Hi Edouard and other Readers,
I've been having some trouble with my baby 2bbl Rochester, nothing too complex just logistics and communication I'm sure everyone here has experienced.
Through word of mouth I found a guy (Paul) in our capital (Brisbane) who restores carburetors, I contacted Paul and sent mine off in the mail. A few weeks later it returned looking almost new, I put it aside until I needed it, when I pulled it from its box I noticed an idol screw was bent (assumed it was knocked about in the post), and there was a anodized steel line that was not from my carby. I contacted Paul and he asked me to return the screws, I also forgot to send the air cleaner wing nut when the carby was rebuilt so it went for a ride as well to get anodized. During this call he told me the steel line was vacuum advance but I knew this wasn't the case.
Paul sent back a repaired idol screw plus two spares, coupled with a shiny wingnut. I replaced the idol screws and sat the carby in position. Fast forward a few more weeks I went to fit the carby ready to start the motor, and could not for the life of me find the gasket that came with the carby in the first mailing. I contacted Paul, he arranged for another gasket to be sent, at this point I realized my earlier problem of the heat stove that activates the auto choke, and realized I was missing the flared backing nut that connects under the auto choke housing. Another call to Paul and he had my fitting in his workshop. At this stage I thought what's a 5 round trip to go and visit Paul to get my fitting, the new gaskets were due in Fridays mail, perfect I could get it ready to fire up over the weekend.
I drove to Brisbane on Friday afternoon and met Paul. He is a great guy, more or less retired mid 70's and had a little workshop tucked under his house, he had a beautiful 58 DeSoto parked in his workshop. He explained the mix up with the steel line he sent me, and gave me my flared nut. During our conversation I complained about my choke problems and he said, just put an electric one in they work better than the original. He then went to has spares and pulled out a little heater (wrong one for my 2bbl) and showed me how it fits in behind the auto choke cover, its a very simple element that has an earth and an ignition wire. It simply heats while ignition is on to excite the bimetallic spring in the auto choke. Paul showed me how adjust the carby when I get it going, it was a very enjoyable time. Once again my Skylark build has exposed me to another talented person I would have never otherwise met .
Paul has arranged for the heater to be send directly to my place, I should have it in a week or so, will send pics and details then.
I got home to find the gasket in the mail, opened it up and .... wrong one. Now there is a gasket and a heater coming in the mail.
Just another story in the building of a Buick Skylark in Australia.
Keep well
Marcus
