Thermoquad rebuilt has started. A few questions

[Dino]

Pics: http://s1207.beta.photobucket.com/user/Dino-69/library/TQ%206545S

I took most of the carb apart and soaked it in warm water and engine degreaser.  That took a lof of the dirt off but not all.  There's a lot of carbon built up still to be removed.  What is the best way to do so?

The phenolic body was rinsed once and turned out great.  I have a little cleaning left to do but not a lot.  The epoxy on those bottom thingies looks to be solid but I haven't tested it yet.  Should I just put some gas in the body and see if it leaks?

I started cleaning the outside of the aluminum body with a small wire brush on a drill press.  It cleans it up real nice without removing material.  The goal is not to give it a mirror polish, just a good clean look.  I hope I have brushes for my dremel to fit all those nooks and crannies but likely I need to soak it again.  What is recommended to take out all the crud and not hurt the aluminum body?  Oh and if there's a non lethal chemical that would be nice, my lungs would be grateful.

There is a bit of play on the linkage mechanism.  The whole unit that operates the primaries can be shifted about 1/8".  Is that normal or should it be adjusted?

Looking at the carb, should I remove the rest of the hardware as well or try to clean and rebuild as is?  I'm a bit nervous removing the linkage as I've never done so before, but it would make cleaning a whole lot easier.  I already have two pieces that fell out that I don't know where to go.  I didn't take pics but one was a small rubber washer/seal and the other is a black, thin plate.

I have a Sorensen kit 96-246C and it comes with a lot so I'd like to replace all I can.

Are the plastic floats okay to keep or should I upgrade to brass?  The floats seem to be in great shape.

Also, currently I have an Edelbrock 1407 on an Edelbrock performer (non rpm) intake.  Do I need new linkage to fit the TQ?

[JB400]

Have you tried any of that stuff that comes in one gallon can for cleaning carbs?  I don't know the name, just have seen my uncle use it.

[Dino]

Yes, the Berryman stuff right?  None of that is powerful anymore since the regulations got tightened.  I'm actually going to soda blast the housing so that should take care of that part.

[Cooter]

Dino, ?I wish you all the luck with a T-quad carb. You will need it. You can still get pretty good carb soak at the local auto parts store.

[Dino]

Dino, ?I wish you all the luck with a T-quad carb. You will need it. You can still get pretty good carb soak at the local auto parts store.

Hehe, I know I know, I'm opening up a can of worms.   

The carb came with the car, it was in one of the mupliple boxes and since I paid less than $8 shipping included for the rebuild kit I thought I didn't have much to lose anyway.  I hate the eddy I have so if this fails I may buy a new carb to get me going until I can afford efi.  I will be happy to get rid of the bog this eddy gives me and I will be very happy to get one or two more miles to the gallon BUT I will be happiest when I can get rid of the damn fuel smell.

[JB400]

What model of Eddy do you have anyway?

[Dino]

What model of Eddy do you have anyway?

1407

[ODZKing]

I have a T/Quad reference book on my site if it helps at all.  PDF so you can download it.
http://www.retrorarities.com/images/Thermo-QuadReferenceBook.pdf

[Dino]

I have a T/Quad reference book on my site if it helps at all.  PDF so you can download it.
http://www.retrorarities.com/images/Thermo-QuadReferenceBook.pdf

You just made my day buddy!  Thank you thank you thank you   

[71 SE3834V]

Don't know if you saw my other post but if it's not too late I have a 7 gal can of Zepresto carb, trans & small parts cleaner. Just put it in the basket and soak it for 30 min and it will eat any crud off. Maybe a little brushing w/a toothbrush. You can see the results on the pics I posted about my "aquisition". Your welcome to use it. Ya, it's smelly. 

[Dino]

Don't know if you saw my other post but if it's not too late I have a 7 gal can of Zepresto carb, trans & small parts cleaner. Just put it in the basket and soak it for 30 min and it will eat any crud off. Maybe a little brushing w/a toothbrush. You can see the results on the pics I posted about my "aquisition". Your welcome to use it. Ya, it's smelly. 

Thanks for the offer, but I found a non toxic and safe way to clean the carb.
http://www.aircooledtech.com/tools-on-the-cheap/soda_blaster/

I tried it last night and it works unbelievably well, I did half of the carb and it looks like new.

[Cooter]

I got 4 of these turds sitting on the shelf in the shed. All of 'em are junk I think. When they are right, they run unbelieveably well, but once they go wrong, they are like thier brother the Q-Jet...They are gone for good.

[Dino]

Well I'm optimistic about this thing.  I soda blasted the aluminum parts and quickly went over it with a wire brush.  The goal was not to give it a mirror finish, just to make it look a bit more decent.  It came out much better than I expected.

[Dino]

More

[ODZKing]

Well, I have never had a TQ before.  My 73 will be the first.
I have only had AFB's and AVS's not to mention numerous Carter 2bbls.
The wrench I use locally here won't touch them.  But admits when they are in good shape, they run well.
I found a "correct" one for the 73 and had it professionally rebuilt.
Everyone has opinions, I don't happen to like Holley carbs. I've had a few and they ALWAYS need to be tweaked - and even then I don't like the way they run.
But again, I think most if not all agree, if the body isn't warped and it runs well, it will run VERY well.
My 

[Dino]

Well, I have never had a TQ before.  My 73 will be the first.
I have only had AFB's and AVS's not to mention numerous Carter 2bbls.
The wrench I use locally here won't touch them.  But admits when they are in good shape, they run well.
I found a "correct" one for the 73 and had it professionally rebuilt.
Everyone has opinions, I don't happen to like Holley carbs. I've had a few and they ALWAYS need to be tweaked - and even then I don't like the way they run.
But again, I think most if not all agree, if the body isn't warped and it runs well, it will run VERY well.
My 

This thing looks almost like new after soda blasting it.  The phenolic body is straight and still shines. All I did was rinse it in warm water.

I haven't tried any Holley's yet but if it's something I have to tune every week then I don''t want it. 

Next weekend I'll put it all together but I'm not sure I will be testing it this year.  The car is going into storage on 12/1 so I'll probably wait untill spring before I render the darn thing inoperable. 

[Dino]

Well, I have never had a TQ before.  My 73 will be the first.
I have only had AFB's and AVS's not to mention numerous Carter 2bbls.
The wrench I use locally here won't touch them.  But admits when they are in good shape, they run well.
I found a "correct" one for the 73 and had it professionally rebuilt.
Everyone has opinions, I don't happen to like Holley carbs. I've had a few and they ALWAYS need to be tweaked - and even then I don't like the way they run.
But again, I think most if not all agree, if the body isn't warped and it runs well, it will run VERY well.
My 

This thing looks almost like new after soda blasting it.  The phenolic body is straight and still shines. All I did was rinse it in warm water.

I haven't tried any Holley's yet but if it's something I have to tune every week then I don''t want it. 

Next weekend I'll put it all together but I'm not sure I will be testing it this year.  The car is going into storage on 12/1 so I'll probably wait untill spring before I render the darn thing inoperable. 

I found my own post doing a search and wouldn't you know it?  I did render the darn thing inoperable in the spring!   

[TooMuchTime]

I just posted the following link on another topic.

Rebuilding A Carter ThermoQuad Carburetor

You were talking about using warm water or a degreaser that is no longer strong enough due to gov't regulations. Well, in the linked article, the author recommends soaking the carb and parts in Simple Green! It should work, just make sure to use a spray carb cleaner to displace any remaining water and then blow it dry. Since you did a soda blast, you should be good. I think this article was just for the rebuild and not trying to make it look like new.

At the bottom of the article is a link called See all 14 Photos. Click on that for more information. The important one is Photo Number 7 and the buckets under the main wells. Since they were bonded in place, you need to make sure the bonding agent hasn't failed. If there is a problem with them and you forget, your rebuild could be for naught.

Hope this helps.