I just finished overhauling a Holley 80555-1 Q-Jet replacement carb. The kit for this carb was $82... which is not really cost effective IMOP. But... I had to have it. The kit includes an excessive amount of parts to satisfy a number of other carbs as well as 2 barrel carbs.
I.E.- Carburetor Rebuild/Renew Kit, Holley 2300, 4150, 4160, 4165, 4175 Models, Kit

Take a look at this picture:



The lower row of parts are pulled from the carb. In the row directly above it are the replacement parts I used: Air Cleaner to carb, base gasket, metering block & metering plate, fuel bowl gaskets (4), throttle body to main body, powr valve, pump diaphragm, needles & seats. The parts above the line are unused/extra parts that I paid for that are not used. Somebody needs to talk to Holley about their "environmental" policy. What a waste of resources. Yes... I know they did it to "consolidate" kits and cut down on their costs... but there has to be a better way.

Next time I won't separate the throttle body from the main body and I'll source the other parts individually. My advice is to start documenting the exact parts you need for your particular carb. The throttle body does not always have to be separated from the main body in a typical "rebuild"... that gasket can only be obtained frrom a kit. The metering block/plate & fuel bowl gaskets are all available separately, as are the base and air cleaner gasket. Power valves are available if you know which one you need. It killed me to spend $82 on a handful of gaskets.

 

Tom, I know it's not a Holley kit, and everyone says to use only Holley parts on a Holley carb., but I've used this kit and had no problems at all. All gaskets (even the TB/base plate), and needed parts are there at half the cost.

Probably be awhile before ya need one again, but here it is: Holley 4175

 

Thanks.... I had seen that kit.... it has the wrong base gasket in it so I was hesitant to buy it... afraid other parts might be a little off. I might get it anyways just to see how it fares. I will be rebuilding this carb again... it's on my personal vehicle.

 

I agree- The Holley rebuild kits are rudely expensive!
To add insult to injury, the vacuum secondary rebuild kits don't even include the secondary diaphragm!

The only thing Holley is saving is their bottom line with these kits.
The parts on theses things haven't changed since the 60's so what's with the price gouging? $30 would be more than a fair price for these kits.
Elm

 

Good guidance; seems like everyone's going to a "once size fits all" overhaul kit as the real cost in many cases is the human labor to assemble the kits

If it helps, I just bought a carb overhaul kit for an aircraft carb - 8 gaskets and 3 diaphrams.

$1,896.00

Owie.

 

Yea I used plenty of aftermarket kits when I had a 4150 and never had any problems. Holley kits always seemed to have more than I needed as well as the big sticker.

Guess with F/I getting cheaper every day its harder to find now at a good price.