i've got this crazy plan to get a carb off a junkyard car, rebuild it, and install it on mine.

i think the car it's on now is an '84 or '85.

so, anyone have any pointers, cautions, or encouragement for me?

 

I'd skip the rebuild part if I where you. If you want it to look good, just clean the outside of it. I'm not saying a rebuild cant be done, but in most cases (unless the carb is leaking) there's no point in a total rebuild.

 

While you at it you could try converting the secondaries to mechanical. This will give you better throttle response at the expense of a slight increase in fuel consumption.

 

oops hehe.. i forgot to mention, mine's an '83 GSL. would there be any compatibility considerations?

 

Be wary of Junkyard carb most of them have water corrosion in the air bleeds wich will cause a grip of problems, This hapens when it rains and the stagnent water dries out leaving salty mater in the air bleeds & jets, venturies any small hole exsposed.
Rebuild kits are $20-$40 depending on source, get some asitone and soak the jets and air bleeds ect.. DO NOT put in anything plasic in, it will turn into Gu! let them sit for a few days minimum. Water corrosion is stronger than gass. It will look like powderd sugar in the jet holes if you havent got it all out. It took 3 Jyard carbs to make one good one for me, Sometimes there just to far gone to clean out. If you want you can have myextra 2 carbs just so i can get them out of my garage. 1 fully assembled - 1 Disassembled.

Oh I tried carb cleaner, also was not strong enough.