How to rebuild a Rochester Quadrajet 4MV carburetor

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(Clean up and reorganize.)
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=Introduction=
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This article is written with the intention of assisting, informing and guiding the first-time builder who has never dealt with a carburetor before.
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It is a collaborative effort that merges detailed, step-by-step directions, complete with images, links to online  and print resources, and a multitude of helpful tips and pointers collected from the members of [http://www.Hotrodders.com Hotrodders] forum, all of them in their own words.
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At times, the reader may encounter differing viewpoints, especially when dealing with certain repair options. It is up to the reader to decide which method works best. If confusion persists or further advice is needed, it is highly recommended that you visit the [http://www.hotrodders.com Hotrodders] forum and ask for assistance from fellow members.
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=Planning and Organization=
 
=Planning and Organization=
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==Becoming Familiar with the Carburetor==
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If you have never dealt with a carburetor in your life, it is important o familiarize yourself with the various components. Please refer to the '''''Books / Guides / Websites''''' section below for helpful materials. If you are a more visual learner, please check out Video series by [http://www.youtube.com/user/alpheus1975 alpheus1975] on [http://www.youtube.com Youtube].
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====Books / Guides / Websites====
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:'''''"How to Rebuild and Modify Rochester Quadrajet Carburetors"''''' by Cliff Ruggles is a frequent recommendation by the members of [http://www.hotrodders.com Hotrodders]forum. It is a highly-reviewed book and the author is considered a leading authority on Quadrajet carburetors.
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:In addition to his book, Cliff Ruggles also maintains a website ([http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/ Cliff's High Performance]), with a forum dedicated to discussing carburetors.
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:Other titles devoted to Rochester Quadrajets are also available from retailers such as [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ Barnes and Noble], [http://www.amazon.com Amazon], [http://www.ebay.com eBay] and its sister site [http://www.half.com Half.com].
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===Carburetor Identification Decoding===
 
===Carburetor Identification Decoding===
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#Carburetor Rebuild Kits
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#Carburetor Rebuild Kits: Available through various manufacturers.
 
#Individual Parts
 
#Individual Parts
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#Sellers / Sources
 
#Sellers / Sources
  
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====Parts Organizer====  
 
====Parts Organizer====  
:The carburetor is held together and in place with a multitude of bolts of various sizes. There are also a lot of small parts on the inside of the carburetor body. It is very important to use some sort of a parts organizer to separate everything. It does not have to be anything fancy. You can often use things usually found around the house such as cupcake pan, silverware tray, or an egg carton will do the job.'' ^2'' According to [http://www.hotrodders.com Hotrodders] forum member '''''trees''''':
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:The carburetor is held together and in place with several of bolts of various sizes. There are also a lot of small parts on the inside of the carburetor body. It is very important to use some sort of a parts organizer to separate everything. It does not have to be anything fancy. You can often use things usually found around the house such as cupcake pan, silverware tray, or an egg carton will do the job.'' ^2'' According to [http://www.hotrodders.com Hotrodders] forum member '''''trees''''':
  
 
:''<blockquote>"As a technique, I use two pans and label each "bin" and place the old part in one bin and at the same time, I place the new part in the other pan. Most kits are 'generic' so this is the best time to pick out the part that matches the removed part and set the residual parts aside."'' ^3''</blockquote>''
 
:''<blockquote>"As a technique, I use two pans and label each "bin" and place the old part in one bin and at the same time, I place the new part in the other pan. Most kits are 'generic' so this is the best time to pick out the part that matches the removed part and set the residual parts aside."'' ^3''</blockquote>''
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:It is also a good idea to use a photo editor for processing images. Quick cropping, sharpening and brightening of photos will turn many mediocre shots into useful images. For a free and easy to use photo editor, [http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php Photoscape] is recommended. [http://www.gimp.org/ GIMP] is another one, but with more sophisticated features.
 
:It is also a good idea to use a photo editor for processing images. Quick cropping, sharpening and brightening of photos will turn many mediocre shots into useful images. For a free and easy to use photo editor, [http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php Photoscape] is recommended. [http://www.gimp.org/ GIMP] is another one, but with more sophisticated features.
 
 
====Books / Guides / Websites====
 
:'''''"How to Rebuild and Modify Rochester Quadrajet Carburetors"''''' by Cliff Ruggles is a frequent recommendation by the members of [http://www.hotrodders.com Hotrodders]forum. It is a highly-reviewed book and the author is considered a leading authority on Quadrajet carburetors.
 
 
 
:In addition to his book, Cliff Ruggles also maintains a website ([http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/ Cliff's High Performance]), with a forum dedicated to discussing carburetors.
 
 
 
:Other titles devoted to Rochester Quadrajets are also available from retailers such as [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ Barnes and Noble], [http://www.amazon.com Amazon], [http://www.ebay.com eBay] and its sister site [http://www.half.com Half.com].
 
 
 
  
  
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=Procedures=
 
=Procedures=
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''The Procedures section is currently under construction. Please refer to the threads and links under  '''Recommended Resources''', which will serve as the basis for this section''
 
''The Procedures section is currently under construction. Please refer to the threads and links under  '''Recommended Resources''', which will serve as the basis for this section''
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The '''''Procedures''''' section was written to aid the first-time rebuilder. Experienced rebuilders who are well-versed with the Quadrajet carburetor can skip certain steps, such as continuous photographing every step of the way.
 
The '''''Procedures''''' section was written to aid the first-time rebuilder. Experienced rebuilders who are well-versed with the Quadrajet carburetor can skip certain steps, such as continuous photographing every step of the way.
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===Before You Begin===
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The following tips will save you time, avoid unnecessary stress, and keep you working safe.
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#Make sure you are now familiar with carburetor components, as well as the overall process of rebuilding a carburetor. Do not proceed until you are ready. ''Time saver.
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#Have all new parts, tools, chemicals, and safety gear on hand and ready to go.
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#Set aside at least one to two days where you will not be interrupted. The more gaps during various steps, the more likely you are to forget things.
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#Prepare your work area by cleaning it. Chemicals do spill and small parts do fall. Clear off and remove any obstructions now. #Organize your tools for easy access. Need help? Check out [http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/quick-organization-tools-your-garage-pays-off-177558.html "Quick organization of tools in your garage pays off!"]
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#Print out the '''''Procedures''''' section of this article and keep it at your workspace. This way, you won't get any grease on the books or the computer.
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#If you are a visual learner and can keep a laptop or other computer device with internet access near by, you can follow along with the video series by [http://www.youtube.com/user/alpheus1975 alpheus1975] on [http://www.youtube.com Youtube], or any other video/multimedia resource you find helpful.
  
  
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''Coming soon.''
 
''Coming soon.''
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====Trouble Spots====
 
====Trouble Spots====
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''Coming soon.''
 
''Coming soon.''
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'''Cautionary Note:''' According to [http://www.hotrodders.com Hotrodders] forum member '''''cyclopsblown34''''':
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<blockquote>''"That nut on the backside of the carburetor base plate, do not overtighten it. Use a thread sealant tape or paste on it and don't wrench down hard on it, the casting is thin and will crack if over torqued. you can pretty much get it tight by feel, the sealant allows you to tighten it with less torque and still have a good seal." ^''</blockquote>
  
 
===Tuning===
 
===Tuning===

Revision as of 15:43, 18 July 2011

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