Broken bolt threads on carb
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
Broken bolt threads on carb
Hi guys... I have somehow managed to break the hole for the air cleaner bolt on my carburetor. I have NO IDEA how this happened, but now I can't bolt my air cleaner on. I just have it sitting on the top, letting gravity and the hood hold it. That works, but I sure would like a creative solution to fix it. I sure don't want to buy a new one just to fix this!
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 355
Likes: 18
From: Corona Ca
x2 on on what bashcraft said.
(MelWff was more to the point, anyways...)
Need to make sure you have it accounted for, as this keeps it from the insides of you motor. Also, having the piece, you may be able to have it reaffixed (JB Weld?). I know it would be considered "Bubba", but...
it looks as if there is a bit of bore left that is unthreaded. If you can get that bore tapped deeper, you may be good to go as-is. I would see how far in the bore goes and have it fully tapped to the bottom. If you find the missing piece, you could then reattach it somehow (JB-Bubba-Weld).
Good luck,
Tom
(MelWff was more to the point, anyways...)
Need to make sure you have it accounted for, as this keeps it from the insides of you motor. Also, having the piece, you may be able to have it reaffixed (JB Weld?). I know it would be considered "Bubba", but...
it looks as if there is a bit of bore left that is unthreaded. If you can get that bore tapped deeper, you may be good to go as-is. I would see how far in the bore goes and have it fully tapped to the bottom. If you find the missing piece, you could then reattach it somehow (JB-Bubba-Weld).
Good luck,
Tom
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Take the carb body to a machine shop with a mill, have them remove the choke tower and tap the air cleaner hole. What caused the breakage in the 1st place? is your air cleaner contacting the hood under motor torque? If you don't solve that problem, you will continue to break studs!
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 61
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From: Fort Worth TX
Thanks everyone! So helpful...
I'm not sure how it broke, or when it broke. The old carb didn't have the issue. My father-in-law had the new Holley carb put on before he brought it out to me in Texas. I didn't realize it was broken (and neither did he) until I took the air cleaner off to polish it.
That piece undoubtedly fell into the carb. The best I can hope is that it went through and blew out the exhaust. I've not had any issues with the motor, but I know that little piece COULD wreak havoc. I just hate to think I have to start tearing down that motor to find it... Is that what i'll have to / need to do?
I'm not sure how it broke, or when it broke. The old carb didn't have the issue. My father-in-law had the new Holley carb put on before he brought it out to me in Texas. I didn't realize it was broken (and neither did he) until I took the air cleaner off to polish it.
That piece undoubtedly fell into the carb. The best I can hope is that it went through and blew out the exhaust. I've not had any issues with the motor, but I know that little piece COULD wreak havoc. I just hate to think I have to start tearing down that motor to find it... Is that what i'll have to / need to do?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,506
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
That piece undoubtedly fell into the carb. The best I can hope is that it went through and blew out the exhaust. I've not had any issues with the motor, but I know that little piece COULD wreak havoc. I just hate to think I have to start tearing down that motor to find it... Is that what i'll have to / need to do?
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Do you have a mechanic who works on the car? Or [more likely] did the guy at the oil change place show you the filter from your air cleaner and ask if you wanted it changed?
If you don't remember doing it, someone else did.
Again, the pertinent question is, "Where is the broken piece?" If that piece ends up in the valvetrain or combustion chamber, damage WILL be done.
P.S. That piece is not magnetic (zinc). And, I can tell from the appearance of the surface of the cracked area that it was broken off (at one time), rather than having fractured due to fatique over a long period of time. Someone broke it...but didn't tell you.
If you don't remember doing it, someone else did.
Again, the pertinent question is, "Where is the broken piece?" If that piece ends up in the valvetrain or combustion chamber, damage WILL be done.
P.S. That piece is not magnetic (zinc). And, I can tell from the appearance of the surface of the cracked area that it was broken off (at one time), rather than having fractured due to fatique over a long period of time. Someone broke it...but didn't tell you.
Last edited by 7T1vette; May 7, 2015 at 03:55 PM.