WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

[Richard M.]

Just rebuilt a WCFB for a buddy's '59. I rebuilt it 6 years ago and was fine. No gray residue in the stone filter or tank or lines.

Something in the fuel? But only affected the carb body, accel pump nozzles, jets blocked, etc.

Ideas?

[Jim D.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Was he using some sort of octane boosting, gas stabilizing or lead replacing snake oil? Does that gray putty look like dissolved carb. casting? I've rebuilt dozens of them and have never found anything like what you did.

[Patrick H.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

What Jim said.

Or, did someone use a "sealer" in the gas tank which is dissolving?

[Richard M.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Gents, No additives of any kind in tank or anywhere, only pump gas. As mentioned, this is specific to the internal of the main body as there are no signs of it in the stone filter as it is perfectly clean. Secondary jets, pump nozzles, pump check ball cylinder, all clogged. I reinstalled the original clean tank in the car when I restored it 5+ years ago. Clean fuel line, new hose to fuel pump, new fuel pump, new hard-line going to the carb. No extra filters etc. All stock. This is a mongrel WCFB from a '57 for his 230HP base engine.

I have never seen this before. After the gray substance dried out, it is the consistency of talcum powder. I am really thinking something reacted with the pot metal body and started breaking it down. I am baffled.

Rich

[Chris H.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Rich, the inside of my tripower Holleys, fuel bowls especially, had that when I opened them after 10 years. I believe it's corrosion caused by hydroscopic ethanol used in today's unleaded. I have since switched to avgas, no ethanol and fuel bowls are now clean as a whistle. I'll try to dig up some photos.

[Richard M.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Interesting......

I found my photos of when I rebuilt the same carburetor years ago. That time it was red residue. It was in the filter too.

Pics here....Page 2 and 3 show the red stuff. Since it was in the filter I believe it was powdery rust from the tank and lines.

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/richmz/library/Misc/WCFB%20Carburetor%20Rebuild

Rich
PS I have come to the conclusion that I have been been put on this earth to be challenged with the unknown, be the purveyor of double DOA parts failures, first time finding failed water pump castings, founder of pairs of defective temperature sending units and voltage regulators, dual failed reproduction coils, failed machine shop misadventures(3x), ceramic stones inside reproduction intake manifolds, packing foam inside 3 reproduction Holley 2300's, and other various maladies of life that make me a prime candidate to give up my restoration hobby and become a priest handing out free Exorcisms.

[Patrick H.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

PS I have come to the conclusion that I have been been put on this earth to be challenged with the unknown, be the purveyor of double DOA parts failures, first time finding failed water pump castings, founder of pairs of defective temperature sending units and voltage regulators, dual failed reproduction coils, failed machine shop misadventures(3x), ceramic stones inside reproduction intake manifolds, packing foam inside 3 reproduction Holley 2300's, and other various maladies of life that make me a prime candidate to give up my restoration hobby and become a priest handing out free Exorcisms.

You'd love the offshore reproduction exhaust manifold that a friend installed on his LT-1 recently...which cracked and failed on his first drive with the car. Needless to say he looked for an original to use and now has a lot more money in the project than if he'd bought an original one to start.

[Leif A.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Interesting......

I found my photos of when I rebuilt the same carburetor years ago. That time it was red residue. It was in the filter too.

Pics here....Page 2 and 3 show the red stuff. Since it was in the filter I believe it was powdery rust from the tank and lines.

http://s684.photobucket.com/user/richmz/library/Misc/WCFB%20Carburetor%20Rebuild

Rich
PS I have come to the conclusion that I have been been put on this earth to be challenged with the unknown, be the purveyor of double DOA parts failures, first time finding failed water pump castings, founder of pairs of defective temperature sending units and voltage regulators, dual failed reproduction coils, failed machine shop misadventures(3x), ceramic stones inside reproduction intake manifolds, packing foam inside 3 reproduction Holley 2300's, and other various maladies of life that make me a prime candidate to give up my restoration hobby and become a priest handing out free Exorcisms.

Rich,
You're already a "priest" handing out exorcisms on demon Corvettes and their sundry parts

[Joe L.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Rich-------


Has this guy been using leaded aviation gas or an additive something like "Real Lead"? I used to see this sort of buildup in carburetors back in the days of leaded fuel.

[Alan D.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

I had this problem with a 1969 carburetor. I found out it was the casting degrading from using a certain gas brand. Stopped using that brand and rebuilt the carb and never had anymore problems.

[Richard M.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Rich-------


Has this guy been using leaded aviation gas or an additive something like "Real Lead"? I used to see this sort of buildup in carburetors back in the days of leaded fuel.

Joe I asked him today about exactly that. No additives, lead or substitute, octane boost, nothing.

I had this problem with a 1969 carburetor. I found out it was the casting degrading from using a certain gas brand. Stopped using that brand and rebuilt the carb and never had anymore problems.

Alan, Thanks, Do you recall the Brand?

Rich

[Alan D.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Yes, it starts with an "E".

[Chris H.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

My Holley 2300.

[Joe L.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Joe I asked him today about exactly that. No additives, lead or substitute, octane boost, nothing.



Alan, Thanks, Do you recall the Brand?

Rich

Rich-------

In the old days of leaded fuel, the additive of tetraethyl lead in the gas required the use of scavengers in the fuel. These scavengers were quite corrosive to the fuel system and that's one of the reasons that I do not recommend the use of any leaded fuels today. I always attributed the "gray putty" to be lead but I never analyzed it spectroscopically to determine if it was actually lead (too bad since I had access to equipment to do such a test at the time). Apparently, it was zinc or, at least, partially zinc eroded from the carb body by the lead scavengers.

I did not think that any corrosive additive compounds were used in gasoline after lead was eliminated. Looks like I was wrong, though. If no leaded fuel was used, then this "gray putty" almost has to be zinc.

[Richard M.]

Re: WCFB Rebuild - Gray Putty Residue

Chris, That looks very familiar. But didn't Holley admit they had some plating issues at some time and replaced many carburetors under warranty? I recall that some time ago.

Joe, Do you know what the actual metal is in these old WCFB's. It looks like pot metal. Isn't that aluminum and zinc?

Rich