Cost
What are the differences between a Concours Restoration by Carburetor and Distributor Specialties and a Restoration by another builder?
A Concours Restoration by Carburetor and Distributor Specialties is for the person who wants every detail of their car to be perfect. If your car is the one setting the bar, the one going to the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, the one selling for all the money at the nation's largest auctions, then this is the service for you!
A Concours Restoration by Carburetor and Distributor Specialties is accurate to every detail. Unfortunately, over the years multiple attempts to provide an improved appearance to carburetors has resulted in much confusion as to what these carburetors looked like originally. When "restorations" of zinc alloy (ZAMAC) carburetors first appeared, restorers zinc plated the bodies and then dipped them in a dichromate conversion. This resulted in a body that was too "bright" and colorful. They ended up looking like a restored brake booster!
In our quest to accurately replicate every detail of ZAMAC carburetors, we developed a process by which the original casting is prepared and activated to take the original dichromate conversion without zinc plating. This results in a finish that is identical to original low milage and NOS bodies that we have collected and documented. It is important to recognize that the ZAMAC casting changed throughout the production run and this effects the color / sheen they take. Earlier bodies tend to be more "green" in color while later bodies tend to be more "gold".
Other restorers are attempting to replicate the finish we provide on our carb bodies, but they are dull and lack iridescence. Some are beginning to polish the bodies with small brass wire wheels in an attempt to "brighten" the bodies prior to dichromate conversion. This both damages the ZAMAC and results in a finish that is "blotchy" because the different angles in which the wire wheel impacts the body results in light reflecting in unnatural ways (much like gold leaf that is machine turned). We recognize this because in our evolution, we also attempted this (on junk bodies of course) and moved on. Unfortunately, others are currently doing this to customer's valuable bodies and passing this off as a "restoration"! It is not correct, it damages the body, and it results in a sub par finish! See my section titled, "Restorations by Others".
With regard to Rochester Carburetors; Original low milage and NOS examples have also revealed other details that are rarely, if ever, accurately duplicated by other "restorers". Most restorers plate all hardware and linkage in zinc and then subject them to a yellow dichromate conversion. THIS IS NOT ACCURATE! Although some linkages and hardware were yellow dichromate, others were a clear dichromate that was slightly iridescent. Carburetor and Distributor Specialties is the ONLY RESTORER who has (thus far) been able to duplicate this difficult finish.
Also, many Rochester Carburetors had a green coating (often referred to by others as "Teflon" ) on some hardware; choke valve shafts, Secondary throttle shaft, and various linkages. Other restorers simply plate these pieces and subject them to yellow dichromate conversion. Carburetor and Distributor Specialties accurately replicates the original finishes!
A restoration is much more than shiny hardware, black screws on the air horn and air valves, and a white stripe on the hose from the vacuum port to the choke pull off! Unfortunately, this is all many restorers have to offer!
A Concours Restoration by Carburetor and Distributor Specialties is unmatched by any restorer. Don't take our word for it, critically compare for yourself!
What are the differences between a Concours Restoration and a Street Restoration by Carburetor and Distributor Specialties?
A Concours Restoration is accurate in every detail. This is a restoration for those who want their car to set the bar. A Street Restoration looks very nice, but all hardware and linkage is zinc plated and then yellow dichromate. A Street restoration does not include the green coating, the clear irridescent dichromate, or the correct color of the screws. A Street Restoration by Carburetor and Distributor Specialties is similar to other restorer's "Restoration".
What is a Concours Restoration?
A Concours Restoration includes everything that is included in the Street Restoration with the addition that the zinc hardware is related and components are dichromate-finished in a manner that matches the exact process and finish of when these carburetors were originally produced. All finishes of all components are restored; Yellow dichromate, clear dichromate, zinc phosphate, and black oxide to name a few. Aluminum bodies are subjected to the same rigorous cleaning and preparation before being sealed to prevent corrosion or discoloration.
Throttle plates are indexed and every tolerance and clearance is checked to ensure impeccable performance. Idle circuits are modified for a proper idle on today's fuels. The carburetor is then rebuilt using only the highest quality rebuild components that are ethanol compatible. New floats and choke pull-offs are included in this service. All linkages and throttle plates will be replated to match their original finish. All throttle plates /choke plate screws are replaced with correct fasteners and secured using thread locker, then staked as original.
The Carburetor is then run on a test engine and completely tuned to ensure that it functions flawlessly before being shipped back to you! The Choke, Fast Idle Speed, Idle Circuit, Acceleration Circuit, Air/Fuel Mixture, and Jetting are all tested and verified.
We are one of the few shops that have invested in a stand-alone test engine to ensure that your carburetor is 100% BOLT ON READY when you receive it!
I am one of the only, if not the only restorer that does not Zinc plate non-ferrous components. I do not Zinc plate these components because it is not the process that was originally used and doing so results in a finish that is too bright and shiny. For more details on my PROPRIETARY RESTORATION COLORING PROCESS, see the details under the DICHROMATE COLORING SERVICE
++Additional charges may apply to severely corroded carburetors and carburetors that are missing components/linkages as well as marine carburetors. If you have questions, send me an email with the attached photos or give me a call!
Current Turn Around - 7 weeks
6-month warranty on parts and labor- just cover all shipping costs. Warranty does not cover water/ moisture/ dirt intrusion.
* we can run and test computer controlled carbs on our test engines, but some tuning may be necessary after installation on the vehicle.