Last night I noticed my Quadrajet was leaking from the filter housing that screws into the front of the carb. So when I tried tightening it, it just spins. If that is stripped out, is my carb now junk? Or is it able to be repaired? Thanks, Jim
They make a repair filter fitting for that. Go to your local parts store and ask. They might have to use a book to find it. Motormite company sells it. They are the company that also goes by HELP.
The best repair is to have a heli-coil installed in the casting and re-use the original fuel filter housing. I've installed thousands of them, with zero issues, as the heli-coil insert is much stronger than the original threads. We provide this service 1-2 day turn-around.....Cliff
I wouldn't use one of those fittings. They simply cut new threads into the casting and are no stronger than what has already been stripped. It will strip again and now you have less material to work with to fix it. Go the heli-coil route and rest assure that this is the last time you'll have the problem.
+1 Not trying to drum up business here, or take money out of Gregs's or anyone elses pocket.......but it is NOT recomended to use any sort of self tapping or expanding type fittings, IF you ever plan on installing the stock fuel filter housing again. We need ALL the material possible to cut the heli-coil threads, and all the sealing surface possible to seal up the gasket. IF you take out all the material, and expand the nose of the carb, we may not be able to get a heli-coil insert to work.......Cliff
Its very common for the inlet threads to strip on Quadrajet carburetors. After 40 years of filter changes its no wonder the aluminum threads give up. There are several solutions to correct this problem. Hopefully this information will be helpful so you can make the best decision for yourself. Self tapping fitting- Fast and economical and can be installed easily. Years ago I always kept an extra fitting around "just in case" at home, no down time on vehicle. O-ring expanding fitting- Allows customer to seal up badly damaged casting threads easily. Easy to install and no down time on vehicle. Does not allow use of OEM fuel filter. Extended thread fitting- New inlet fittings with additional threads allows inlet fitting to reach deeper into the casting and grab onto previously unused threads in casting. This fix only works in castings that have deeper threads. Fast and economical, can be installed easily and no down time on vehicle. Heli-coil thread insert- Strongest and best fix available, allows use of Original inlet fitting. Not for the do-it-yourselfer. Requires expensive and hard to find taps and inserts. Precision is required when installing to ensure a leak free result, as threads must be concentric to gasket sealing surface. You must send carb body to professional. I can install inserts on both 7/8" or 1" size inlet fitting castings. I pressure test after installation to ensure a tight seal. I offer all of these solutions at QuadrajetParts.com.
PS: I hope people realize how fortunate we Buick guys are to have someone like Cliff post info on the Rochester Quadrajet. His experience and knowlege on Quadrajets is VERY valuable. Thanks Cliff!!:TU:
Thanks Greg, and good point on the extra reach fittings, many times they will work as an easy repair. They are only available for 7/8"-20 threads, as the 1"-20's seat at the bottom of the housing anyhow. Quite a few fuel filter housings were released with just 4-5 threads, so they stripped out easily and usually within a few years of the carb being placed in service. Many can be repaired by simply getting a filter housing with a lot more depth/threads. The expanding fitting should be listed as the "last ditch" effort, when your housing threads are torn up beyond any possible repair, and the sealing surface is cratered, cracked or split. The expanding fittings open up and "bell-mouth" the front of the casting, even if we can get a heli-coil in after using one, there is no place for the gasket to seal as it will slip right inside the carb when the stock type filter housing is tightened up......Cliff
