Carburetor Basics - What I Wish I Knew Starting Out!

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Carburetor Basics - What I Wish I Knew Starting Out!

Рет қаралды 86,016

4 жыл бұрын

Today I answer some questions I hope some of you have asked or wondered about before! If you have further questions, watch Thunderheads video, join his Facebook group, or message us on Instagram!
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Пікірлер: 183

@wreckerjonny6144 4 жыл бұрын

I work at a shop . The guy I work for is like the rain man on carbs . He listens to it and can tell you what is wrong with it or where the problem is on which part of the carb. He worked on muscle cars when they were new .

@SamFBM 4 жыл бұрын

Them are the gurus of cars hahaha

@Pantheragem 4 жыл бұрын

My uncle was like that. His ears were like a damn tuning fork for cars. I was so jealous. I miss the man.

@lawnmowermanlawnmowerman9930 3 жыл бұрын

I can too on most of them

@TheFeed816 2 жыл бұрын

My grandpa, he can hear a carb and tell you what's wrong with it, he worked on muscle cars when they were new

@leakybandz1208 Жыл бұрын

I need him to work on my rolla

@Groobl 4 жыл бұрын

Heck yeah this is great content I don't work on carbureted engines much so the visual aids were top notch. A+ learning material

@andrewgross8125 4 жыл бұрын

Been with this channel since the VERY early days. Amazing to see it grow into what it is. Keep it up man!

@donnabrown9476 4 жыл бұрын

Excellent video Kevin! Very informative even for people that know nothing about a carb, aka Mom. When I watched this all I could think about was how you spent the summer after kindergarten tearing apart that engine on your workbench under the shade trees by the swingset, and that photo of you with your greesy black hands, wearing of all things a Chevy shirt. You started young! I am so proud of what you have done with your skills!

@dustindavis749 2 ай бұрын

i have watched so many carb videos and have not been able to find a good video that goes into enough detail but this one is excellent I now have such a better understanding thank you

@MATISTHERAT 2 ай бұрын

The fact your basically working on the exact car I’m wanting to learn about is unreal . My dad left me a 1968 Pontiac Parisienne but I don’t know anything about how to run it. Here in Australia there’s not many around

@lawnmowermanlawnmowerman9930 3 жыл бұрын

You did pretty good at explaining carbs and how they work. I went thru this training around 30 yrs. ago at a Ford Service Tech school. Most of todays younger mechanics can fix fuel injection with their eyes closed but have no clue how to repair or tune a carburetor. Glad your teaching others some of what you've learned

@steamgadget 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this! This was a really great explanation. I am wanting to learn more about engines and just about everything you said made sense to me.

@nirvana95themodder 4 жыл бұрын

The way you suggest thunderheads videos in a roundabout way is hilarious, and a wonderful thing

@revolution1one 4 жыл бұрын

I orginally knew nothing useful about carbs until now. I had no idea how much went into them and how many ins and outs there are. Great basics coverage. Looking forward to the LeMans videos.

@bentonmiller1995 4 жыл бұрын

Can you do a “timing” basics video just like this? This helped me so much!

@104jones 4 жыл бұрын

Hey does Thunderhead289 have any videos on carbs I can watch?

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

There's a chance 🤔

@aaronmassey256 4 жыл бұрын

A shit ton

@brandondavis8286 4 жыл бұрын

A lot of them!

@alan6832 4 жыл бұрын

@@JunkyardDigs I don't think I like that about using timing to set my idle speed because I want to set my timing for timing purposes, not idle speed purposes, especially if it is more difficult and/or expensive for me the set my timing curve, centrifugal and vacuum advance settings, which change with age and wear, I want to set my timing to almost knock but not quite, or give an occasional little knock in heat waves, then set mixture screws for proper mixture, which leaves only the slot screw for idle speed. If I use timing to set idle speed then I can only set it to not quite knock with relatively difficult centrifugal and vacuum advance changes.

@elonmust7470 3 жыл бұрын

@@JunkyardDigs good god the shilling is out of control!

@perotekku 4 жыл бұрын

Love the vid, please help fix the audio in Luke's videos! 😂 Man is a carb genius, just can't always hear him lol

@trevorcozens1677 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for that Kevin, it has made things a lot clearer. I have followed you , Mook and Luke for awhile now and have learned a lot of great tips. I have rebuilt a couple of 6 cylinder engines in the past and have with my Brother inlaw, built up CF Bedford vans with either 6cylinder nisson 2.8 liter diesel engines or Petrol engines with 5speed gearboxes. Plus set them up with disc brakes and other mods. Any ways keep up the great content. Cheers from Trevor, I hail from New Zealand.

@dukenudibranch6414 4 жыл бұрын

No joke, some young KZfaqr bought a 60's Mustang that had a small engine fire. He's doing a fixer upper video, and he was like what is that... pointing to the carb. A little jealous, but wtf?

@TCBGARAGE 4 жыл бұрын

I've also seen that video . Sad but the youth of today knows nothing about carburetors.

@rocksdegamer 4 жыл бұрын

T.C.B. GARAGE Most of youth today * not all! 😂😂

@TCBGARAGE 4 жыл бұрын

@@rocksdegamer right on! There's still hope. 👍😊

@jeremymcnally5560 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for doin a carb for beginners video this has helped me and many many others as well im sure.

@spinningtireproductions105 4 жыл бұрын

Love your videos keep up the good work you and all your friends channels encouraged me to buy my first project I’m 14 and hopping to get the 69 charger going when I can drive

@104jones 4 жыл бұрын

That's awesome, good luck to you!

@spinningtireproductions105 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks

@kwekumensah5642 2 жыл бұрын

How is it now?

@reidbarnes9851 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much about explaining about the transfer slots. I have been trying to adjust my carburetor that had about an eighth of an inch of slot showing. And couldn't get it to stop stumbling from idle to acceleration. I took the carburetor off squared to the slots put in a new float and adjusted it and was able to turn in the idle mixture screws about a turn on the half and it works great. And thanks to thunderhead289 also

@aidanmakinster922 4 жыл бұрын

WOW 🤯 there is a lot more going on in a carb than I thought!!

@travismoore7849 2 жыл бұрын

My idea was jut to use a pipe T joint with a pipe going into a fuel tank. In the pipe to the T Joint is a piece of carbon felt wick. This wicks fuel up to the pipe T joint where air flows around or though the wick to make a fuel air mix. You can even use a small canister with a gas line and a return with a slow flow fuel pump of 30ml a minute. As long as most of the fuel returns to the tank and the wick is soaked in fuel. and you can have a fixed fuel level for the canister for the wick system. A spark arrestor and air filter are used on the top of the pipe T for the intake a small air filter and the output runs through a spark arrestor. Or you can replace the fuel jet with a carbon felt wick in the carburetor.

@davidnorthrup3674 2 жыл бұрын

Before this video I had never heard of transfer slots. Thank you very much for the info!

@alexlowe6225 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video. I love carb because it simple device and also very reliable)

@chriscarson1493 4 жыл бұрын

Carburetors all the way! Fuel injection? FUGHEDDABOUDDITT!!!

@jcnpresser 3 жыл бұрын

Carbs are sooo scary! 😆 pretty simple if you know what your working on. Now everyone should have a little more knowledge! Great video by the way.

@fordfairlane662dr 4 жыл бұрын

Great explanation of carburetors 😄😃

@FordMan-lf8ns 4 жыл бұрын

Quadtrajet carbs used metering rods too.LOL also called Quadrajunk But I run an Elederbrock also called elederjunk.. But I have been running it 20 yrs no probs...

@slowride55 4 жыл бұрын

Nat Lite you mean Edelbrock which is just a Carter AFB

@FordMan-lf8ns 4 жыл бұрын

@@slowride55 yep. AFB good carb I had a Holly on another truck it never ran right even after rebuild. I put an AFB on it and it came to life.

@FordMan-lf8ns 4 жыл бұрын

The metering block on Hollies if the gas get some age on it are hard to clean. I think that was my Holley problem, the truck sat for 5 years and soaking didn't clean out the gunk.

@glennmanchester1568 4 жыл бұрын

I've not had anything but q jets and won't run anything but they are. Better on fuel than any square bore if you stay out of it and when you hit it well kicks like a mule and moans like a prostitute lol

@NightWrencher 4 жыл бұрын

UGH, as SOON as I decide to make a few carb videos and upload them. You guys already got them up. SMH good stuff keep it up!

@evanbushong4291 Жыл бұрын

Hey been watching your videos there great man. Love also the shout outs you alway give your boy. Hope y’all still great friends!

@The282mike 4 жыл бұрын

nice video! grab a small container put it under one of the lower screws then remove it and loosen a top screw on the bowl you are removing and it will drain without making a mess, or at least a lot less!

@bdd1469 4 жыл бұрын

Uncle Tonys garage is also launching a video series on carb tuning in the very near future...

@pikehunter23750 4 жыл бұрын

A guy sure likes that VGG hat this young fella's wearing.

@jaynemec7987 4 жыл бұрын

hunterofpike where can I get one?

@danderson9881 4 жыл бұрын

the summit holleys are nice. cant beat the ol carter avs carbs. Every holley I dealt with, was problematic.

@brandondavis8286 4 жыл бұрын

Carburetor: something you will never see Cleetus McFarland touch

@bryantpartazana6356 4 жыл бұрын

Sadly

@Fox_Mulder350 3 жыл бұрын

@@bryantpartazana6356 agreed

@ComradeAlpharius 4 жыл бұрын

Great vid! Thank you! I learned so much from this that I never knew I didn't know!

@sbf_fox2434 4 жыл бұрын

Nice video. I think you misspoke though when you talked about how to adjust the float height. The flat head screw at the top is the set screw to lock the adjustment in place. The height of the float is adjusted by turning the nut.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

Correct! I got that one backwards when I said it! If you notice I actually hesitated right then as well😂

@colejohnson3705 4 жыл бұрын

I had to use the side hung float carb. The center hung float carbs flood out when I four wheel.

@albert4599 3 жыл бұрын

Such a helpfull and informal video thanks

@colehara 4 жыл бұрын

To drain the float bowl on a Holley just remove one bottom float bowl screw with a rag or a cup underneath it.

@usernameg5 4 жыл бұрын

I have never touched a carburettor and propably never will. I have an EFI car, but i still find this video kind of interesting, lol

@ShadowHybridX 4 жыл бұрын

Nice, waiting for that next video!

@fazerainbow5674 3 жыл бұрын

hey mr digs great video lots to learn about for carbs for sure thumbs up and shared

@rightlanecamper 4 жыл бұрын

I don't ever expect to work on a carburetor but I hope one day to drive an automobile with a carb.

@billdogg5914 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this detail ed video, really helps out!

@brightstarlastname2812 4 жыл бұрын

Carburetor Basics: 1. Air ( 20% oxygen ) will "emulsify" with the gasoline "in" the carburetor. This "lighter" mixture is easier to dispense from the carburetor. 2. Throttle blades will regulate the speed of the motor. The more open, the higher the RPM. 3. A "sudden jab" at the throttle blades requires a "none emulsified" shot of gasoline to keep the motor from stumbling. 4. The Carburetor you just bought is the wrong one for your application. Do to the fact that most manufactures don't have "accurate" application diagram.

@dannydyer9961 4 жыл бұрын

Im a holley fam but not really a fan of either of these. I will take the old 4150 double pumper any day of the week

@roninscholar4515 11 ай бұрын

correct me if I am wrong, but you called that little extension the venturi but those are secondary to the constriction of the throat or barrel of the carb which is the primary venturi?

@wertbe1718 2 жыл бұрын

This helps so much, thank you

@MichaelAmster 4 жыл бұрын

Glad you are back.

@alexpaumen3937 4 жыл бұрын

I’ll certainly look at the accelerator pump if I do restore the Capri.

@erich6150 4 жыл бұрын

What video was that with the blue ford and thunderhead289?

@flatbrokeauto5746 4 жыл бұрын

One thing you should of included is that before even attempting to rebuild a carburetor you should check to make sure the throttle shafts are tight and not worn out because you won't be able to get it to run properly no matter what you do with it due to a major vacuum leak.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

Actually, you can reem those and fix that too. I believe luke has a video about that he hasn't put together yet

@flatbrokeauto5746 4 жыл бұрын

Junkyard Digs, you would be better off drilling it and installing a bushing because reeming it leaves a groove that can still create a vacuum leak. Reeming is a half ass way to fix something kind of like reeming valve guides.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

@@flatbrokeauto5746 I used "reem" as a catch all. We bore them out and install new bushings and a shaft seal

@wayofthewordwow7574 4 жыл бұрын

Good stuff thanks for sharing

@zyguy8328 4 жыл бұрын

I don't know why I keep watching your KZfaq channel when all you do is push thunderhead 289 in ALL YOUR VIDEOS.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

Because we like to help people learn, and he's a great teacher. I could say it all myself but why go through all the work when it's already on his channel 🤷🏻‍♂️

@BuzzysStuff 4 жыл бұрын

Great job on the video

@Shadowdarknessone 4 жыл бұрын

Just a question because i life in europe and have not really much to do with carbs. Did you need to readjust your car if you drive in high elevated areas like mountainroads. because the air gets thiner. Just asking because the newer fuel system adapt the fuel to the thiner air. And i just wandering if there is any mechanical thing that adjusts this. I am actually working to and learning about carbs because i need to repair my motorcycel carb. Thnak you for makeing this video.

@starscream1985232 4 жыл бұрын

What ever happened to the olds? I had one just like it.

@Davebaker364 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks that was interesting and brought back things I forgot!

@Stale_Mahoney 4 жыл бұрын

a carb is basicly a controlled leak thru vacuum, with that idea in your head it's allot easier xD

@gregscherf9385 4 жыл бұрын

That's bc it is easier. Efi is way more expensive for the initial set up. And very simple in its basic concepts. Plus at WOT in racing applications there really is not any advantage from one to the other.

@Stale_Mahoney 4 жыл бұрын

@@gregscherf9385 true, i was considering carbs myself on my race/street engine, but ended up with 50mm ITB efi as it has bether control of mix pr cylinder and it's more livable for a daily basis, but dcoe carbs have a spot in my heart and i will find a use for some someday

@cayla_0000 3 жыл бұрын

this is very helpful thank u!

@porthose2002 4 жыл бұрын

Very helpful content. Thanks!

@kenworcester4387 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much... I Iearned a lot!

@LunarOutlawsGarage 4 жыл бұрын

Great video

@kmnremtp 4 жыл бұрын

Where did y'all get your start? Auto class in high school, your parents, some old hot ridden from down the street???

@gregscherf9385 4 жыл бұрын

All the above

@seancmadison 2 жыл бұрын

Do you have a site or some way of knowing what carbpatater goes on a vehicle. I just got a 77 f250 without a carbpatater and I am a California resident and require smog. I would like to figure out what carbpatater my truck would have came with

@levalevachii9172 4 жыл бұрын

VAZ 2106 21063 1.3 MT can I put this carburetor on a 4 cylinder engine? :D 1976 - 1993 Engine capacity 1300 cm3 Power 64 HP At 5600 rpm Torque 92/3400 n*m Gas distribution mechanism OHC Number of cylinders 4 Number of valves per cylinder 2 Cylinder diameter 79 mm Stroke 66 mm Compression ratio 8.5 Maximum speed 140 km / h Acceleration time (0-100 km / h) 18 seconds Fuel consumption in the city per 100 km 9.5 l Fuel consumption on the highway per 100 km 7.8 l Fuel consumption in a mixed cycle per 100 km 9.3 l Fuel tank capacity 39 l Curb weight of the car 1035 kg Permissible gross weight 1435 kg Tire size 175/70 SR13

@philsigman9088 4 жыл бұрын

Got an email from Holley stating that they will have a Carburetor 101 class soon. Thunderhead 289 can probably teach them a thing or two, lol.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

Out of curiosity... if we offered one, would you sign up?

@craigallan6229 4 жыл бұрын

Great videos unfortunately over here in the uk there’s not many large carbs like those I would love an old American or Australian muscle car but the fuel cost kills large engines.what is happening with the satellite you and thunderhead dig out and got running love the shape of them and the chargers

@gsacni 4 жыл бұрын

Great tutorial. Thanks!!

@michaelbaney4188 4 жыл бұрын

I really like your show, I hope soon that you can buy a cordless mic so your sound is much better.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

There's only so much we can do in echo ville, this is about as good as I can get it unfortunately

@Pantheragem 4 жыл бұрын

@@JunkyardDigs I bet you get criticism of your audio all the time. I'm not watching a Scorsese movie, I just turn my volume up if I need to. Your audio is good enough. Love your guys' vids. Keep it up.

@NateLeePhillips 4 жыл бұрын

@@JunkyardDigs You could get sound deadening materials for the walls. That would help immensely.

@markcassidy5883 4 жыл бұрын

Good stuff,,,looks like you have new work area

@anthonyevich3836 4 жыл бұрын

I thought thunderhead289 was the carb king... Welp, guess I'll have to watch your videa 😁

@dmeads5663 4 жыл бұрын

Which do you like better? Carburetors or fuel injection systems?

@keithshaw1575 4 жыл бұрын

Hey got a question about my carb. It’s a holly four barrel and the choke plate won’t move. There is not choke manual wire or electric choke. Also the oil is smelling like it’s got fuel and I’m wondering if the carb is allowing to much fuel into the barrels then leaking into the piston and down to the crank. I’m a total newbie and I’m learning from all you and your groups you tube videos. This is kinda new to me, I’m rebuilding a 76 Mustang Cobra 2. Any help you can provide is great. The engine is a ford small block 289/302 btw I’m in Canada 🇨🇦😀

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

facebook.com/groups/2041856606030081/

@dpl2617 4 жыл бұрын

Nicely done! U should teach auto shop..

@TheProchargedmopar 4 жыл бұрын

Oh yeah, love the charger! 👍

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

Ah mate, thats a Pontiac 😅

@TheProchargedmopar 4 жыл бұрын

Junkyard Digs UUGH, thought the grill looked kinda "bumpy". 😆 I had a 71 Charger years ago and my dreamyness took over. 😝

@allanmcelroy9840 4 жыл бұрын

My one complain is i did not see your vid cover edelbrock, and only holley. I was going to choose holley but put edelbrock avs2 650cfm 4bbl on my 360 with a 7757 air gap rpm performer intake

@jordanwiley4582 4 жыл бұрын

Avs2 is neat. Air valve secondaries, annular boosters, etc.

@smithyoftherust 4 жыл бұрын

This is very helpful, thank you. I'm attempting to work on a Rochester 2SE (also apparently known as a Varajet 2) on a 1984 chevy s10. Documentation on this thing is...lacking, sadly.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

For good reason too, those were definitely not a very popular carb, and for good reason!

@smithyoftherust 4 жыл бұрын

@@JunkyardDigs Yeah; from what I can tell, chevy kept that carb around way too long, and with the emissions standards of the day, should have moved to TBI way earlier. I wouldn't be opposed to a diesel or SBC swap, but I'm poor, lol. That said, I have to ask, you have any idea offhand if there's another, better carb I can look for to bolt on top of that little 2.8L? Only one I've been able to find is a ~$500 racing carb from Pirate. Pretty much all I've been able to find around the web is the standard comment of 'just put a small block in it'.

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

@@smithyoftherust theres a chance you can get an adapter to put a regular small cfm carb on it!

@charliesybert2683 4 жыл бұрын

Work on a 1950 Ford f1 and put a small block in it and keep everything but the engine original

@obs.takuache9405 4 жыл бұрын

I want to work on carb but only thing I have is a screwdriver

@Dave.S.TT600 4 жыл бұрын

An awesome video. an awesome shirt

@macclinton7655 4 жыл бұрын

Well done 👍🏻

@frostyflake1128. 3 жыл бұрын

This an episode of up to speed on The Carburetor!

@fredclements6843 4 жыл бұрын

I'm not to proud to say you to young men have showed me alot

@travisbullock2149 4 жыл бұрын

Hey buddy what carb would you recommend for a sbc 400?

@fredclements6843 4 жыл бұрын

I nothing but trouble from the Holley card I put on my 76 firebird on a 400 Pontiac the floats would not stay adjusted

@glennmanchester1568 4 жыл бұрын

I cou,dnt get any holleys to perform how I thought they should I tried everything and finally went back to q jets and have never looked back

@fredclements6843 4 жыл бұрын

Yes I understand I did the same thing maybe the newer ones do better now

@Dave-in-MD 4 жыл бұрын

Shouldn't have them sitting like that on the linkages. You can causing bending which is not good. A simple piece of wood or one of the fancy carb stands is a better idea. LOL the auto correct in windows doesn't recognized "carb".

@raymari7658 4 жыл бұрын

Is the color code plate still on the Lemans ?

@fredclements6843 4 жыл бұрын

Your showing me stuff I didn't know 👍

@moeshouse575 4 жыл бұрын

a power valve is a feature? NO its a part to mess with you when the diaphragm breaks.

@jochenb.6000 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this Vid

@Blobb2013 4 жыл бұрын

Maybe you can help me out. I have got an FE 360 with Edelbrock performer rpm intake and a holley 4160 600cfm carb. I set the timing to about 8-10° before tdc without vac advance, but when i hook up vac advance it goes to about 35-40° before tdc. It runs smooth, but idk if it should be that much. Admittedly i havent properly tuned the carb yet, just got a vacuum gauge recently. Should i tune the carb first before worrying about timing? Btw distributer is stock ford. The second thing im concerned about is when i rev up the engine it seems like its not firing properly, like some cylinders arent getting spark all the time. Any ideas? Bad cables? Or should i tune it first as well?

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

Hey! Shoot me a message on Instagram, or an email ( junkyarddigs1@gmail.com)! We'll get this sorted out, I believe I know exactly whats going on here

@nathanmccree3089 4 жыл бұрын

Good video

@wakjob961 4 жыл бұрын

Sizing a carb for a build is the tough part.

@HighAway 3 жыл бұрын

not really, when you know the size of the engine itself like CID, then theres formula for the matching CFM for optimal performance.

@Barret_Radtke 4 жыл бұрын

wow 246.31 for a AFR gauge

@georgekassouf6757 4 жыл бұрын

Close too 400k

@donrutter6765 4 жыл бұрын

The best carburetor mechanic in history was Bill " Grumpy" Jenkins. RIP

@barryhopesgthope686 4 жыл бұрын

Where have you boys been?

@shawnomack3927 4 жыл бұрын

Your video should be 5 seconds. "Hi, welcome to Junkyard Digs, if you need Carburetor advice, check out Thunderhead289, he goes in full depth. Thanks for watching"

@turkeytrac1 4 жыл бұрын

Valves, not throttle bodies. Throttle bodies are parts of fuel injection systems

@PrincessTS01 4 жыл бұрын

The Holly on my '64 El Camino is a lot older than these two. I'm still not sure exactly what it's stats are, it was installed by my late father like 30 or 40 years ago. how do I figure out what I have so I can have it rebuilt or determine if it is even worth it?

@JunkyardDigs 4 жыл бұрын

There should be some numbers stamped somewhere!

@jordanwiley4582 4 жыл бұрын

Holley carbs (and carter) were oem equipment for many cars n trucks for GM until Rochester came along in the mid 60s with the 4mv, and later the quadrajet. There will be numbers on it somewhere. It could be a vintage aftermarket unit too.

@sbf_fox2434 4 жыл бұрын

@@JunkyardDigs What you are after is the list number stamped into the face of the choke horn. Holley has a master list on their web site that has some of the calibrations for each list number such as jet and accelerator pump squirter sizes. Some examples of list numbers are 1850-2, 3310-4 and 4177-2. As to if it is worth it to rebuild the carb, if the throttle shaft bushings are not worn and the carb is complete I think it should be able to be rebuilt for cheap. Summit sells off=brand rebuild kits for common vacuum secondary or mechanical secondary carbs for about $30. I think Thunderhead289 has some videos of various solutions you can soak the carb pars in to clean them. There are not too many mechanical adjustments to make on a Holley so rebuilding them are relatively easy.