Hi everyone,
The carb on my 1979 4x4 short bed is in need of a good cleaning and rebuilding. The truck runs ok, but the exhaust is a bit much and I'm sure it's gummed up from sitting.
I looked on Rockauto and I can get the rebuild kit quickly for a relatively low cost. So how hard is the job? I have never touched a carb, it is completely new territory for me. Are there steps/instructions someplace?
I called a local carb shop and he wants between $250 and $300 to rebuilt the carb. I can also get one from National Carb for about $160. Is this a job that I should just pay for and not even mess with it?
Also is there a 20r carb guru that rebuilds them?

Thanks,
Zack

 

I got mine from National.

Whether you should attempt it yourself is up to you...what's your skill level? It can be done. But it's a lot of small parts.

 

2nd the option with the national carb. Lot of people have good things to say about them.

 

To be totally clear, I can't speak to the quality of National yet. I installed the carb, but I had a leak at the base (issue with my spacer and gasket, not the carb), and put some gasket-maker (FIPG) on there, then it got cold...and I haven't found the time yet to get back out there and see if the leak is gone.

So until my vacuum leak is taken care of, I can't comment on how the carb works.

 

I've said it before but I had good experience with National after trying to rebuild it myself. For the money I think its the way to go, they are all bench tested and set to factory specs so its a "bolt on and go" situation. That being said try rebuilding it yourself first, the kit should come with instructions and it may just work, you can always get a rebuilt if it doesn't.