Carb swapping & leaking freeze plug

[MariaAZ]

I took off the flat top carbs on my '74 (hubby won't be too pleased that I've "rendered yet ANOTHER car nonrunning) with fairly little difficulty. In trying to place the round tops on, I realized the studs are a tad bit too long. So much for getting the new carbs in before he gets home from work! What is better; replace the studs or use a gasket as a spacer?

I have the plate to allow me to use my stock air breather, so for the time being I won't have to deal with what to do with every single hose. However, I DO need to know the best way to deal with the hoses that are no longer used. Also, which hoses go on to the nipples at the top of the base of the round tops?

On another note; I discovered that the freeze plug on the back of the engine by the firewall is leaking. Not a lot, but enough to puddle a bit under the car. I don't really want to pull the engine yet (note husband's probably reaction to a simple carb swap above; imagine me saying "honey, let's pull the Z engine this weekend!") Is this something that can wait a bit? Any "band aid" efforts I can take?

Thanks in advance

[beandip]

First , there should be insolaters between the manifold and the SUs , there brown and made of bake-o-lite and about 5/16" thick. with them the studs should be the correct lingth. The only port that I can think of that requires a vacume line is on the front carb and that is for the vacume advance of the dist. , otherwise there is only fuel lines , one to each , and vent lines from the carbs to the air cleaner. As for the rest of the emissions stuff I only am running a PCV valve and cannot help you there . As for the bandade on the freeze plug, If it is just seeping there is a product called block seal that will most likely stop the leak . But if you are planning to pull the engine in the near future try some J-B weld. This is just a temp. fix either way. All the best , have a great Christmas.:classic:

[MariaAZ]

There are isolators on the manifold of the size you mentioned, but the studs are still too long. I've seen photos in the gallery of manifolds with thicker isolators. Maybe that's what I'll need.

Thanks for the tips on how to stop the freeze plug leak. It will only be a temporary measure; I just can't handle the thought of yanking out the motor just yet!

[Daniel]

I think there were two sizes of those insulators .The thick being about the thickness of an ice cream sandwich.As for a temp.fix on the cooling system---O.k. --I would have said crazy, no way, until now having seen it holding for over 2months on a friends car.--Ready???? Put 2 tablespoons of black pepper in the radiator. It doesn't hurt anything and as long as the leak is not too large it will stop it. Let me know.

[Zedrally]

Originally posted by Daniel

I think there were two sizes of those insulators .The thick being about the thickness of an ice cream sandwich.As for a temp.fix on the cooling system---O.k. --I would have said crazy, no way, until now having seen it holding for over 2months on a friends car.--Ready???? Put 2 tablespoons of black pepper in the radiator. It doesn't hurt anything and as long as the leak is not too large it will stop it. Let me know.

Is that whole, ground [as in a pepper mill] or fine[ as it would be in a Pepper Shaker].

The other fix I'd heard of was to beat/whisk 1 egg and add it to the cooling system. Same idea, different twist on bacon and eggs!

[MariaAZ]

I'm still working on getting the carbs on, having just discovered that NONE of the auto parts stores carry metric studs. I can order them from the local Nissan dealer but it'll take about a week for them to get here. It's sooo frustrating that I can't find a $1 metric stud cash & carry!

However, I'm intrigued by the ground pepper & whisked egg fixes. If I use them together, will I have an omelet? Pass the cheddar cheese, please

[Bruce Palmer]

.... A real gamey grade of Cheddar ought to plug up something. Nyuck nyuck.

Hard to believe the lack of availability of metric studs. Tried and exhaust shop (manifold studs)?

True parts houses are getting harder to find. But, anything in the way of chrome bubble wrap stuff, you bet!!!

[beandip]

do you have a ace hardware store in the area if so check on them. I still think the insoluaters are too thin and that is the trouble. the INSULATER bake-o-lite parts that were used with the flat tops are too thin and the thicker ones is what you want. as far as black prpper and eggs are concerned use your best judgement, I saw Laurl and Hardy use rice in the radiator on one of there films. If you use that be sure to flush all the coolent and rust first so at least you can eat the rice with the pepper and salt seasioning. Seriously JB weld will do a number on the freeze plug. By the way you need the thicker insolater for the round tops any way . Helps stops the heat transfer to the carb. HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS , FROM ALL OF US IN PORTLAND OREGON !