Q-Jet Fuel Inlet Fitting(was: 73 Glacier)

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Feb 8, 1998
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Tomco made a couple different versions of this. One was self-tapping; a
little scary having a fitting that large gouging out the carb inlet. The
other had a compression style O-ring which expanded as you tightened the
fitting. I think I'd check with some of the carb rebuilding firms that have
been recommended in this forum before I'd try either. They probably have
better ways of fixing this common problem.

Patrick

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Travis Martin [mailto:travism]
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 11:16 AM
> To: gmcmotorhome
> Subject: Re: GMC: 73 Glacier -- New home in California Without Major
> Incident
>
>
> Toby, the problem you experienced with the Quadrajet fuel
> inlet fitting is
> fairly common as the pot metal casting is very easily
> stripped. Check with a
> couple of the older better equipped auto supply stores; there was an
> aftermarket fitting with oversized threads sold back in the days of
> carburetors to fix this. It may be a bit hard to find these
> days; haven't
> looked lately. HTH...
>
> Travis
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: T Maki
> To:
> Sent: Tuesday, September 07, 1999 9:30 AM
> Subject: GMC: 73 Glacier -- New home in California Without
> Major Incident
>
>
> > Greetings!
> >
> > In case anyone is interested, we arrived home
> > in Redlands yesterday with the '73 Glacier we
> > bought in New York on last Tuesday (2906 total
> > miles).
> >
> > Without going into too much detail (I'll post
> > complete trip account on my Web page later),
> > the trip went without major incident. All the
> > things I could have anticipated to go wrong
> > (tires, bearings, brakes, suspension parts, etc)
> > held up perfectly. Things I would not have even
> > considered almost disabled us. But I should
> > have anticipated them just because it's a GM
> > product from 1973. Had to replace the starter
> > solenoid in Pennsylvania in the parking lot of a
> > Days Inn (fortunately I purchased one just the
> > day before after experiencing the dreaded
> > "cllliiiiccckkk -- cllliicckkkk -- cllliccckkk" on
> > turning the ignition key), and had purchased a
> > few wrenches and screwdrivers at a Petro truck
> > stop the day before.
> >
> > All went well until Oklahoma City. I had been
> > smelling gasoline off and on, and upon
> > checking under the "hood", I found the fuel line
> > dripping at the carburetor inlet. Figuring I could
> > snug it up a bit to stop the leak, I stopped at an
> > AutoZone near the T/A on the west side of OKC
> > to buy a tubing wrench to loosen the fuel line.
> > Good idea, but bad idea! I wish now I hadn't
> > touched it. Fuel line loosened fine, but major
> > problem with carb inlet fitting. Previous
> > maintenance attempts at changing filter resulted
> > in the threads in the carb body inlet being
> > stripped. When I loosened fitting, the whole
> > thing just fell out. TMALSS, it took six hours,
> > some Teflon pipe goo I bought at the AutoZone,
> > and some electrical tape to get back on the
> > road. Funnily enough, there wasn't another leak
> > all the way home. As I said, I'll give more details
> > of the problem, and the fix.
> >
> > Bottom line is, we're home, we're happy, and
> > now have to get caught up with business and
> > home chores. We've got plenty of planning to do
> > with this unit, and expect to have a very nice
> > motor home (I've dubbed it the PMC -- Personal
> > Motoring Coach) in the next couple of years'
> > worth of customizing and refurnishing.
> >
> > BTW, PO was orginal owner, had all original
> > docs including complete parts manual, many
> > receipts for maintenance and repairs (nothing
> > serious) and a log with mileage for
> > maintenance and repairs. He was a careful and
> > nearly meticulous owner, and we feel very
> > fortunate to have found this unit, as well as
> > having made some new friends in New York.
> >
> > Thanks again to everyone for helpful hints and
> > tips as we prepared for this trip. I felt much
> > better knowing I had all that information while on
> > the road.
> >
> >
> > Toby and Nancy Maki
> > '73 Glacier 230 S/N
>
 
Oops, sorry for the mess. I meant to trim that, but got interrupted by a
phone call and hit "send" before I had cleaned it up.

Patrick
 
I think I'd check with some of the carb rebuilding firms that have
> been recommended in this forum before I'd try either. They probably have
> better ways of fixing this common problem.

Dunno. I've used the self tapping version several times with great results.
Don't see how the mysterious other guys are going to fix it better, but I'd
sure be interested in hearing about it; I'm sure to need to fix one again
eventually.

Incidently, this is a very easy problem to prevent if it hasn't occurred on
yours yet. Much like the front hubs that have been butchered by people who
either don't have or won't spring for the proper tool, the carb fuel inlet
fitting will last forever if you simply back it up with a 1" open end wrench
when tightening or loosening the flare nut. Snap-On and no doubt Mac and
Matco make a specific wrench for this; it is a 1" flare nut wrench with a
handle about 3" long. But I've always had good results with an ordinary 1"
open end providing you have room to get it into the area.

If you tighten the flare nut without backing up the inlet, you stand a very
good chance of stripping the float bowl. Loosen it without backing up and
more times than not the inlet will loosen in the float bowl and if you
continue you will twist off the steel fuel line...I've seen a bunch of those
too. It's SO much easier to do it right.

Travis