[Dick Boneske]

I have a very nice set of '66 A.I.R. carbs to restore, but they presented a problem I've not seen in the hundreds of Tripower sets I've restored. The accelerator pump wells on the front and center carbs were pitted so badly the pumps would not pump liquid. I first considered JB weld, with which I've had 100% success with in other bowl repairs, but this application involves moving parts (the cup sliding up and down in the bore with gas). I also considered using a 13/16" drill to clean up the bore, but any of you that have used a larger than 1/4" drill in pot metal knows how dangerous that is. Severe, destructive chatter often results and ruins the parts.

I determined that there is not enough material around that pump well to allow sleeving the bore, so we bored with a. 1/2" spiral end mill 1/16" larger than the 3/4" standard pump bores.

This is after I found a Carter carb application that uses a 13/16" cup instead of our Rochester 3/4" cups. I got the cups in the mail yesterday and tried them in the re-bored wells--they feel smooth and positive, so re-assembly will go ahead in the next few days and I'can send the restored set back to the owner.

The only downside is for whoever rebuilds these carbs many years from now. They may have trouble finding a suitable pump cup for the bastard-sized bore. .

[Old Man Taylor]

Great job Dick.