I picked up a Holley 6299-1 (390 CFM 4-barrel) at a flea market for really cheap so I couldn't pass it up. Definitely in need of a clean and rebuild when I get a chance to tinker with it. No, I'm not going to put it on my big-cammed 451

Can I glass-bead everything I want to clean, or only the outside of the body, or not even that?

I am concerned that it would have the same effect as glass-beading pistons (i.e. abrasive gets stuck in the surface of the metal and wears the crap out of the bore as well as ending up in the oil)... pot-metal isn't very hard either.

Personally I would never glass bead a carburetor or throttle body or a few other things that might get glass beads into small passages. I would use a ultrasonic cleaner or a vapor cleaner or even soaking it in a carburetor (liquid) cleaner. You'll never IMO get all of the glass beads out of it. Just my opinion.

Thanks! I hadn't thought of plugging passages with beads, they're pretty tiny too I don't have those cleaners although some day I want to get an ultrasonic cleaner big enough to put a carb into So I guess it's disassemble and soak time!

The "Berryman Chem-Tool Carb Dip" (comes in a gallon paint can with a basket) used to be some volatile whitish milky stuff that really worked. The last time I bought one, though, they'd changed the formula and it's brown and really different smelling. Probably more environmentally penguin-friendly but not as effective, just like the de-chlorinated carb cleaner sprays....

Anyhow the carb is complete, doesn't have any obvious damage, and was $5 so I don't have that much to lose

You can get a nice ultrasonic cleaner large enough to put a 4bbl carb in for about $150 (or less try searching Amazon) that will do a nice job. Then see if someone local has a vapor cleaner and how much to do your carb(s) or save your pennies or hint for a birthday gift or Christmas present

I blast them with baking soda.

It's been brown for over 25 years ... that's when I bought the can that's on my shelf ! It's awesome stuff though and doesn't appear to have an expiry date !!

That tracks, I think I got the white stuff in the early 90's