Installing Rebuilt carb on a 305

[MikeB]

Just got the carburetor back from The Carb shop in St. Paul (Rochester Quadrajet).  As soon as Fed Ex finds the fuel line that I ordered (they lost the package...), I'm going to get everything put back together.

When I got the carb back from the shop it came with a single large gasket for the intake manifold.  When I took the carb off, it had a metal adapter bracket in between the carb and the intake.  It looks like there were gaskets on both sides of the adapter bracket. 

I'm wondering - does the single gasket I have replace the metal adapter?  Or am I supposed to clean the metal bracket and re-use with an additional gasket?  I can take some pictures if that doesn't make sense. 

[Rosscoe]

Mike,
I just picked mine up from there on Tuesday.

I think you would just use that new one on top of the adapter and continue to use it and leave things as they came. Get rid of the old one on top first.

[MikeB]

Received the fuel line last night (good riddance...)

So does that mean that the adapter just sits directly on top of the intake without gasket?  It sort of looks like there was a gasket there before.

[Rosscoe]

That I dont know for sure. I beleive when I removed the quadrajet off my truck and had that rebuilt, I threw it right back on the adapter spacer with the new gasket on top and called it good. I'm not sure if that is the right way however.

Guess I should just keep my mouth shut if I dont know the definitive answer. 

[kert0307]

If you leave the adapter, you will want a gasket on both sides. Is the adapter to adapt the quadrajet to a square bore intake or just a spacer?

[dorelse]

Hmm...mine doesn't use a spacer?  But there's definitely a gasket in there...

[MikeB]

I'll have to look at it when I get home tonight and I'll post a pic.  I'm not sure what it's "adapting" exactly.  If I can do without it that's totally fine by me, I didn't really want to clean it anyway! 

[Rich_V174SS]

I've seen if you don't use the spacer then it's difficult to adjust the choke pull-off properly. Without the spacer the choke doesn't close all the way if the pull-off coil is mounted to the intake manifold.

[MikeB]

Here's side 1:



Side 2:



Definitely gaskets on both sides.  Is there somewhere I can buy a replacement gasket for the other side locally?  I'd really like to get it put back together this weekend and I'm not sure what I should do. 

[Jerry]

I think that's an insulator and comes as one piece. check your local Chevy dealer. I have also seen Bakalite (sp) that are 1/2" thick and uses a gasket on each side. EVERY PLACE YOU HAVE A MATING SURFACE ON THE INTAKE YOU NEED A GASKET OR YOU"LL SUCK AIR!!

[MarkS]

There were some that were adaptors used to put a Holley onto a Q-jet manifold manifold, and some were used as "heat insulators" or "venturi enhancers".  (Rich knows alot, and I'm sure some were used to allow linkage clearance too.)  Metal or paper gaskets wouldn't matter that much, as long as there's a gasket on both sides as stated.  (Make sure mating surfaces are clean, NO SEALANT!, and stuff a rag into the intake to prevent debris from falling down in there when doing so.)  Just my "old hot rodder's" two cents worth.......

[thedeuceman]

I am speaking from automotive experience here, but i think that is a high temp gasket (like used on exhaust manifolds)
on the older chevys the exhaust crossover in the intake actually came through the car flange, and they used a gasket like that.
If that's not the case for marine engines then i think 1 gasket would do.

[MikeB]

I think we have the gasket figured out.  The new gasket is actually a new adapter piece that's wrapped in gasket material on both the front and back.  Carb is re-installed, although I'm not sure about the spring that attaches to the throttle.  Can't remember if I got it going through the holes the right way.  Does this look right?

[Rich_V174SS]

The spring is in the right holes but turn it around the opposite way so the coil of the spring doesn't interfere with the throttle arm.

[scott r bishop]

Happy to report Mike got it on this afternoon, and she purrs like a kitten at 600 RPMs (even sits fine at 400, but I know we have to account for back pressure once it's in the water).  Turn-key boat now, fires up on the first spin; it's the first time I've had a boat like that.  Best investment we could have made in this thing.

[Rosscoe]

I just realized yesterday when installing my carb that there is no return spring. Anyone know of they might have NOT used them for some reason? I think I need to get one somehow, somewhere.

[thedeuceman]

They used to have them at the auto parts stores, Dorman brand, one end was long so you could cut and bend as required.
Don't know if their still common, i have a coffee can full of similar springs i took home from work (chronic pack rat)
but to use those you have to fab an extension.
also have 2 302's in the driveway, if you cant find something let me know.

[Rosscoe]

Thanks Joe.
I'll check with an auto parts store. I think I'd like to have it on there.