Carburetor

Life before computer controlled fuel injection was interesting.

Carburetor: a device that mixes air and fuel for internal combustion engines in the proper ratio for combustion.

 

I'll bet those were fun to get synced in. I sure want an LS motor set up with a carb.

 

I imagine the linkage was a nightmare.

 

My father had an Impala with 3 deuces. We lived in Key West and he was in the navy and had been away a few months. He was telling me that he romped into it on the 7 mile bridge and the linkages froze up at WOT. He was able to get it pulled over in neutral and said flames were coming out the tail pipes. He had to open the hood and and grab the linkages to shut it down. Said it scared the hell out of him that the engine was going to blow up in his face. Guess the salt air had an effect

 

Fuck carburetors

 

Ha

 

Man... When I was 19 I built a 350 and stuck it in a 79 firebird. I was forever adjusting the needles on the damn carb. I never felt like it was exactly right.

 

Quadrajet...Too big for a paperweight; Too small for a boat anchor.

 

The last carb I messed with was a Holley Economaster that replaced a Quadrajet, it ran well but vapor lock was a constant concern when air temperatures were hot. I was considering a cool can, but sold the car before I went in that direction.

 

I never could understand why Holley carbs were always so rich on Ford trucks. Most folks just didn't get the fact that the needle adjustments and such were for a specific range related to the jets installed. The low compression engines in the 70s just couldn't use the fuel to make the power.

Now that I've gotten older, I'd really like to build me a old fashioned carbed motor. Had a 260 Z that would vapor lock but didn't have that kind of cash back then to do any real tinkering with new carbs and ended up selling it. Wish I still had it. I like the QJ carb. Run on 2 barrels till you needed it. I remember all the chase movies in the 70s used that growling sound they would make in the soundtracks.

 

Fuel injection is superior so “Fuck carburetors” is exactly right.

The day computers took over the adjustments I was HAPPY to never need a dwell meter anymore, and I haven’t needed to hook up a timing light in 30 years.

 

I've got a 67 bug engine with a 70's Pinto progressive carb on it. Lots of fun.

 

I need to pull the carb on my Honda 400EX. Fired it up to head out to the desert. It dumped gas everywhere. I think the float is stuck open..... fun fun.

 

Raw power was easily made back then, but it took constant tuning and frequent adjustments to keep the engines running at peak performance. Life is much easier now.