Warped Carter carburetor top

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acavdragoon

acavdragoon

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I was rebuilding my 2BBL Carter carburetor with a gasket kit. Once got it back together I noticed the top of the carburetor was warped and wouldn’t seal to the gasket. I never noticed it when I took it apart, don’t know what would cause it even. I ordered a parts carburetor from flea-bay to replace the top. Just wondering if any of you guys had this happen to you.
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That's a first. You can try to straighten it by putting it in traction for a few months. Basically put the top on a surface and let the other end hang off. Then add some weight to the hanging end. A couple pounds, maybe less. let it sit that way for a few months checking it every day at first it will give you a sense for how much it moves in a given time frame.

I know it sounds crazy but it works on pot metal and other cast aluminum parts.

SLOW is the name of the game

Are you sure there is nothing interfering? with the gasket off does the top sit flush? I think the screw holes are through but can the screws be screwed in all the way with the top off? if not there might be debris in the holes.
 
It’s definitely warped on the bowl side. The screws go in fine. I had the carburetor in the dip tank over night to clean it up. It’s just weird it warped the way it did. When I took it apart I was just unscrewing it and putting the parts in the dip basket. I didn’t notice anything wrong when I was talking it apart though it could have been warped prior.
 
Sure it's the top not the bottom? Check it on a flat surface. Usually a formica counter top is reasonably flat.
 
ch1ll said:
Sure it's the top not the bottom?
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acavdragoon said:
It’s definitely warped on the bowl side.
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I assumed the top too as it has far less rigidity.

Being the bowl side has a flat mating surface it could be machined flat. Might have to make a shim or use 2 gaskets to maintain the height of the metering rods
 
Dana67Dart said:
I assumed the top too as it has far less rigidity.

Being the bowl side has a flat mating surface it could be machined flat. Might have to make a shim or use 2 gaskets to maintain the height of the metering rods
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I have been "machining" holley parts flat for many years.
I just use a full sheet of sandpaper racer-taped (or glued) on a piece of glass, sand in a circular pattern.
 
I’ll see when my parts carburetor gets here if it has the same problem I’ll look into these suggestions.
 
Use a heat gun to soften the alum & tap back into place. Final touch would be to sandpaper high spots.
 
I've seen it before. It's from cave men tightening down those two front screws too tight. Try what Bewy said. But be careful with it.
 
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Well I tried pounding it with a brass hammer, I tried my heat gun on it. But I found that sanding it down with 240 grit wet and dry sandpaper worked the best on a flat piece of glass. I finished it up with 400 grit paper. It mated up nicely with the bowl of the carburetor. Thanks for all of your suggestions, I truly appreciate it!
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I thought you said the bowl was what was wrapped
 
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I recall years ago reading an article on how to straighten things like that and it involved heating the carb top in an oven enough to soften it and putting it on a flat surface and weighting it and letting it cool. Anyone else ever seen that done? I don't recall the recommended temperature.
 
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