1974 L18 Wrong Carb Mounted on Plywood (pic added)

[Cardinal Grammeter]

I would like to get my hands on the retard that put a 2-bolt 1-bbl carb on using a plywood adapter plate.  He put one of the studs through the 1 hole on the flange and then used a big washer on another  stud to clamp the other side of the carb to the plywood.  So I have a clamping washer holding half the carb on.

 

I should attach a picture so everyone can hurl all over they keyboards.....

 

What are my options?

• OE carb
• Aftermarket carb w/stock air cleaner
• Aftermarket carb w/aftermarket air cleaner.

When I see stuff like this, I walk and never look back.

 

So a friend comes over and I'm showing him the truck and had some fun with this.  I said there was something unspeakably wrong with the carb and he said, "Well, didn't you look at it?" 

 

So I laughed and told him to look at it.

 

So he says something about the fuel line and I say NO, keep looking.

 

And after about 3 minutes of repeatedly telling him to "Keep looking...," his eyes bug out and expletives follow!

 

EDIT:  4-13-2014  Pic added:

 

 

 

 

[datzenmike]

It's a progression. I think we all start out somewhere and learn as we go. Then there's those who have to do the 'best' they can with what they have to keep on the road. Shit like that can leave you well and truly stranded somewhere.

[tr8er]

That's crazy. Everyone knows ply is the worst kind of wood for adapter plates...

[bonvo]

buy weber kit problem solved

[dr.feltersnatch]

pics! 

[Cardinal Grammeter]

How do I attach or inline a pic?

[JoeCool]

Plywood is a good spacer/adapter for a carb. Lots of race car drivers use it because it is cheap, and easy to make another. They like it because it also contracts and expands with engine temps, so no gaps. Then again, most of them REPLACE it after a race or two. It tends to warp and come apart after getting soaked in fuel. I know I used it on a Holley 4BBL when I was doing the 1/4 and 1/2 mile paved circle track racing with a friend years ago.

 

But you have to bolt the damn carb on properly for it to work properly! Damn, I thought my truck's previous owners did a lot of rigging...

[JoeCool]

Since you don't have the stock carb anyway, may as well go with a aftermarket Weber kit. 

 

http://www.webercarbsdirect.com

[Cardinal Grammeter]

Check out the plywood in my avatar.

___________________

 

I couldn't afford the $1500 I paid for this truck, so that Weber kit might as well be $3000. 

 

If I can't find a carb for $25 or maybe $50 at most, I guess I"ll make a spacer out of aluminum.

 

The big question mark is the condition of the engine.  I bot this truck on the word of the friend I bot it from.  Considering the butcher job done on the carb, I have a very bad feeling about the engine.  There was no water in the radiator either.  So I could have a complete disaster here.

 

The deal was this truck was supposed to only need a battery and maybe some brake work to get on the road.

 

What I really need is a parts truck but I don't have room for it either and probably not the money either.

 

I am really upset   It has relatively little rust and that was what I was focusing on.  And it looks like mechanicals are going to scuttle this.

[MikeRL411]

I couldn't afford the $1500 I paid for this truck, so that Weber kit might as well be $3000. 

 

If I can't find a carb for $25 or maybe $50 at most, I guess I"ll make a spacer out of aluminum.

 

The big question mark is the condition of the engine.  I bot this truck on the word of the friend I bot it from.  Considering the butcher job done on the carb, I have a very bad feeling about the engine.  There was no water in the radiator either.  So I could have a complete disaster here.

 

The deal was this truck was supposed to only need a battery and maybe some brake work to get on the road.

 

What I really need is a parts truck but I don't have room for it either and probably not the money either.

 

I am really upset   It has relatively little rust and that was what I was focusing on.  And it looks like mechanicals are going to scuttle this.

 

You are so screwed!  Who needs "friends" like that.

[dr.feltersnatch]

so put some water in it and fire it up, see what happens. check the oil and see if its black or milky white. dont worry about the wood just fix it and move on.

[ggzilla]

Hey if it works, leave it be. Or is it not running good?

[smoke]

Hey if it works, leave it be. Or is it not running good?

This right here would be the most important thing and yes....many guys run a carb spacer made from wood. 

 

http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS+Performance+Products/555/154012/10002/-1?CAWELAID=1710770855&CAGPSPN=pla&catargetid=230006180000514779&cadevice=c&gclid=CMmu9tS3t70CFVKFfgodoWoAIw

[Driftease]

At least if it strands you,you can burn the spacer for heat.

[smoke]

Keep a can of beanie weenies under the seat and you'll have it made.

[Cardinal Grammeter]

Yeah, I need to stop panicing :o)

 

Need to fire it up and see what I have.

 

The oil looked good and clean.

 

The bed is amazing.  The deck, wheel houses, sides, front are like new.  But the tailgate hinge area is badly rusted out.

 

Dash is unmolested although the top is cracked in 3-4 places.

[datzenmike]

If you get the correct carb you won't need to make an aluminum spacer, just a gasket.

[wayno]

The issue here is location.

 

If you cannot afford to buy a new weber carb, perhaps you can go to the wrecking yards in your area and start looking at all the older vehicles with comparable engines, and look for something that is compatible, webers are a common upgrade, so perhaps small truck or car common in your area has what you need.

[ggzilla]

Rochester 1-barrel are very flexible but may be too big as they were fitted to 3.3 liter engines.

 

Try it and see.

[Sealik]

....many guys run a carb spacer made from wood. 

 

 

Correct.

Being that there was no transitional insulators available for the L4/SU intake...38-46mm

I made my own out of purpleheart....

 

That shit is harder than aluminum....lol

.....................................................................

Plywood is not good.... due to the fact that fuel will eventually dissolve the glues binding the veeners together

[smoke]

And a much better insulator.

[exit64]

Morning wood is hardest known to man.....

[exit64]

Back on topic. Someone must have a spare floating around for this guy. Look at his location. I am guessing that Datsun's are about as common as winning lottery tickets in PA.

[]2eDeYe]

I'd love to see more pics of your truck :)

 

http://community.ratsun.net/topic/691-how-to-post-pictures-and-keep-online-photo-albums/

[Cardinal Grammeter]

Yeah, I'm not so panicky now.  I've been working all week clearing out my car port for this little project.  A few days ago, got the engine to run for a moment with ether and it sounded real smooth.  I think its completely out of gas.  The fuel hoses off the pump and filter are brittle as glass. 

 

It appears I should be able to find the right carb, a Hitachi DCH 340.  I've already found one and some other parts on the classified forum and am waiting for seller to get back to me.

 

Need to figure out photobucket.  Although I've been using it for some years now, it seems like I can't give someone my ID and then they can look at all my pics.  Maybe there is a better place to put pics.