I recently "inherited" a set of carbs from a 1972 240Z - three screw round tops - got the intake manifold and linkage, too..... These were in the basement of a neighbor, and he "dug them out" for me. Nice gift. But, the excitement was dampered when I got them; they were obviously in a damp basement for the last 25 years. They are frozen up - pistons seized in the domes (I guess more properly said: suction chamber stuck to the walls of the piston) on both of them. All linkage parts move freely since I hit them with PB Blaster. The linkage arms are rusted a stage beyond surface rust, but no structural deterioration/major pitting... they will clean up okay with my bead blaster and be a suitable 'spare' to make me feel good about having but will never need (I have a bad case of "sparepartitis" - a very costly disease in the advanced stages).

My question I guess is "Can these be revived / salvaged, or is it a waste of time?" I think I could bring them back if I could free up the suction chambers, but I cannot get either of them to budge. I got the dome assembly loose and off of one of them (suction chamber in it firmly stuck) and the other will not free up from the carb body at all. Any suggestions about how to free up the suction chamber from the piston on the one that came apart, and how to free up the dome from the carb body on the other one? I've been soaking them both daily with a real mixture of solvents - PB, Liquid Wrench, and several others.... (would the old heat and ice cube trick help out here to free them up? Unfortunately whacking with a hammer is not a good option here, is it?)

Your suggestions and comments are welcome. I'm at a loss wondering if I can get them working or if I should just cut my losses at this point.

Chuck the domes in the freezer overnight. The contraction and subsequent expansion may break them free.

If that doesn't work use the biggest hammer you can find. :stupid:

Wanna know how to make those zero value carbs worth $150 instantly? Nyuck nyuck!!

John, do you have the center linkage and springs?

Usually the suction chambers are stuck - because gasoline was left in the carb's and it turns to varnish, which in turn glues the bottom of the suction chamber down. Buy a gallon can of carb cleaner - and drop them in for a few minutes... up to an hour. Things will loosen up.... you may have to work them a little, but they will free up.

Chances are they are better than you would think...

FWIW,

Carl B.

If you are going to chuck those carbs into carb claeaner, remove any rubber parts first. The float bowl indexers specifically...... They will turn to pudding in relatively short order.