Weber Bookends - 914-6 Conversion

[mr914]

Picked up a 75 914-6 that has been sitting way too long at a body shop 8-10 years. As if I need another project like a hole in the head.

The body shop went bankrupt and thru a couple of hands, I picked it up for a really good price.

I'll cover the car in a different tread.

The IDA3C shafts are seized on both carbs. I've pulled the carbs and manifolds to clean them up and have a few questions.

1) What is the best way to separate the manifolds from the carbs. I've removed the bolts and tried gently tapping on the manifold to break them loose.

2) Is there any hope/tricks for un-seizing the throttle shafts? Would immersion ultrasonic cleaning have any chance in freeing them?

Thanks for your input

[John Rogers]

Soak the shafts in Kroil and keep them wet but I imagine they may need replacement and Weber shafts can be expensive. As for the carb to manifold joint I can imagine someone may have used a sealer, especially if the carb bases and/or manifolds have warped a bit and the stock fiber gasket was not sealing. They are some very old gaskets that also will decay into almost a sealer, especially if they are impregnated with waxes like many used to be. Same thing goes here about soaking them.

You could also send them to Pierce Manifolds in Gilroy CA as they are the Weber goto folks and probably have the largest parts bins around and great knowledge. They used to do the carbs on my 914-6 race car and always came back BETTER than new.

[mr914]

Thanks for the recommendation on Pierce Manifolds, I have never heard of them.

It appears that the bolts to mount the manifold to the carbs were put on with locktite, I would assume that some of the sealer is used.

The mechanic who did the conversion in the 80's is top notch and has a reputable firm, so I am sure it was done properly when installed. Time and who knows how many heat cycles the motor has had....

I thought about using the home oven to heat the manifold/carbs to running temp, but I'm sure the other half would veto that.

Once we get to 50 degree weather, I will try using the heat gun to raise the temp to 180 or so and see if it pops loose.

I forgot about Kroil. It's good stuff. I've been using PB blaster recently.

If the shafts are seized, I figure that the carbs are bookends. As I can get a set of PMOs or megasquirt for a few dollars more

[mr914]

SUCCESS!

Went out to the local watering hole and thought about the issue

It's finally warm here today... 50 for the first time in months.... Headed into the garage and broke out the heat gun and warmed up the manifolds/carbs.

Gave it a ketchup bottle thump and the manifold separated! Tried the shaft and the butterflys are free. Even with the helper spring removed, i could go to WFO and it would snap back to position!!

Time for the second carb. Same process, heat up with the heat gun. Thump the manifold and it came free.

This time a little different story, more corrosion on the shafts. 3/4 open, the butterfly’s will snap back but not from WFO.

One of the butterflys is pretty corroded. The others cleaned up fairly well with carb cleaner and a toothbrush. Appears that it was a bit of carbon that was holding them up

Still going to soak them and see what can be cleaned up.

Now to find some manifold to carb gaskets..... Anybody have a set?

[mr914]

One of the circuits has some corrosion....