Fired carburators?

[Renato]

I read from Jason in white wall tire topic

...I made a decision to run a modern Edelbrock carb for efficiency, driveability, elimination of an often dangerous mechanical choke tube that cracks and causes fires.   I may enter my 64 next year and expect a bit of an authenticity deduction for it.  Running this carb for my "safety reasons from first hand experience in seeing carb and choke tube related fires, was my decision...

I never heard about fired carbs. It is a know danger?

[russ austin]

A cracked choke tube can cause a fire, if the carb leaks fuel externally.   Fix the cracked choke tube, and run what ya brung. I have no problems with any of the carter carbs I rebuild.

[TJ Hopland]

Was this choke system different than any other?  I'm not quite seeing how a crack in q choke system would be any more hazardous than any other place under the hood.   

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Renato,
"ditto" Russ.  These cars have run for decades, trouble free with ALL the original equipment they came with.  Fixing what is wrong with your Carburetor and the "hard parts" will bring far more satisfactory results, especially if you have any intent on having your car judged.  These forums are absolutely full of posts first asking how to modify their linkage, fuel, choke and idle speed up systems so they can use some generic (usually an eldlebrock, since they are cheap).  They they start asking how to tune these carbs so their car will idle and perform satisfactorily.
The Edlebrock carb series are decent carburetors, but they are intended essentially for small block chevrolets with distinctly different perfromance criteria than Cadillacs. Even the Rochester Quadrajets that came later (67 on) are uniquely modified for the Cadillac engine they are intended for.
Greg Surfas

[Renato]

Great

All of my old-timers are very important for me to be original. I never change parts not even if I can build in better (like 2 circuit master brake). So I'd like to know is it a common problem (I never heard before) or not. Thank you guys.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Renato,
If it is just the tube from the intake manifold to the carburetor choke that has split, replacing it should be quite simple.  The most common reason for these tubes to get damaged (or split) is a "ham fisted" mechanic working on them.
Greg Surfas

[Coupe Deville]

I have a 57 series 62 sedan. How can I  I.D. The carburator. And how hard is it to rebuild these things? I have seen rebuild kits around the Internet before for the 57 365ci.

Any help is apriciated

Thanks
-Gavin

[Dave Shepherd]

If it is a Carter AFB, they are pretty easy to go over.,  The 4GC and Wcfb carbs are much more difficult to set up for a 1st timer., also check for worn throttle shafts on any of them.

[Renato]

Which carb was better in that time? Why?

Rochester VS Carter?

[Dave Shepherd]

The Carter was less complex to build, rebuild and adjust, the aluminum base could be an issue with boil over of the fuel, so a phenolic spacer is required under the carb.

[Renato]

I set up for 3 days my Rochester on my 57. But after it runs only 12-13 liter/100 km.

What's depend on the type of carb? Many 57-58 have Rochester others Carter.

[Dave Shepherd]

They were interchangeable in respect to running, obviously the linkage is a little different.

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

Renato,
12l/100Km equals almost 19.6 Miles per gallon.  If you think this is bad, I am sure a few on this forum might discuss it with you.
\Greg Surfas

[Renato]

No it's fantastic. A bigger 2.0 Turbo engined modern car with automatic easily can eat the same. Caddy more than 50 years old and almost 2.5 ton

[russ austin]

TJ, the cracked choke tube is a fire hazard for this very reason; Hot exhaust gas is swirling around the choke tube, to heat it up and cause warm air to rise to the choke.  The choke tube is open to the elements, very close to the bottom of the intake manifold.  A cracked choke tube lets very hot exh gas into the choke tube, and down to the bottom of the intake manifold.  Now, if your carb is leaking gas, the gas fumes will collect at the base of the intake manifold, right where all that nice hot exh gas is being pumped out.   Just changing carbs is not going to fix the cracked choke tube, or the possibility of one.  Only if you pull the intake off, and seal the choke tube holes.

Seen more than one car, with the round burn mark, right above the carburetor.

[Steve Passmore]

Russ, did you notice the age of this post

[russ austin]

I did, just catching up on posts.

[Coupe Deville]

12l/100Km equals almost 19.6 Miles per gallon.  If you think this is bad, I am sure a few on this forum might discuss it with you.

No it's fantastic.

Please elaborate. You got a 57 Rochester 4GC to put out those miles? What jets did you use? Im very interested.

-Gavin

[Renato]

Please elaborate. You got a 57 Rochester 4GC to put out those miles? What jets did you use? Im very interested.

-Gavin

It was an original Rochester with 2 lane like this:

http://static.wixstatic.com/media/bb80cd_1ce303e122fb4871ae371f6262f37c7c~mv2.jpg_256

Sorry I do not know the english name of it. Most of Rochester have 4 pieces of "lane". I really would like to know why installed 2 types of Rochesters.