carb spacer

[flattiefreak]

After the carb rebuild, my vacuum reading is a bit lower than before the rebuild, which means I have a vacuum leak. I know about the propane test for checkingleaks, but I have no propane and I am pretty sure its leaking between the intake manifold and carb base. I have the bakelite spacer and metal heat shield between the manifold and carb, but my question is Would a gasket be required between the manifold and spacer, and between the spacer and heat shield? The way it sits now is just a gasket between the heat shield and carb base. The car is running great, I would just like to address this vacuum problem.

thanks for any help

[Cpt.Fred]

you don't need propane to test, just take brake cleaner, or anything else that will burn, even hair spray works, or start pilot, and then spray it onto the carb foot when engine is at idle.

if there is a leak the engine will rev up automatically. when you go close and avoid spray getting sucked in through the air cleaner this can be quite accurate.

i don't know your setup, but there shouldn't be any part on the intake without a gasket...

make sure all sealing surfaces are plain and clean!

[flattiefreak]

Okay thank you. Ill add a two more gaskets and see if it goes away. The engine in question is a 230 flathead with a single carter B&B carb.

thank you

[greg g]

a gasket is needed between any and all mounting surfaces. Just remember to provide the vacuum route to the carb base gor the step up valve.

[flattiefreak]

Well, the darn bakelite spacer broke in two. The weather is gettiung bad so I removed it and just put on a gasket between the carb and intake. I used AXE body spray to test for leaks and yessir I got one heck of a leak.The studs are bigger at the bottom then at the top so I cannot fully tighten them without the spacer. I need a new bakelite spacer and have no clue where to get one. Anyone know of a good place?

thanks

[greg g]

Tom Langdon has them for about 20 bucks.

A friend of mine was in a similar pickle a few years back. He made 2 using the broken one as a patten. Made from a piece of cherry wood he had left over from a wood working project. As fas as I know they are still on the car.

Edited April 4, 2011 by greg g

[flattiefreak]

hmmm. thats a bit higher than I imagined. Thanks for letting me know. I may just buy some ultra grey and a few washers and see if that solves the problem.

thank you

[aero3113]

"AXE body spray " LoL, Now everything smells good

[flattiefreak]

LOL its the only thing I had on hand..and yes the engine compartment smells good.

[Cpt.Fred]

see, what did i say? ANYTHING that burns.

hehehe, AXE is good. i didn't think of that, actually...

i believe those spacers are made to reduce the level of heat transported

from the manifold to the carb to keep your charge nice and cool.

so if you ever had heat related issues in summer time i would try to get some

material with the same characteristics.

[Don Coatney]

Well, the darn bakelite spacer broke in two. The weather is gettiung bad so I removed it and just put on a gasket between the carb and intake.

What would you have done differently if the weather was not getting bad?????

[flattiefreak]

If the weather wasnt getting bad, I probably would have left the car in the drive way and bought one of those spacers, but we are expecting hail so I have to pull her under the carport.

[Lefebvre]

http://www.carburetor-parts.com/Carter_BB_Carburetor_Insulator_Spacer_p/121.htm

[flattiefreak]

thank you for the link.

[james curl]

Any of the dealers that supply the old Chevrolet hobby can supply you with the spacers. Every chevy 6 ever built used them.

[Cpt.Fred]

That's the part?

I thought it would be more like this:

http://v8ap.americanmuscleparts.de/shop/images/articles/8294396e41d882261a8f58e09439fa2a_5.jpg

i didn't know that part in the middle was an insulator.

one more question aswered if it really is.