I had a long time friend , Ive known since the late 1970s (JACK) drop by thats got an older c3 bbc corvette with a dual quad intake and two holley 450 carbs, the car was starting to run crappy several months ago and I suggested he bring it over, but he only made the time recently, and after it got so bad that it was hard to drive , he brought it over and asked me to look at it, well just about everything was a bit out of adjustment, float levels, linkage,timing needed adjustment and the both carbs bowls had bits of gasket and fine sand in them, and the valves needed to be adjusted, etc. a bit of time with a vacuum gauge timing light and fuel pressure gauge, multi meter, etc, provided lots of clues to the cars problems, but the main problem was traced to well worn ignition components, cap and rotor were well oxidized, looked like they might have gotten wet at one time, and ignition wires with over 12k- some,over 20k ohms resistance and plugs all crusty with crud, and gaps from 45-70 thousands, obviously well over 5 years old according to the owner, but having driven the car less than 20k miles Jack never suspected them being defective, and a partly clogged fuel filter that had not been changed in several years.
naturally at this took a few hours to diagnose, adjust and correct, and while I enjoy this type of stuff I suggested he spring for lunch and a few sodas , well the younger guy that Jack had brought along said something, to him I didn,t catch, when I suggested that, like I was screwing my friend Jack over some how, but my friend shook his head, they both jumped in my car and went to get lunch, and parts for the corvette, while I tinkered with the car, and after they got back we got everything adjusted, as I showed him each problem, and exactly how it was located, what to look for, the tools needed and then how each problem was resolved, adjusted, etc, and had him get some hands on time actually working and tuning his car, replacing carb bowl gaskets, spark plugs, ignition wires the distributor cap and rotor and needle valves in the carbs, etc.. the car picked up at least double the hp it had when he arrived, with the car, in fact it had been so long since the corvettes owner could light up the tires into smoke he was all grins, all the parts cost him under $140 and lunch for all three of us cost him $25
the corvettes owner, Jack, was thrilled, the kid thought that was outrageous, he then asked me what I was going to charge for labor.....well it was a huge shock to this kid when I told him I was not charging him a damn thing all thou I probably should charge him $50 an hour to watch and learn, but I was happy to help my old friend for free! (well it cost Jack, lunch and several ginger ales) but hey we all had to have lunch! so in effect I tuned his car for conversation, and a sub sandwich, yet this kid seemed to think that the corvettes owner paying $140 or so too the parts store, for parts that he saw were all installed on the car, in some way made me a rip off artist??
some people appreciate the skills,effort, experience that it takes to be a true engine guy, and realize the ability's and some are absolutely clueless
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naturally at this took a few hours to diagnose, adjust and correct, and while I enjoy this type of stuff I suggested he spring for lunch and a few sodas , well the younger guy that Jack had brought along said something, to him I didn,t catch, when I suggested that, like I was screwing my friend Jack over some how, but my friend shook his head, they both jumped in my car and went to get lunch, and parts for the corvette, while I tinkered with the car, and after they got back we got everything adjusted, as I showed him each problem, and exactly how it was located, what to look for, the tools needed and then how each problem was resolved, adjusted, etc, and had him get some hands on time actually working and tuning his car, replacing carb bowl gaskets, spark plugs, ignition wires the distributor cap and rotor and needle valves in the carbs, etc.. the car picked up at least double the hp it had when he arrived, with the car, in fact it had been so long since the corvettes owner could light up the tires into smoke he was all grins, all the parts cost him under $140 and lunch for all three of us cost him $25
the corvettes owner, Jack, was thrilled, the kid thought that was outrageous, he then asked me what I was going to charge for labor.....well it was a huge shock to this kid when I told him I was not charging him a damn thing all thou I probably should charge him $50 an hour to watch and learn, but I was happy to help my old friend for free! (well it cost Jack, lunch and several ginger ales) but hey we all had to have lunch! so in effect I tuned his car for conversation, and a sub sandwich, yet this kid seemed to think that the corvettes owner paying $140 or so too the parts store, for parts that he saw were all installed on the car, in some way made me a rip off artist??
some people appreciate the skills,effort, experience that it takes to be a true engine guy, and realize the ability's and some are absolutely clueless
RELATED THREADS
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=444&p=10794&hilit=+dual+quads#p10794
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=773
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=1639
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=109
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=1790
viewtopic.php?f=55&t=211
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=2798
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=202
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=962
viewtopic.php?f=52&t=196