Hoping that someone can recommend a carb rebuild kit. I have looked at atkins and mazdatrix but they really dont say what all is included. Let me know if you have a recommendation.
Thanks,
JMB

 

The GP Sorensen Kit available through AutoZone's web site (# 96-462) is probably the most commonly-used around here; comes with all gaskets and crush washers, accel pump diaphragm, cotter pins, and new needles and seats.

It's also reasonably-priced.

None of the kits currently available seem to come with new floats, or fuel screens, or vacuum-secondary diaphragms.

 

Hey there, chiming in. DD I checked out the rebuild kit you listed for consideration here, found at http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...ier=60760_0_0_ It is AutoZone's Gp Sorenson Carburetor Kit (part #96-462) and it looks awesome, seen here



But it says it doesn't fit my vehicle, a 1984 12a. It says that part #96-555 fits my 84 12a's carb, found at http://www.autozone.com/autozone/par...09_25208_5574_ and looks like



So what's up with that?? Just wondering, because I also want to get a rebuild kit for my car. Just a difference in the years?

Thanks DD, just asking questions because I bet you know the answers.

 

Hey, another one I just found with a quick search. It's part #10704B at O'Reilly Auto Parts, by BWD. Looks like a pretty respectable kit, wondering if it's any good. Found here http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...2447&ppt=C0359 and looks like this

 

Well, I do tend to think in SA's...

If you look closely, the -462 contains all the gaskets in the -555, plus a few more. And both contain base-to-manifold gaskets that are supposed to be unnecessary for first gens in any case, due to the permanent gasket construction of the carb spacer.

The -555 kit seems to have a couple more cotter pins in it, but I don't use them anyway; I went to using spring-loaded "hairpin" style retainers some years back. They hold as well or better, make carb work a bit simpler when done on the car, and are reuseable.

And that BWD kit looks exactly like the Sorensen parts from the -555 kit, plus the little ruler for setting the floats from the -462 kit.

One thing I did discover years back; the kit Black Dragon sells comes off the same assembly line that packages the Sorensen kits; packaging, shrink wrap, even the print process that marks the part number on the wrapper, all identical - - except the Black Dragon kit did not include the exterior box that the Sorensen kit did.

And the part number Atkins uses looks very suspiciously like a Sorensen number, but of a different spec., but of wider application perhaps?

My personal theory is that one factory somewhere (probably in China) makes all these kits, to slightly different specs, and then they get private-labelled by companies like Sorensen and BWD.

 

I've bought the expensive kits in the past. The Cheaper GP Sorensen... hands down!

 

Awesome guys, thanks for the info!

 

I used this kit on my carb when i redid it, its a good kit, cant remember who actually made it, can look on the box when i get home next. Zero problems with it, carb ran great as soon as bolted back on....

 

Awesome Limited, thanks for the info and I may be getting this kit soon!

 

Thanks for the info everyone. I ordered the GP Sorenson kit from Autozone. Under $30 when all was said and done. I was glad to hear that it has shipped because I actually did try purchasing this kit last summer and I got an e-mail a couple days later saying it wasn't available. Anyways, it's on it's way and the carb came off yesterday. Now comes the not so fun part of cleaning everything.

 

I tried ordering kits a while back as well and they were out of stock. But recently got 4 so I guess the supplier has started making them again. Good luck with the rebuild!

 

I agree DD. It's suprising a lot of times just what a small world it can be. Instead of one company actually making and asembling everything, I think there may be 2-3 that buy the components in bulk from the same few vendors who specialize in gaskets, needles, o-rings ect.. and configure & package them for wholesale distribution.

So in essence, you get basically the same stuff, just more or less of it depending on who assembled the parts and what they thought it should include vs the amount of profit they can make. It all goes back to the bottom line. Just as long as we get the bits that pumps fuel and seals off the leaks, we're all happy!

 

With the GP Sorenson kit, my 83 starts in 20 degree weather like it's fuel injected.