Hey, my friend has a 77 impala and he's looking to replace the carburator. I was just wondering if it's something that we can do ourselves or if we need to find a mechanic. Only problem is there's not to many mechanics in the area that work on them. I was just wondering what tools would be needed and whats involved in changing it out. Thanks

 

Very easy, but what are you going to change it out with? If it just needs rebuilt, head down to the local parts store, and buy a rebuild kit. Sure a Edelbrock, Holley or Demon would be nice, but $25 vs $250++ is a big difference. I'm assuming a '77 Impala is probably not a hot rod, but could be...

Probably a 1/2" wrench for the carb to manifold bolts, an adjustable to pull the fuel line, and some pliers to pull vacuum lines (replace them while your at it, probably need it), and maybe some small needles nose or small screwdriver to pop loose linkage...

 

closer9- while I was logging in, you beat me to the punch with the answer. lol.

The answer is what he said ^^^^^

 

If I remember, the old chevys had the choke in the manifold and the heat would corrode the front two carb bolts so when you go to take them off they will break. You will then need a drill and easyout and new carb studs. Not sure how far back I;m going. Just be prepared.

 

Don't know which one he wants to go with but he's looking for a little bit more performance. Anyone know what type to go with or some literature on replacing carburators?

 

Depends on what he's got now. I would assume rochester 2bbl, in which case I would cheap out , and go Performer intake and carb. Get rid of any smog pumps, etc...

But a carb/intake on a '77 engine isn't going to give much. You really need a different cam, and probably a decent set of headers...

I've got the Performer intake/carb (600 CFM I "think", can't remember) on my '77 Camino with ceramic coated headers, and 2.5" duals with H crossover. The engine is strong, but nothing to write home about. I'm really hoping to swap out the cam, but ultimately I'll be building a 327 to replace it... I'm also in the process adding 3.73 gears which will probably make more difference than anything I've done to the engine...

 

Sounds like your camino is coming along nicely. I see what your saying about the Performer intake/carb with all the other goodies but my buddy is really on a budget. Only reason he's thinking about replacing it now is that his car died like 2 days ago and the first person that saw it thought it might be the carburator so I was just trying to give him a heads up.

 

Sounds like it may need a little more investigation to find the cause, but rebuilding the carb wouldn't hurt. I again am assuming the car is mostly original, and the seals are probably gone on the carb, along with valve guide seals, and a few other things.

I would say investigate the carb, rebuild if necessary, maybe try to eliminate some of the smog junk, and spend that new carb money on a good tune up...

and since my Camino has come into this, I'll take the opportunity to ***** out my favorite pic of it...

 

Dont forget to check the ignition system as well if it just died, new cap/rotor and wires if they are old are a cheap replacement. Best bet would spend the $25 or so on a rebuild then see what happens.

When a true carb (not those electronic bastardized ones) vehicle dies its usually pretty easy to find out why and fix it.

 

What are the symptoms of the car before it died???? We might be able to give you some htings to look at.

 

I'm not sure exactly what happened to it. I'll try and find out and let you guys know. Thanks for the help.
And closer9, that car looks awesome man.

 

Yea normally a car doesn't just "die" from a bad carb. There are usually signs going up to it. Might be a fuel delivery problem, which could include the float or needle and seat or a clogged port or jet. But also could be a fuel filter, fuel pump, clogged, pinched, or vapor locked fuel line.

Defiantly don't assume it's anything until you have taken steps to eliminate all the easy stuff, especially if he's on a budget.

Check to see if there is fuel squirting in when you pump the pedal, if so then check for fire. If getting both then check timing, etc etc etc..... it could be as easy as a bad ground wire, but can be harder than heck to find.

If it is a Rochester 2 brl then they are easy to rebuild and good to learn on. If it is a quadrajet, leave it the "F" alone unless it's a last resort.

 

Fuel filter is a good place to start, people tend to forget about them (like I did in my first post ). When my buddy's 78 Bronco died on us in the mud we started lookin over things finally I just pulled the filter and it was just black inside. I swear it was the original motorcraft from 78

Carb cars are very easy to work on and diagnose, I sure miss my 351 4bbl sometimes, nothing a paperclip and rubber bands or duct tape couldnt fix

 

HAHA

Reminds me of a quick off road story.
My wife and I were with my buddy in his 76 F100 step side 4x4, 302. Going down this trial. Another firend in his 81, 1 ton Chevy, 454, 4x4. was behind us. We dive into this small pond big puddle and just as we come out we die.
We figure we probably got water in the dist... so we get out lift it and sure enough water sitting in it. We dry it out still wont start. We send the other guy back to a gas station to buy some WD40 and try to dry it out with that and still no go.

As we sat there scrathcing our heads the buddy in the Chevy jokingly says, "That wasnt your gas tank in the trail back there was it? We suddenly look at each other real sober and say "What gas tank?" He says teh one laying in the middle of teh trial I had ot go up on the bank to keep from hitting it."
"Your kidding right????"
"NO!"
Lay down and look and sure enough the gas tank is GONE!!!"

Go back to the house get a gas jug, strap it to the inner fender, ran a line from the fuel pump and presto it started. He drove it 3 weeks tha tway, stopping to fill his gas jug every day. LOL

 

One buddy blew a coolant line, we just grabbed some duct tape outta the glove box and wrapped the **** outta the hose. Filled it with creek water and worked great for three days till he got a new hose.