative is to get one off E-Bay. Now, to back up Niels's post, he is right in most cases: Carburetors advertised as already rebuilt may not have been rebuilt adequately and could cause problems. On the other hand, E-Bay also offers the very promising prospect of getting ahold of an original carburetor that has not gone through the rebuild process. I came across one when I was in need of one earlier this year, and it came in very useful to piece together a fully-functional carburetor, even though some of the internal parts had undergone design changes. Luckily, none of those changes got in the way of that rebuild, and it is working just fine.

If your original is burned up, then you just may have to replace it, depending on the damage to the shell and even some of the critical internal parts. Or, with an organ donor from E-Bay and a rebuild kit from Mike's, you could pull off what I pulled off. Also, I can tell you that your shop manual provides very good guidance on how to take one apart and put one back together. I relied on mine when I first rebuilt the carburetor in 2008, which was the first time I ever even attempted to rebuild a carburetor. But I pulled it off in two days, just in time for the new duty week to begin.

---Tony
"Don't believe everything you read on the Internet, just because there is a picture with a quote next to it." (Abraham Lincoln, 1866)
"Question Authority!"

1966 Continental Sedan, affectionately known as "Frankenstein" until body restoration is done (to be renamed "General Sherman" on that event)
User avatar
mge825y
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 708
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2017 1:46 pm
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by mge825y »

I had a problem with the 4-bbl Carter carburetor on my '63 LCC. I sent it to "Guaranteed Carburetors" to be rebuilt. They rebuild them and then bench test them. I had it back within 7 business days. I think it cost me around $200. Best decision I ever made.

Some months later, the carb got fouled up with rust and dirt (a long story). I called up "Guaranteed Carburetors" and told them that it was having problems, but the problem was no fault of theirs. They were adamant to send it back to them. So, I did and they cleaned it up and rebuilt it at no charge.

I'm a true believer

Guaranteed Carburetors
7939 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33771

https://guaranteedcarburetors.com/
Prices start at $199 for a full carburetor restoration
Mark in Charlotte
1963 Lincoln Continental convertible
bd94s10
Addicted to Lincolns
Posts: 1136
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Lutz, FL
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by bd94s10 »

So luckily I live in the Clearwater area and I had Blair Farmer rebuild mine on my ‘64 Lincoln… Overall he did a fantastic job although I did mention to him there’s a little bit of hesitation in the car overtime and he said it’s due to the rebuild kits and some piece that’s not like the original I forget what he said it was… But he said he has ran into in some examples where he will rebuild a carburetor and it will not be as good as original… Not sure how true this is however I will try to get more details from him… On my 64 I’m about ready to put my Edelbrock 1406 on which I have that’s brand new and I have a feeling it will run a lot better I’ll keep everyone updated

Jason
User avatar
action
LCOC Regional Director
Posts: 5221
Joined: Mon Jun 09, 2003 1:01 am
Location: Phoenix, Arizona 85008
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by action »

bd94s10 wrote: ... although I did mention to him there’s a little bit of hesitation in the car overtime and he said it’s due to the rebuild kits and some piece that’s not like the original I forget what he said it was…

Jason
Likely the accelerator pump.

Action
Phoenix - Yeah, it's hot, however it's a dry heat
2006 Lincoln Navigator Limited 5.4l 3V
1996 Lincoln Mark VIII 2DR Coupe Diamond Anniversary 4.6l DOHC, 4R70W, 3.07
1970 Continental Mark III Triple Black 460 4v, C6, 2.80 (Used for Woodward Dream Cruise or just generally stored in Michigan)
1966 Lincoln Continental 4DR Convertible 462 4v, C6, 3.00
1966 Mercury Park Lane 4DR Breezeway 410 4v, C6, 2.80
User avatar
TonyC
TLFer for Life
Posts: 10690
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:01 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by TonyC »

On my 64 I’m about ready to put my Edelbrock 1406 on which I have that’s brand new and I have a feeling it will run a lot better I’ll keep everyone updated
I'm guessing that you have a 1406 already on hand; if so, then go with what you have. However, for those who would shop for a replacement, I personally would probably recommend at least looking into the 1906 model, which is supposedly an upgrade of the 1406 with reversible fuel inlets. I know the wrap-around reroute of the fuel line required for the 1406 is considered by many to be a trivial matter not even worth bringing up, but why do all that if you don't have to? From what I've seen about the 1906, you don't have to.

---Tony
"Don't believe everything you read on the Internet, just because there is a picture with a quote next to it." (Abraham Lincoln, 1866)
"Question Authority!"

1966 Continental Sedan, affectionately known as "Frankenstein" until body restoration is done (to be renamed "General Sherman" on that event)
bd94s10
Addicted to Lincolns
Posts: 1136
Joined: Sun Jun 28, 2009 12:33 pm
Location: Lutz, FL
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by bd94s10 »

Action, I believe that is what he said.

TonyC, no doubt. I've read that and recall seeing pics in the forum where it is much easier. No doubt. I got 40% off my 1406 for Black Friday years ago. It was 40% off whatever Advance Auto Parts had in stock. I called a week earlier and they had one in stock so that BF I was there at 6 AM to purchase the 1 they had lol.

Jason
User avatar
TonyC
TLFer for Life
Posts: 10690
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 1:01 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by TonyC »

:smt023 , Jason. BTW, remember those heads you sold me last year? I refurbished them at the beginning of this year and am running them now; even painted them. :wink:

---Tony
"Don't believe everything you read on the Internet, just because there is a picture with a quote next to it." (Abraham Lincoln, 1866)
"Question Authority!"

1966 Continental Sedan, affectionately known as "Frankenstein" until body restoration is done (to be renamed "General Sherman" on that event)
User avatar
tomo
Dedicated Enthusiast
Posts: 785
Joined: Mon Jan 09, 2012 12:01 pm
Location: Palatine, Il
Contact:

Re: Carburettor – rebuild or replace?

Post by tomo »

You should be able to find a shop that can rebuild your carburetor in AU. The kit fits several Ford and Mercury carburetors and is available from Rock Auto if you cannot find one in AU. Here are some Ford clubs in AU that may be able to help you:

https://www.fordownerscarclub.com.au/

http://www.toqinc.org/
Tom O'Donnell
Palatine, IL
1953 Capri Sport Coupe
Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests