Thread: Carberator Oppurtunity... hmmmmmmmmm

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I'm talking to someone in Maine right now that is selling all her ex husbands carberators. Books, gaskets, tools, and around 600+ carbs. She wants $1 a carb, and I'm guessin 700 for the whole lot. Is there any money to be made rebuilding these or selling them? I'm an EFI guy myself and have just tinkered w/ my old 41 New Yorkers spare carbs. Just wondering what ya'll thinking. How long does it usually take to rebuild a carb (not including boil testing the float bowl) I've got the parts cleaning bins, sand blasters, and typical tools. Do I need any specialty tools? Just drop your opinions right down here below the dotted line

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Sounds like a great deal.
I would just say make sure it's a legitimate deal. Get documentation of the sale so you don't end up with no parts and no cash.

What kind of carburetors are they?

I wouldn't be sending her any money. I'd have to drive to her place 3 hours away and get the parts. As for what kind... there's over 600 from years and years of collecting... therefore probably scores of different brands. Any recommendations on what the pickup? HOlley, Webber, Autolite, Motorcraft, no Carters, etc...

Sounds like an eBay resell dream! Buy 'em for $1 a pop. Then resell w/o touching them for $5 to $15 each or just put the whole lot up for sale on eBay for $1500 and be done with it!

The problem with old carbs is that you have to know what car they fit to sell them on ebay. Maybe the books that go with them will help identify them and their applications. If so it's a good deal. I would plan on two hours to rebuild the 1V or 2v carbs not counting cleaning and testing. after you've been doing it a while you could get it down to about one hour each. Let me know how it goes. I might be interested if you pass on the deal.

Can't I buy a Motor's Blue book to help identify them?

John
I checked my "library" and you're right. Motor's repair manuals have a pretty good section on Carbs but they only go back 6 years. You'll need a couple of books for each decade to id them all. I have three motor's books that cover 1962 to 1979. I thought I had a couple of older ones somewhere but I don't know where I put them. I bought a couple of reprints of old Chilton's that I use for older cars. 40 to 53 and 54 to 63.They don't seem to be as complete as Motor's but they cover the most popular cars.