Quick answer. A new carburetor out of the box is not ready to run. On this 1984 Camaro Z28 our tech found the new carb needed to be set up, the electric choke needed a ground strap, and the power steering pump needed lining up. The quote for all of it, plus setting the timing, was $489.
Key Points
- A new carburetor needs idle speed, idle mixture, fast idle and choke pull off set by hand.
- An electric choke with no ground will not work right. This one needed a ground strap.
- The power steering pump and bracket needed lining up so the belt would hold.
- The quote was $489 at our $150 an hour mobile rate.
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A Brand New Carb Is Not a Tuned Carb
The owner had a new carburetor on the car. Our tech looked it over and said it plain. The carb is fresh out of the box, and it needs to be adjusted.
That surprises people. You pay for a new part and expect it to bolt on and run. A carburetor does not work that way. It comes set close, not set right, for your engine.
We quoted 1.5 hours to set it up. That covers the idle speed, the idle mixture, the fast idle and the choke pull off. Each one changes how the car starts cold, idles warm and pulls away.
The Choke Needed a Ground
This carb has an electric choke. An electric choke needs power and a good ground to open as the engine warms.
This one did not have its ground strap. Our tech quoted a ground strap and wire lead with terminals, $15.60, and half an hour to install it and check that the choke works.
Without that ground the choke can stick. A stuck choke runs the engine rich, and that can feel like a bad carb even when the carb is fine.
Belt Line and Timing
The power steering pump and its bracket were out of line. A belt that runs crooked will not hold tension, and it wears fast.
Our tech quoted half an hour to align the pump and bracket and set belt tension, plus $23.40 in bracket hardware, shims and fasteners.
The quote also said this. If the bracket or a pulley turns out bent or worn, we call before going further. Alignment will not hold on a bent part, and we will not charge you to fight one.
Last came timing. Our tech quoted half an hour to set the ignition timing at the distributor, about 15 degrees, and check the total advance.
1984 Camaro Z28, mobile visit, September 4
Came in with: a new carburetor that was not set up yet.
Tech found: carb needs adjusting, choke needs a ground strap, power steering bracket out of line.
Quoted: carb setup, choke ground, bracket and belt, timing at about 15 degrees.
Price: $489, labor at $150 an hour plus $39 in parts.
Old cars like this get a lot of love from owners who do their own work. That is great. Sometimes the last step is having someone with the right gauges set it all up in one visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a new carburetor need to be adjusted?
Yes. A new carb comes set close, not set for your engine. On this Camaro our tech quoted 1.5 hours to set idle speed, mixture, fast idle and the choke pull off.
Why does an electric choke need a ground strap?
An electric choke needs power and a good ground to open as the engine warms. Without the ground it may not open right, and the engine can run rich.
How much did this Camaro carburetor setup cost?
The full quote was $489. That covered the carb setup, the choke ground, the bracket and belt, and the timing.
What timing did you set on the 1984 Z28?
The quote called for about 15 degrees at the distributor, then a check of total advance.
What happens if a pulley is bent?
We stop and call you first. Belt alignment will not hold on a bent pulley or bracket, so you decide before any more time is spent.
Supercanic tip: If you just put on a new carb and the car still runs poorly, do not buy another carb yet. Ask if the new one was ever set up. Call us at (951) 904-2477.
Classic Running Rough?
We come to you, set it up by hand, and tell you the price first.
