LS5 original carb stripped fuel inlet....Help!

[Tom444634]

All I wanted to do was back the car out of the garage so I could store the summer stuff in the garage attic. Backed the car out, smelled gas, hmmmm... Lifted the air cleaner and there was a small puddle under the fuel inlet. No problem , just snug up the inlet and I'm back to winterizing the house. WRONG! I put the wrench on it and gave it a little snug and it just spins! Took off the fuel line and sure enough, the fuel inlet is stripped. Whoever had the car before me (I just got the car in October)used some sealant on it and it must have finally decided to go today.

The problem now is that I have the original carb with a stripped fuel inlet, and it looks pretty bad. Most all of the threads are flattened.

I had another Q-jet that I was able to put on the car and it runs with it just fine, but I want the original one back on it!

Is there any way to repair this?

[Verle R.]

Re: LS5 original carb stripped fuel inlet....Help!

Tom,

I don't much like them, and they are detectable, but auto parts houses have a new fitting that has slightly larger, "self tapping" threads. They do work.

A Carburetor restoration shop may have a better but more expensive solution.

Verle

[Patrick H.]

Re: LS5 original carb stripped fuel inlet....Help!

Tom,

There is a Heli-Coil made especially for this problem. Several years ago I had Jerry Luck put one in my carb for my 71. He's not doing much work anymore, but I suspect that one of the other Q-jet rebuilders/restorers can do this for you.

Don't try the self-tapping oversized one. It will just leak anyway. Don't ask how I know this.

Patrick

[Dave S.]

Re: LS5 original carb stripped fuel inlet....Help!

Tom,
You have a common problem. As Patrick mentioned a Heli Coil is a possible fix but they can be overtightened and pull out. Bob Kunz uses an O-ring fitting which I found to my liking. It seems to me to be a more positive fix. The only problem is he has to drill a small external hole to tighten a small set screw. He located the small hole at the bottom of the inlet and you will only notice it if you know its there. It's another option to consider.

[Joe L.]

Re: LS5 original carb stripped fuel inlet....Help!

Patrick-----

The self-tapping, "repair" inlet fittings will work. One of these things got me "fixed up" and back on the road after a stripped inlet fitting got me once-upon-a-time stranded in Tonopah, Nevada for a day and a half (I discovered the problem just after I pulled into town for gas at 5 pm on a Saturday, just after the 2 parts stores in town closed until Monday morning).

However, I recommend them ONLY as a temporary repair; I'd NEVER leave one of these on the car, although many do and have no problems, at all.

The Heli-Coil repair is the way to go. Most of the major carburetor rebuilders have this kit and the experience to install it properly. With the inlet fitting thereafter properly installed and TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION, the fix will be "forever".

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: LS5 original carb stripped fuel inlet....Help!

Patrick:
Joe, as usual, is right. I had this problem on my '69 and had a helicoil put in several years ago. has been leak free ever since. I think this is the only permanent repair.
Jeff