Carb Advice

[Ashley Young]

I have rebuilt my 360 engine in our 1980 Brave.  I purchased new heads, mainly because the left one was actually split in half, but we are using the original intake.  Any advice on a new carb?  Not sure what to do at this point.  The original had the secondaries frozen up and we couldn't get it apart for a rebuild.  I took it to a carb guy, but he said there was no hope for it.

[Ashley Young]

Thanks!

[P. Vallerie]

Ashely. Most mechanics now a days don't want to mess with an old carb. They want to slap a new one on. Less labor involved. Don' t fret. If the secondaries are frozen shut it may not be lost. Get yourself some good carb cleaner. Not the spray kind. Soak the entire carb in a bucket in the solvent for a couple of days or a week. Work the linkages ever now again while it is soaking - don't force it. John T & John N have given some great advise for our 360 - double barrel carb. There is a great discussion that I started called Attention Mopar heads. It may help shed some light. If you can take some photo's of your carb and post it may help other members see what is really going on with it. Regards P

[Ashley Young]

That's sort of what I got out of this adventure.  The start of this was a camping trip that my rv barely pulled itself over an arched bridge.  The only weight was itself and our 5x8 trailer with the golfcart on it.  Anymore, I think no one really knows how to work on the older stuff, so they do swap it out.  In my case, the guy that "thought" he could fix it, actually ruined it and still attempted to charge me $50.00 for his time.  I know nothing about engines, so I watched a million Youtube videos and ended up tearing the engine all the way down.  The right head had 5 burnt valves and a crack between 2&3.  The left one had 8 burnt valves and was actually cracked in half.  I ordered new ones and just hung the new ones yesterday but haven't torqued them down yet.  We decided since we spent all the money to do this much, we would also purchase a new carb.

[Jimco_W001]

Be sure to crank the engine or electric fuel pump and flush out the fuel system into a container before installing a fresh carb.

[P. Vallerie]

Agreed!! That's the next step for our project. Is to drain and inspect or gas tanks first. Then fill them with fresh gas. With these old gals you don't want to contaminate what you have just rebuilt. There could be water and or rust in the lines. This could be what is causing some of the issues with your carb. Regards P

[Ashley Young]

Ok.  Thanks

[John Demarrais]

Nothing wrong with an original Thermoquad.  It certainly will be the easiest to install.  The OEM four-barrels with small primaries and large secondaries are pretty much limited to Carter Thermoquads or Rochester Quadrajets. Aftermarket you've got Holley Spreadbores.  The Thermoquad was a well engineered carb and gave good efficiency in the primary "two barrel" mode.  When the huge secondaries opened - it's like flushing a toliet powered by gasoline. But hey - any 600-800 CFM 4 barrel is going to do that. Only other choice it to intall a two-barrel with an adapter.  Many two barrels are less efficient that the two-barrel section of four-barrel OEM carbs.  So, not much to be gained with a two-barrel except simplicity.  In regard to aftermarket carbs. I've had many Holley double-pumpers and Spreadbores in the past and it seems I was always tinkering with them.  If it was mine, I'd stick with something OEM and engineered specifically for your engine.

[Jonas]

I would just go to "Summitracing.com" and order a "new" Thermoquad for about $300.  The old Thermoquads were excellent carbs... especially for motor home applications.

[Jonas]

Summit Racing part # SUM-210234 is $279.97

[Ashley Young]

Thanks, jonas

[John Demarrais]

Rock Auto has rebuilt Thermoquads for 360s for $252.   Why couldn't your carb-guy take your's apart?  Can't say I ever heard such a story beflore unless your carb sat outside in the rain and snow.

AUTOLINE Part # C6198 {#C4TQ} Carter 4 Barrel; Reman
C4-TQ; Carter Equipped; HD

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/x,carcode,1075463,parttype,5904

[Ashley Young]

Honestly, I think he either didn't know what he was doing or he was trying to rip me off.  I live in Myrtle Beach, so I think most of the places around here are used to charging for new parts and because people are stuck here on vacation and have no choice.  I have learned that anything done to our rv has to be done me in order not to be ripped off anymore.  Thanks for the Part number.