I have a complete 1972 Buick Skylark 350 4bbl setup that includes a newly rebuilt Rochester carb and fresh media blasted manifold. All looks great! I want to take this setup and swap it with my current 2bbl setup on my 71 350 Skylark. What if anything do I need to know or have to change in order to make the swap successful? Will the current vacuum lines and linkage work? Are the bolts the same? Is my current fuel line and pump good and a simple swap. Please feel free to give me some feedback!! I don't want to open up a can of worms and any/all advice and tech info is greatly appreciated!! Current 2bbl setup is shot and needs to go!
If you are running a stock metal fuel line from the pump to the carb, you will probably have to cut it, and use a rubber hose to get it to match up with your 4-barrel.
Hi Steve, I did the same swap in my car two years ago. The bolts will all line up, the fuel line is different - you can buy a brand new 350 4bbl fuel pump to carb metal line from various places - I got mine from In-Line Tube (you can leave the fuel pump alone). You might be able to use the same throttle cable - I was able to use mine. Some fittings are different, for example the divorce choke assembly, and dashpot are different from the 350 2bbl to 4bbl (I eventually found the rare 71 idle solenoid kit to replace the dashpot - try to find one if you can as it makes a noticeable difference in the idle). If the 4bbl intake you have has all the fittings on it already you will be in good shape, just get the new 4bbl fuel line. Good luck with the swap - I did mine myself and it took about two hours (if you do the job yourself as well be prepared for some back pain the next day from removing the old iron intake and installing the new one!)
Still need to get the manifold plugs and the bolts for the carb as for some reason they were removed when I got the setup. Have to check the linkage out and never thought about the solenoid. Ran the car to a show last night and my crappy 2bbl dumped so much fuel it was sizzling on the manifold at the base. Not good!
Hi Steve, Where is the fuel dumping from? The carb?, the fuel line? If you don't have one, get a 1971 Buick build manual as it will show you where all the lines and accessories go - very helpful when doing the swap. I wouldn't run the car anymore if it is dumping a lot of fuel - you could start a nasty engine fire.
Its like the fuel was leaking out the base where the carb meets the manifold. Gave it a couple smacks thinking the float was sticking and she stopped. She was also weeping where she has the gaskets and I snugged her up with no luck. Guess she's shot all around. Rims went out on Friday and I sent ya the tracking numbers
>>Hi Steve, Sounds like the carb gasket is shot - it's only a cardboard piece so when it goes it goes. Thanks for shipping out the rims - did you send the tracking number to my regular email?
>>You could ask on this board, I know that some companies like Year One sell copies. Or, if you would like, I'll make you a photocopy of the pages you need when I go back to work this week. No charge at all - consider it a thanks for selling me the rims!:beers2:
Hey Chris, :beer Sent them out to where you wanted and e-mailed you (Friday) with the 4 separate tracking numbers as they went out in 4 separate boxes. Let me know if you got it the info or I'll resend it! If you can make me a copy of the information I would appreciate it! Boy am I glad I found this board!! Thanks
