Forum Replies Created
-
Replies
-
As you found out, it’s easy to get the gasket misaligned …and G.M. made a scad of gaskets for Q-Jets. They were a great carb in their day and offered reasonable performance and economy. They were so well thought out it didn’t take much to modify them for better performance, and even G.M. modified them as smog regulations grew more restrictive. That can’t be said about Autolite/Fomoco or 1/2 the Carter and Holley carburetors of that era.
Your picture (_015jpg) shows the choke pull-off dash pot. This little plastic gem can cause much grief (flooding/rich symptoms)and merits a check too. A vacuum leak here can cause the choke to operate erratically and other issues. The same picture shows the choke pull-off linkage, about the only thing on a Q-Jet that can be bent without causing grief, and secondary lock out (that backwards looking L shaped gizmo)
Lastly, put the air cleaner back on before you test for a vacuum leak. Half the noise I think you’re hearing is the normal carbruetor hiss that old timers miss so much…
As you found out, it’s easy to get the gasket misaligned …and G.M. made a scad of gaskets for Q-Jets. They were a great carb in their day and offered reasonable performance and economy. They were so well thought out it didn’t take much to modify them for better performance, and even G.M. modified them as smog regulations grew more restrictive. That can’t be said about Autolite/Fomoco or 1/2 the Carter and Holley carburetors of that era.
Your picture (_015jpg) shows the choke pull-off dash pot. This little plastic gem can cause much grief (flooding/rich symptoms)and merits a check too. A vacuum leak here can cause the choke to operate erratically and other issues. The same picture shows the choke pull-off linkage, about the only thing on a Q-Jet that can be bent without causing grief, and secondary lock out (that backwards looking L shaped gizmo)
Lastly, put the air cleaner back on before you test for a vacuum leak. Half the noise I think you’re hearing is the normal carbruetor hiss that old timers miss so much…
A bit overboard, but you could knock out a freeze plug on each side of the engine block and flush it out too. Just a thought…
A bit overboard, but you could knock out a freeze plug on each side of the engine block and flush it out too. Just a thought…
[quote=”SpawnedX” post=104419]…my knees pop and I have cuts all over the place.
I reflect every day on my career choice, from loving it to hating it to tolerating it. I envision a better life for techs and work hard to do my share to achieve it for all.
I just sometimes cannot get out of a rut.
I sometimes wonder if people go into Walmart, put their groceries on the conveyor belt and then rage at the cashier who asks them for payment?[/quote]I don’t know what to say to you other than I know many, many folks that are unhappy with their career choices, even doctors and lawyers. Some are young enough to change their course in life, some are not. I think, honestly, it’s a slice of life that reflects our current political climate and change is inevitable.
Yes, I have seen women in curlers torment the checkers at Wal-Mart, and I think some folks are happier inflicting their miserable existence upon those of us who try harder. This is my philosophy: people like that have earned all the relentless depression and blinding poverty they so richly deserve.
As for the aching joints …find some wrenches that fit your fingers and hands and carry on. My hands sound like a bowl of rice krispies on a hard pull!
[quote=”SpawnedX” post=104419]…my knees pop and I have cuts all over the place.
I reflect every day on my career choice, from loving it to hating it to tolerating it. I envision a better life for techs and work hard to do my share to achieve it for all.
I just sometimes cannot get out of a rut.
I sometimes wonder if people go into Walmart, put their groceries on the conveyor belt and then rage at the cashier who asks them for payment?[/quote]I don’t know what to say to you other than I know many, many folks that are unhappy with their career choices, even doctors and lawyers. Some are young enough to change their course in life, some are not. I think, honestly, it’s a slice of life that reflects our current political climate and change is inevitable.
Yes, I have seen women in curlers torment the checkers at Wal-Mart, and I think some folks are happier inflicting their miserable existence upon those of us who try harder. This is my philosophy: people like that have earned all the relentless depression and blinding poverty they so richly deserve.
As for the aching joints …find some wrenches that fit your fingers and hands and carry on. My hands sound like a bowl of rice krispies on a hard pull!
A synthetic oil will help you out where noisy cold starts are concerned. I don’t always follow the manufacturers advice on oil viscosity, especially where 5W-20 is concerned. For several years I have used 0W-30 in winter and 15W-40 in summer without issue. That said, I don’t think 15W-40 is the best choice for OHC engines unless they’re turbocharged.
Extended service intervals are bunk in my opinion simply because few of us drive under ideal conditions. I have sent several oil samples in and most are near the end of useful life around the 3500 mile mark in fuel injected engines. Blackstone lab results indicated a base number of 3 at that mileage, and the oil I put in has a base number of 12. I could run my oil a bit longer, but I see no way it would ever make the 7500 mile mark…
A synthetic oil will help you out where noisy cold starts are concerned. I don’t always follow the manufacturers advice on oil viscosity, especially where 5W-20 is concerned. For several years I have used 0W-30 in winter and 15W-40 in summer without issue. That said, I don’t think 15W-40 is the best choice for OHC engines unless they’re turbocharged.
Extended service intervals are bunk in my opinion simply because few of us drive under ideal conditions. I have sent several oil samples in and most are near the end of useful life around the 3500 mile mark in fuel injected engines. Blackstone lab results indicated a base number of 3 at that mileage, and the oil I put in has a base number of 12. I could run my oil a bit longer, but I see no way it would ever make the 7500 mile mark…
[quote=”barneyb” post=103875] That and store the vehicle where it is dry and rodent free.[/quote]
+1
I did some electrical work on a Duramax two years ago because squirrels got under the hood.[quote=”barneyb” post=103875] That and store the vehicle where it is dry and rodent free.[/quote]
+1
I did some electrical work on a Duramax two years ago because squirrels got under the hood.Toyota, Subaru, Honda, in that order too! I would recommend you start with a automatic transmission unless you have been around stick shift vehicles before. Nothing wrong with manual transmissions, just less to distract a new driver with an automatic…
Toyota, Subaru, Honda, in that order too! I would recommend you start with a automatic transmission unless you have been around stick shift vehicles before. Nothing wrong with manual transmissions, just less to distract a new driver with an automatic…
[quote=”barneyb” post=104092]
I owned a couple of GM cars from this time period and I remember that when you got air in the system between the master and the proportioning valve you had trouble. As I recall there was a little valve covered by a rubber boot on the proportioning valve that had to be depressed when bleeding. There was a special tool for this. I had the tool and still had trouble.[/quote]+2 on the proportioning valve.
I have seen a few steel lines clogged by rust, but IIRC that was a Ford issue.[quote=”barneyb” post=104092]
I owned a couple of GM cars from this time period and I remember that when you got air in the system between the master and the proportioning valve you had trouble. As I recall there was a little valve covered by a rubber boot on the proportioning valve that had to be depressed when bleeding. There was a special tool for this. I had the tool and still had trouble.[/quote]+2 on the proportioning valve.
I have seen a few steel lines clogged by rust, but IIRC that was a Ford issue.