engine and drivetrain Help Please! Knocking Noise

[73Auto02]

I win the biggest idiot contest this week. 

I have a 73 02 auto with a weber 32 36 with the water choke. I rebuilt it this weekend with a pierce manifolds kit and a new diaphragm from carbs unlimited and after reinstalling it took it for a spin. it ran great but after about 10 mins a loud knock started and after inspecting my rebuilt carb. there is a screw missing from one of the choke butterfly.

 

Can you please tell me where to begin looking for this thing? Do i need to just pull the valve cover or can this thing worked it way someplace else?

 

Other than a pertronix install, the carburetor rebuild was the first mechanical project on this car that I've done. 

 

Apologies for the bonehead move and thank you for your help and patience.

 

Travis

[Hans]

Sounds like the screw went into a cylinder, hence the knock. Sadly it's time to pull the head - maybe just a valve and seat, but maybe piston and head too.

[Mike Self]

Lesson learned here, folks:  if you remove a carb screw during a rebuild that can fall down the carb throat, either loctite it when replacing, or peen/centerpunch the threaded end so it won't come out.  The factory does this on Solexes for sure, and I think Weber does also, so if you remove any of these screws you'll have to re-peen them when reinstalling.  Truth be told, you normally don't need to remove either the choke or throttle plates unless you're rebushing the throttle shaft.

 

If you can determine which cylinder swallowed the screw (probably #2 or 3 as the passage is shorter), you might be able to rig up a small diameter rubber hose taped to a vacuum cleaner hose and with the intake valve open and the intake manifold off, either suck the screw up the hose or at least wedge it in the end of the hose and extract it.  But then you'd have to take on faith there wasn't any serious damage either to the head or the piston.   My '02 ran for many thousands of miles with what looks like a piece of spark plug porcelain embedded in a piston top--no problems at all.

 

Good luck

 

mike

[73Auto02]

Thanks for the advice. Just bought new gaskets for the valve cover and head. This is my first head gasket repair any pro tips or other parts I should replace/check, or service I should perform while the old girl is opened up? Thanks again

Travis

[Hans]

Its a pretty complicated job. I strongly suggest you find a Haynes or similar manual, and follow the instructions closely. You best have head checked for straightness (assuming it is salvageable) and if you get it milled, be sure to attach the front cover plate. You will also need some special tools.