Can I "shave" the top half of my carb to get it to seal

[Tatback]

After rebuilding my carburetor (it was leaking like a sieve from around the gasket the last time we had it running) I noticed the problem is the top half itself. It seems to be badly warped. Could I sand it down slightly to even it out? I was planning to place the sandpaper on a piece of glass and running the top half over it back and fourth to even it out.

[Young Ed]

Yes I typically do that when I rebuild them too. Yours looks pretty bad you might have to compromise on perfectly flat and sandng it too thin.

[_shel_ny]

Your rod clip is not properly installed on the upper end where it comes up from the choke.

 

Not that that has anything to do with your leaking, but may inhibit proper movement of the rod.

[plyroadking]

I usually double up the gasket to get mine to seal

[Tatback]

Ok cool, thank you all. I'll probably try to get it more in shape with some light persuasion with a small hammer. Then I'll sand it and even double up on the gaskets.

Shel_ny

This is how it was when I took it off the car. The guy before me could of flipped things around (a lot of stuff was poorly done)

Can you please tell me how it should be.

[Tatback]

[P15-D24]

Should be a large round gasket that sits on top to help seal those variations in height. 

[Tatback]

Should be a large round gasket that sits on top to help seal those variations in height.

A large round gasket that sits on top? Between the carb and air filter?

[Don Coatney]

[T120]

Tatback,I haven't the need to true up the mating surfaces on a carburetor,however I would suggest using a figure eight pattern when sanding. 

[deathbound]

For the upper rod clip in the first pic, before you secure it to the rod, start the rod in the hole in the rod clip, then through the carb piece, then through the other hole in the rod clip, then swing it onto the rod to lock it in. Hope this makes sense, you can kind of see it in Don's pic of his linkage. The clip should "sandwich" the piece/lever on the carb....not on 1 side like shown on yours.

[P15-D24]

A large round gasket that sits on top? Between the carb and air filter?

Yes

[RobertKB]

You can cut the round gasket from an old piece of inner tube. I have done that several times and it works well.

[JBNeal]

have ya tried a gasket sealant? 

[Tatback]

Yes

Oh wow, I had no idea. Thank you!!

[_shel_ny]

I made a replacement for the top of the carb from a chunk of gasket material.  Shapes well to the carb first time you clamp it down.

[denmopar]

So, unless i'm totally missing the point of the thread, I think the poster is asking about sealing the air horn to the bowl assy.

I had to do this for a later Carter BBS for one of my '54 Plymouths.

I used the large (9" X 11") sandpaper sheets (red in color,) found in many stores including WalMarts. 80 grit works well. 100 grit would work also.

Lay the paper on a known flat smooth hard surface -face-up- and set the airhorn on it and start the sanding process with circular movements.

Perhaps taping the paper at its edges to the underlying surface will make the task easier for you.

 

This worked for me.

Good luck with it!

 

Den-

[james curl]

If you are using wet/dry auto sandpaper you can wet the backside and place it on a sheet of flat glass.  The water holds the sandpaper in place and flat glass is as close to flat as most of us can get.

[James_Douglas]

I had a friend with a Chrysler 300.  One of the tops of the Carter AFB's was distorted like the BB in this thread.

 

I took a 3/8 inch steel plate and we drilled holes in it to match the carb top.  We tapped them.  Then we screwed it down, but not too snug.

 

Then it went into an oven to 400F.  After 30 minutes we pulled it out and tightened the screws.  Then back into the over for 30 minutes.  Then we just shut off the oven and left it there until room temp.

 

When we unscrewed it, it was nice and flat.

 

James.