Question about carburator
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New User
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2
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From: Kamloops BC canada
Question about carburator
Hi there. I have a 1978 Ford 300-6 cylinder with the original carburetor on it, and it is wearing out, mechanic says I should replace it because it has just about had it. My question is will a new carburetor give me better gas mileage and help the overall performance of the engine, because when the truck sits for a week or so I really have to pump the gas pedal a lot for it to start. Put carburetor kit in last year, but didn't make any difference. Thanks a lot guys.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 129
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From: Augusta, Maine
Your mechanic might be right, If your carb is bad it will affect performance and gas mileage. But I wouldn't expect to see too much of an increase in gas mileage.
I have a 1979 E150 (300) with a later overdrive manual trans. I easily get 18 mpg... I drive like a granny. A lot of guys in this forum wish they got 14mpg with their 4x4 rigs.
If my carbureted 300 had been sitting for a week I give it one and one half pump of the gas peddle and turn the key. Starts and runs everytime. If the engine is warm or recently run it takes only 1/4 pedal and starts.
I have a 1979 E150 (300) with a later overdrive manual trans. I easily get 18 mpg... I drive like a granny. A lot of guys in this forum wish they got 14mpg with their 4x4 rigs.
If my carbureted 300 had been sitting for a week I give it one and one half pump of the gas peddle and turn the key. Starts and runs everytime. If the engine is warm or recently run it takes only 1/4 pedal and starts.
New User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 9
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From: Colorado Springs
What exactly is in a carburetor that wears out that a kit will not fix?
Just finished rebuilding mine today, didn't notice anything in it that wears out other than the replacement parts found in the kit.
I would get a kit and follow the directions to a tee, float measurments and all adjustments for air and gas flow.
One of the biggesst things I believe is a throurough cleaning it out with a couple cans of carburetor cleaner, then once thats done, put the new kit in as the directions say, beats the heck out of buying a new carb in my book.
I checked the price for a double barrel today to replace the single barrel I have on and they wanted 500 bucks, bs to that.
After I rebuilt it and put it on it fired right up and runs smooth, no great mechanic here, just followed the directions in the kit.
Just finished rebuilding mine today, didn't notice anything in it that wears out other than the replacement parts found in the kit.
I would get a kit and follow the directions to a tee, float measurments and all adjustments for air and gas flow.
One of the biggesst things I believe is a throurough cleaning it out with a couple cans of carburetor cleaner, then once thats done, put the new kit in as the directions say, beats the heck out of buying a new carb in my book.
I checked the price for a double barrel today to replace the single barrel I have on and they wanted 500 bucks, bs to that.
After I rebuilt it and put it on it fired right up and runs smooth, no great mechanic here, just followed the directions in the kit.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 8,786
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From: Northern California
The holes in the bottom of the throttle body where the shaft goes through that hooks to the throttle linkage and cables, and throttle plate, can get worn.
If it gets bad it can cause air to be sucked into the carb through the elongated holes causing a lean condition. Really bad on computer controled models cause the computer richens the mix to compensate and sucks your gas dry.
They sell "shims" (can't think of what they are really called at the moment) that you can drill the holes bigger into the throttle body and put these "shims" into the holes so they are the right size again.
If the holes are too wallowed out, you have to replace the throttle body, and it's easier to buy a whole new carb than trying that.
If it gets bad it can cause air to be sucked into the carb through the elongated holes causing a lean condition. Really bad on computer controled models cause the computer richens the mix to compensate and sucks your gas dry.
They sell "shims" (can't think of what they are really called at the moment) that you can drill the holes bigger into the throttle body and put these "shims" into the holes so they are the right size again.
If the holes are too wallowed out, you have to replace the throttle body, and it's easier to buy a whole new carb than trying that.
