60 wcfb woes

[Don Izzo]

I bought a restored wcfb from chicago vette for my 1960. When I installed in on my new motor I found that the carb wouldn't idle. As I raised the idle the throttle would hang up a few hundred rps off the idle stop position. I disconnected all the linkage and it still did it. Everyone I spoke to thought this was a vacume problem So I sent the carb back and after 3 long weeks they sent it back with a new throttle plate installed. It still does it!! Now I have been told by some that this is a common problem others say they have never heard of this condition. My question may shock some of the purists here but here goes. Is there any other carburator that will fit my stock intake manifold and air cleaner and clear the underside of the hood. I can reroute the fuel inlet. Maybe the WAFB? Help guy's I want to drive the car!! it took 3 long years to restore this basket case!! I don't want to waste another $4-500. On another junk WCFB!

Don

[John M.]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

Don,
If you press on it with your finger on the linkage will it close all the way?
I had the same problem with mine and finally found that it was just due to the crappy repro spring that did not have enough pull. This has been a real problem with the 1x4 green springs that some vendors sell. I finally took a couple of winds out of my spring and re-formed the end so no one would know the difference! When you get a chance to feel the pull on an original spring it will become very obvious that the repro springs are lacking.

Regards, John McGraw

[Clem Z.]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

take the carb off and back all the idle screws clear off and the check to see if the butterflys are completely closed. if not loosen the screws holding the butterflys and center them in the base plate bores. if the butterflys are completely closed i would look for a vacuum leak or check to make sure your distributor weights are not stuck in the advanced position

[Don Izzo]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

The throttle lever itself is actually hanging up causing the idle to increase a few hundrew rps. It doesn't do this when the engine is off thus making me believe it is a vacume problem. I have seen the throttle return to normal idle stop position when the engine is turned off after it has hung up. THis condition is present with the linkage connected or disconnected from the carb. I have tried increasing the return spring pressure. It will cause the throttle to return to the idle stop position each time however the tension on the gas pedal increases to the point where you can not get a smooth transition on the gas pedal. Driving becomes a very jerky experence. Still need to know if there are any other carbs. that will bolt on and still enable me to use the stock air cleaner and fit under my hood (I was thinking of the Edelbrock WAFB) Or where I can get a WCFB that is proven to be good prior to purchase. Don't want to buy another junker carb!!

Don

Don

[Dave S.]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

Don,
I had a similiar problem with the Holley throttle shaft on my 71 LT-1 with the original carb. I was getting ready to remove the carb. and install throttle shaft bushings to fix it. I bought a spray can of the high temp. graphite lubricant used for engine rebuilds and carefully sprayed it into the shaft at the base of the carb. Works like a dream.

[Terry Leeker]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

You may want to check the alignment of the carb to the manifold's base. I have had a carb that the throttle plates wouldn't quite close all the way when installed and I found the plates were hanging up on the manifold throttle bores. Loosen the carb attach nuts and move the carb around on the stud fit slop and see if the throttle plate will then close all the way.

[James F.]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

Don,
If I understand the poblem in your posts, CC replaced the throttle body and the problem still persists. Before looking an Carter AFB (which won't fit your manifold without an adapter plate, then your air cleaner won't clear ther hood, and it goes on and on. Get the WCFB to work! First, be sure that you do in fact did get a new throttle body. Your problem sounds like the throttle rod is hanging up within the bore of the throttle body. Chuck Smith (Driveline) has new throttle rods. You could eliminate the throttle rod as being a problem by going this route. If the throttle body needs to be aligned bored and sleeved, this can be accomplished as well. Downside to the above, I know this weekends weather is great for driving!! Regards,

[Dave Christensen]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

Don,
Call Chuck Smith at (818) 222-5757 and ask him about your carb. I had SERIOUS problems with both WCFBs on my 56 2X4. I took the carbs over to Chuck and he spent about 2 hours going through them. I bolted them back on and my problems were gone! The car ran great.

I was quite frustrated at the time as well. I had finished a frame off resto and the car would not right right. Out of all the people that I dealt with on the restoration, I would say that Chuck Smith was the best. He did the job right, the first time, very quickly, and at a very fair price.

Call him. If he cannot fix it for you, a different carb is not going to help either.

Dave Christensen

[Don Izzo]

Re: 60 wcfb woes

Thanks for all the responces. I am quite sure the problem lies within the carb and not an alignment problem as it did the same thing on his "wet test bench". I have sent the carb back to the rebuilder as he has now told me he did not change the throttle rod when he changed the plate. He now states he will recheck the throttle plate for warpage and change out the rod. When he returned the carb the first time I found old gasket material stuck on the base! Hmmmmmm, could it be he didn't change the base for a new one?:) I will keep you all posted. I would like to retain the originality of the WCFB but am quite eager to drive my newly completed basket case!!