TBI to Carb shopping list/Heads-off update - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

Grumbles · 09-06-2009, 06:42 AM

Okay, so I was attempting to pull valve spring stem seals a few weeks ago and found that try as I might i couldn't break the keepers loose with the heads on the motor.

I found MOUNTAINS of crap in that lifter valley, it was nasty. Some of the lifters weren't even visible from underneath all the buildup! Fortunately after clearing all the carbon mountain ranges away I was able to check the lifters out and they all seemed in fair condition. The pistons and piston walls all seemed presentable, there were no obvious signs of wall damage and the pistons held penetrant fluid for a good deal of time before it crept through, so I'm thinking they still seal just fine (a good thing too, after seeing the lifter valley I'm scared of what I'll find in the pan!).

Anyway, While pulling all this i broke a good deal of the EGR gizmos with my beefy mitts, and now after some frustration and more than a little lost blood, I've decided to hell with it, I'll just swap to carb.

So far I've picked up a pressure regulator (1NPT,1OPT,1Return), a carb manifold, and a holley 650 double pumper that probably needs a rebuild. I know 650 is a bit much for what I'm aiming to do, but it was 50 bucks, so cut a guy some slack, lol.

I know I'll need a throttle return bracket and a dizzy. Right now I'm eyeballing one on ebay for 42 bucks...any suggestions on a dizzy that will work with minimal effort and/or headache?

Atilla the Fun · 09-07-2009, 02:29 PM

The trick to the stuck-ness is to pop the retainers with a hammer, on one side only. This makes the retainer crooked for a millisecond, but the valve doesn't really move.
For a dizzy, I suggest the MSD StreetFire HEI or Accel's 59107C