Carburetor Questions

[ejbrush]

Well, I picked up some carburetors at the Iola show last weekend - two L4 Kingstons (one bronze body, one iron) and a Holley G. I spent some time disassembling and cleaning them up, and it looks like I won the lottery on the Holley, with the exception of the float. As for the Kingstons, between the two of them I've got enough good parts to build up one carburetor.

First, some Kingston questions. I'm going to build up the bronze body, since the overall condition and specifically the inlet threads are in much better shape.
1. I have two flappers, one is stamped "12" and one is stamped "14". Are there different flappers, or are they interchangeable?
2. I only have the flapper pivot from the iron body, though, and I see the vendors list a separate pivot for the bronze body. Can I make due, or modify the iron-body pivot to work? Loosely assembled, it seems to flap.
3. I can see the two vent holes on the fuel adjustment needle seat, it looks like these communicate with the vent hole in the bottom of the bowl stud. I can see clear through the engine-side vent, and I can get a brass wire some ways into the intake-side vent, but not far. Do these connect somewhere out of sight? Is one verified vent OK to proceed?

With regards to the Holley, it seems pretty straightforward.
a. I have verified the idle vent and tube is clear and open, I'd like to avoid removing the tube if I don't have to. Is there anything under the vent screw that should be checked, or can I get away with it?
b. Is there a special tool available to remove the float valve seat, and will I have to take out a 2nd mortgage for it? I mean, I can see what I need to have to make it work. Or is this a screw-extractor situation?
c. The fuel adjustment needle I have is blunt-tipped. Is this correct, or do I need to start looking for a sharp and pointy one?

These things are pretty neat, compared to a Quadrajet (or a Ford 8N) there just isn't a lot going on. As long as the fuel stays in where it should stay in, and comes out where it should come out, it looks like they will work. The Kingston Flapper is an interesting concept - does it actually do anything?

[Steve Jelf]

Yes, I believe round and pointy is right. You may not need to buy a new needle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiStUTU9IE

[ejbrush]

Yes, I believe round and pointy is right. You may not need to buy a new needle:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTiStUTU9IE

Ok, that is exactly the sort of solution I would imagine the Model T guys would come up with. I like it.