No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

[Joe L.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

I tried one. It leaked, then stripped. That was before I knew about the Helicoil fix. Having tried one and now knowing the correct fix, I'd never try one again.

Patrick------


You would if you were stranded for 2 days in Tonopah, Nevada with a leaking inlet fitting. I was lucky, I got it to not leak but I worried about it all the way home. I'd use one again but only if I were stranded again in Tonopah, Nevada. What is Tonopah famous for? Two things: (1) it's where Howard Hughes married Jean Peters at the Mizpah Hotel and (2) it's the nearest town to where the F-117A Stealth fighters were based for many years (and where they all currently reside "in repose" in their original hangers).

[Patrick H.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Patrick------


You would if you were stranded for 2 days in Tonopah, Nevada with a leaking inlet fitting.

OK, you got me there.

Of course, I'm not sure why my carb inlet would be leaking at that point in time, why I'd be driving in Tonopah, NV, and why I'd be driving through there in a Q-jet equipped Corvette at any point now or in the future. But, should I be in this situation, I'll use one and think of you.

[Dave S.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Patrick, do you remember who you sent your Quadrajet for its Heli-Coil? Thank you also Joe for this info.

Chris,
Bob Kunz did a heli coil in my Quadrajet on my 396/325 Camaro. Worked great. Only issue is a small Alan screw that shows. It holds the heli coil in place. That was a few years ago and maybe they have come up with another technique.

[Mark E.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

I also wonder why Joe' Q-Jet decided to start leaking in Tonapah.

[Mark E.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Patrick, do you remember who you sent your Quadrajet for its Heli-Coil? Thank you also Joe for this info.

I recommend Cliff's High Performance. All he works on are Q-Jets and he authored perhaps the best book out there on these carbs. He rescued a rare 7040205 I got from eBay. Someone had terribly altered the idle air bypass system causing nozzle drip and poor idle. It now runs like it's fuel injected.

Check out his web site and blog.

[Mark E.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Brad Urban's Carb Shop in Ontario, CA. Brad "wrote the book" (both literally and figuratively) on Q-Jets but, unfortunately, he passed away many years ago. I still have the rebuilt carb, though, never installed.

Was his business called the "The Carburetor Shop"? It was in Ontario, and they did some good work for me in the late 80s. Can't find them now, though.

[Joe L.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Was his business called the "The Carburetor Shop"? It was in Ontario, and they did some good work for me in the late 80s. Can't find them now, though.

Mark------


Yes, it was called The Carburetor Shop and it was in Ontario, CA. After Brad Urban passed away I think they might have moved to Rancho Cucamonga, CA but I don't know if they are still in business.

[Edward B.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Chris, Would you like a cheater that will work. Use Loctite 609. Not readily available in auto stores. Buy it on line. Compatible with any kind of fuel. Make sure everything is spotless first. Sets up in 10 minutes but takes at least 24 hours to harden.

Loctite 609 (green Loctite) is a versatile product, particularly if you have a fluid leak where you don't want to or can't take things apart. 690's wicking action is amazing and once set up it provides a very good seal. One application that leaps to mind is for oil pressure and temperature sending units where the electrical connections emerge from the plastic center portion of a threaded metal housing. Clean as well as possible, put green Loctite around the terminals or joint between the plastic and the metal housing (depending on where the leak is), let it cure and the leak is most likely history. Particularly useful on older vehicles where replacement sending units compatible with the existing gauges may not be readily available.

[John D.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Edward Boyd, Thanks for the info on the Loctite 609. That stuff is a life saver.
A machinist friend uses it for inserts he makes in castings. He puts the 609 on with a q-tip that he removes most of the cotton from. Puts it on the insert. Lets the 609 dry for at about 1-1/2 days. Then he can go in and machine the insert. By the way I realize you made a minor typo. There is no 690 Loctite. John

[James B.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Mark------


Yes, it was called The Carburetor Shop and it was in Ontario, CA. After Brad Urban passed away I think they might have moved to Rancho Cucamonga, CA but I don't know if they are still in business.

Joe,

Are you referring to "Sean Murphy Induction"?

https://www.smicarburetor.com/

[Joe L.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Joe,

Are you referring to "Sean Murphy Induction"?

https://www.smicarburetor.com/

James------


Not specifically. However, it looks like Sean was once an important part of Brad Urban's "Carburetor Shop" so I suppose, in some sense, he's a "successor operation". I think the "Carburetor Shop", sans Brad Urban and Sean Murphy might still be in operation in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. If so, just how much it "resembles" the original operation, I know not.

[Dick W.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Repaired several using Loctite Formathread PC #PC 3967

[Greg L.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Hi Dick,
I was wondering how long ago its been since you've done these repairs and if you've changed the inlet filter a few times or not since the repairs? I like the idea of using the PC 3967 as I've used a Loctite Formathread product in the past for the fuel pump bolt insert on the timing cover on my GTO. It worked really well but I'm a little nervous to try it on a fuel fitting in case it were to fail and spray fuel sometime down the road. How well are the ones you've repaired holding up?

[Dick W.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

I know of one that is still going after 15 years. I cannot speak for the rest. The thread repair comes with a release agent to put on the fitting so that it does not become an integral part of the carb

[John D.]

Re: No more fuel filter nut threads in my 1970 Quadrajet

Just a note to tell you that this past summer three of my customers have had serious engine fires from fuel leaks. One lost the car and most of the garage. And one burnt up the passenger side big time. And another individual wouldn't wait for O'rings to arrive and also had a big time fire.

I would sooner see someone put a service replacement carb or part on than mess around patching such a critical area as the fuel inlet fitting. John D

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