Thread: Rochester 2bbl needle valves

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A friend has a 68 Camaro 327 with a Rochester 2bbl. He is trying to "restore it" rather than hotrod it.

The old Rochester needle valve tips look (he says) to have been overtightened and grooved.

Rebuild kit he is working with (I do not know what brand) doesn't include new needle valves ( do they ever? I can't remember ).

Anyone know if someone sells new Rochester parts like needle valves?

How about just swap out needles from a Holley, Carter ?

Any ideas appreciated.

Thanks, Pete

the needle valve body it self screws in the top of carb .if the needle it self has marks on it most all of the needles have a viton tip and jiffy sold kits and others .no a holley needle and seat will not fit. the carb was used by merccruiser marine and many others marine engines. and a needle and seat boat parts dealer should have them

Pat,

Thanks for the reply.

Not sure if we are thinking of the same needle valves. These are the IDLE jets at the base of the carb. All the idle jets I can remember seeing are solid brass, about an inch long. Very susceptible to being ruined by overtightening, and I don't remember ever seeing any that had a soft viton type tip...(doesn't mean there aren't any, however!)

You mentioned a needle valve body at the top of the carb...are you thinking of the float bowl needle valve?
Seems like I have seen "viton tipped" type needle in float bowl assemblies.

Was thinking...don't some Carters and/or Rochester quadrajets have metering rods the are raised and lowered to richen the mixture? Think metering rodwould be likely have a viton tip, rather than a solid brass tip as they would be inlikely to have some ham hand overtighten them.

Thanks

Originally Posted by PJinPV

Pat,

Thanks for the reply.

Not sure if we are thinking of the same needle valves. These are the IDLE jets at the base of the carb. All the idle jets I can remember seeing are solid brass, about an inch long. Very susceptible to being ruined by overtightening, and I don't remember ever seeing any that had a soft viton type tip...(doesn't mean there aren't any, however!)

You mentioned a needle valve body at the top of the carb...are you thinking of the float bowl needle valve?
Seems like I have seen "viton tipped" type needle in float bowl assemblies.

Was thinking...don't some Carters and/or Rochester quadrajets have metering rods the are raised and lowered to richen the mixture? Think metering rodwould be likely have a viton tip, rather than a solid brass tip as they would be inlikely to have some ham hand overtighten them.

Thanks

ok yep them are only rochesters holleys would not work carters ? maybe Qjets may work to if old ones can not be found find someone with a lathe and clean up the old ones or chuck them in a drill press and hit them with a small file till most of you marks are gone that could be a werd thread pitch on the old ones so do not chuck them in very hard if your going to try to clean the seat part up . the Qjets and AFBs and carb with power rods are solid metal

Monday give these guys a call. We have had them restore several Rochesters from a tripower setup and have bought several complete carbs from them. Good people and they carry just about everything carb related.

contactus

Don

The idle jets are metering jets, not a shutoff valve. Grooving in the brass needle is not going to affect the ability to meter unless it is severe. If he believes the grooves are severe he should smooth them with a piece of emery paper and go on. The idle jet adjustment process is fairly rough, and as the name says only affects idle, and if set too lean maybe the transition to mid-range. In all my years rebuilding carbs I never put in a new idle jet. Just my opinion and $0.02 - others may disagree....

Guys,

My friend asked me if he should try to polish the needle tips with emery paper, I said probably leave them alone. He does understand finesse, so I'll mention that to him. I have NOT seen the needles, so I can't say if they are really nasty grooved, or, just normal wear (after 40+ years!) with a "small step".

Thanks for the contact for Rochesters. My friend has found his 2bbl 68' is a bit of an orphan in the resto world for parts. Lots of 4bbl stuff...although I bet the needles are the same. Have seen some COOL tri-power setups while looking on the web...but I doubt he wants to spring for a new carb, just some new needle valves...whether it matters or not.

Thanks again, guys