Hello,,, long time browser.. I think this is my first post. I've searched the forums but still have a few questions.

I have a 67 valiant, with a 225 /6

Driven daily for the past 10 months. It began to run fairly badly over the past 3-4 weeks.

I checked timing, replaced plugs/wires/distributor cap. I adjusted the idle setting, this helped it for a day.

The car would then not start, or run very badly (I'd have to rev it repeatedly to keep it idling.. It would stall if I put it in gear.)

I pushed the car to a shop today.

His diagnosis is that I need a new carb. And new points.

I asked if I could rebuild this carb, he said No, I need a new one.

I told him that I'd like to try and install it myself.

My question is:

What carb would you recommend?

A rebuilt Carter will cost me $180 where I live. Apparently, this is not a good choice?

I don't mind a temporary fix, as I will be moving overseas in 3 months and could fix it properly when I return..

Thank you very much for your time and this forum.

-J

Also,

I don't know a lot about cars.. Am I better off letting this mechanic install it?
How long should it take him?

Is it quite difficult, in your opinion, for someone who's not very knowledgeable about this stuff to install and adjust a carb?


Thanks again.

Welcome on the board.

"Rebuilt" (or "remanufactured") carburetors are junk; you're liable to get one just as bad as the one you're replacing — see this thread for info.

I am — within days — putting up a big sale of new (not "remanufactured") carburetors, if you'll want one, but did this mechanic give a reason why the one you have can't be rebuilt? Unless it's really decrepit (broken pieces, severe corrosion, etc.) they usually can be rebuilt. I'm just wondering if "You need a new carb" from this guy really means "I'm not knowledgeable or skillful when it comes to rebuilding carburetors, but I can swap parts just fine". It sounds like you had to pick the shop based on proximity rather than reputation or recommendation, and carburetors are a thing of the past, so there are lots of mechanics who don't know how to work with them. The thing that's got me wondering is that carburetors really don't tend to go from functional to "too far gone to rebuild" over the course of 3-4 weeks. If the car was running well enough to use daily for ten months until it began to run poorly just a few weeks ago, then it does not seem likely to me that the carburetor is beyond hope.

Of course, if you need the car as immediately as possible without downtime, and the carburetor is in need of refurbishment more significant than a quickie cleanup and reseal, then swapping on a new carb is the faster option. Either a Carter BBS or a Holley 1920 will fit and work on your '67.

Burnt or worn breaker points certainly could cause the engine to run badly (or not run) over the course of 3-4 weeks. Perhaps the carburetor does need attention — maybe significant attention, or possibly even replacement — but if the points have been identified as a problem, then the first step should be a careful, proper tune-up. Parts and technique suggestions in this thread. It's not difficult, though some special tools (timing light, dwell-tachometer, etc.) are somewhere between "very helpful" and "necessary" to do the tune-up. Neither is installing a new carburetor particularly tricky. It's mostly just unbolt/rebolt remove and replace type of stuff. The adjustment procedure isn't hard.

You will definitely and immediately want to buy the three books described in this thread.

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