I may. If I just do the carbs how do you take the flat top carbs off the manifold there are four bolts that hold them on but you cannot access them easily is this normal or should I be able to access them easily?

Are you asking how to use a socket on an extension, or a wrench?  That's what mechanicing is all about, choosing the tools to get the job done.

This guy put a whole Youtube video guide together and apparently the nuts are so easy to remove it's not worth showing.  7:45 they're there, 7:50 they're not.

 

Actually he does show nut removal later.  Not much to it though.  A wrench, some contortions.

 

Yo man.  Those are the round tops. Go look at where the nuts are located on the flat tops.   Way behind them.    

Yo yo yo dude, the mounting holes are in the same spot on the manifold.  Nut on a stud, hex head screw, whatever.  Put an open end wrench on it and turn it.  Counterclockwise.  Just like the guy in the video.  Word.

Zed... Your funny Hahahaha!!

6 hours ago, Shawninvancouver said:

how do you take the flat top carbs off the manifold there are four bolts that hold them on but you cannot access them easily is this normal or should I be able to access them easily?

Take them off at the head!  Flattops are more for the professional technicians!  Get yourself some roundtops, MUCH easyer to Adjust!

The manifolds for the flattops is completely different from a roundtop manifold, roundtops are never gonna fit so take it of and work on them on the bench.

2 hours ago, dutchzcarguy said:

The manifolds for the flattops is completely different from a roundtop manifold, roundtops are never gonna fit so take it of and work on them on the bench.

What do you mean? The N33 (73) and N36 (74) manifolds will accept round top SU carburetors. Those are the manifolds on my cars, and they both have SU carb bodies attached to them.

10 hours ago, Shawninvancouver said:

how do you take the flat top carbs off the manifold there are four bolts that hold them on but you cannot access them easily

is this normal?

Yes, it's normal.

What is this "easy" thing you talk about? Working on cars is hard.

1 hour ago, Captain Obvious said:

Yes, it's normal.

What is this "easy" thing you talk about? Working on cars is hard.

If it was easy, why would it be worth doing?

Here's some stuff that might be helpful/inflammatory.

https://www.ztherapy.com/technical_stuff/spotterguides/zcar/240spotter.htm

"When installing or removing the carbs from your manifold, all the nuts need to be loosened up before trying to remove them.  There is no clearance on the bottom of the carb to remove one of the nuts.  Sliding the body out a bit will allow the nuts to be removed. "

20 hours ago, SteveJ said:

What do you mean? The N33 (73) and N36 (74) manifolds will accept round top SU carburetors

Oh, that's new to me, i guess that's a "europe" thing then?  Or i'm just wrong.. i took a look in my cellar/parts warehouse and i got E88 on the manifolds and E41 on the balancetube of a euro complete manifold..  (I see 2 coolwater holes in the lower part, it would not surprise me if there are manifolds without those..

We have now removed the flat top carbs. We literally would not have been able to get them out unless we ground off several bars and pipes. They are now pit as seen in photo.  We just need to know what we have to plug now and what has to go back.  We are putting in the standard su round top carbs.  

Edited May 11, 2024May 11 by Shawninvancouver