I've got an old Holley 650 vac.secondary that I'm rebuilding. The rear float bowl was damaged, but I was lucky enough to find another one at a local carb shop here in Detroit. Now I've got this spiffy looking rear float bowl while the other 75% of the carb looks nasty by comparison.

Are there any chemicals/solutions out there that I can soak the carb's body and other float bowl in to brighten & clean it up?


Another question, not really related, but looking for some miracle snake oil to solve my problems. I repainted my stock valve covers, but before doing so I removed the rubber grommets that seals the PCV and the breather can. These grommets are still intact, but are stiff from age and heat. Is there anything I can do to soften them up? (chemicals/solution)... or are there new grommets available for purchase at one of the many reproduction suppliers?

Thanks in advance, guys!

Dale

Don't know about restoring the finish, but I don't think you can do anything about the old rubber grommets except replace them. Most any good parts store will have replacements. Good luck on getting the old ones out. edit: Whoops, you got themout already. Mine had been in there for 35 years and a hassle removing

MEK, wow buy it at lowes. put some in a old gas tank and it came out shiny. it will eat some rubber gloves

carb cleaner dip

Thanks for the suggestions, guys!!

I made an improvised soda blaster and used household baking soda to do mine. Came out like new. Mine had old nasty gas dried in the bowls and I was surprised how nice it was. While I didn't try MEK, I did use carb cleaner and brake cleaner to loosen it to no avail. When I was done with the body I did all the parts, then rinsed with water.

Dale

Just be aware that some of the old Holleys have brass plugs pressed in and then crimped over (non servicable). There is a rubber o-ring in there that can break-down with exposure to some of the more harsh cleaning chemicals. A common fix for the leak that will develope is gas-resistant epoxy spread over the plug.

If you don't mind me asking, what carb shop did you find parts at? I need to have bushings installed in a throttle plate...

Thanks for the great info, Rick!

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Dale

If you don't mind me asking, what carb shop did you find parts at? I need to have bushings installed in a throttle plate...

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The shop I got my float bowl from is a great little shop over in St. Clair Shores called American Carburetor Services. Here's their location & contact info:

23325 Harper Avenue
St Clair Shores, MI 48080-1443
(586) 772-6282

This may sound weird but has been tried and works on motorcycle carbs. A mixture on 1/3 pine-sol and 2/3 water. This has been used and found out that is cleaned without damage to the rubber parts. It usually will be allowed to soak for a couple of days then the parts hit with compressed air. One gut actually rigged a palm sander to the bucket to make it similar to an ultrasonic cleaner. Using the Pine-sol (original) with the pine oil in it as the newer type doesn’t work without it.

tried the baking soda blaster in the link above, worked good might need two big boxes of soda to do a real stained carb

The last PCV grommet that I bought came from the dealer........