I have a colection of q jets and some of them have warped top plates. Can they be straightened or are they junk?

Dragn;

Are they warped by the front bolt holes? If so, I'd take a close look at the main bodies too; I've seen a bunch of Qjets that were ruined by someone over-tightening the front mounting bolts, warping the carb main body beyond repair.

If they aren't warped too badly, you can straighten them by using a press and a very cautious approach. You'll have to fabricate some sort of jig support and constantly check your progress with a good straightedge and a set of feeler gauges. I've straightened out Holley metering blocks and float bowls using this method and it works well, just have to be careful not to break them, or over-correct the warpage.

Hope this helps.
Eric

------------------
67 Chevelle
580" BBC
400 Turbo
Dana 60
Alston back-half 4-link

MyChevelle (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Torqued67/ChevellegarageRRnew2002.jpg)

Engine (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/Torqued67/Chevelle580passsidenew2002.jpg)

They are warped at the front bolt holes. I have not checked the bodies to see if they are warped. Thanks for the info.

Normally it's just the top plate. I take a 2 by 4 and set the ear on it and hit the plate with a rubber hammer. With some time and practice you can do a pretty good job. Then take a big flat file to the top and finish getting it as straight as you can. It doesn't have to be perfect the gasket will take up some of the warpage but it must be close.

What Mike said. I have two hardwood blocks I found somewhere, I set the ear area on them, whack straight down in the middle. I have actually hit these pretty hard, and it wasn't a rubber hammer either. Steel hammer and a piece of wood. You can start off slow and easy with a 6" steel rule for a straight edge. Works for me.

Now, I've never tried to straighten a body and I've seen some that were pretty bent. Seems like just straightening the top does it.

Tom

How are you checking the carb top plate - from side to side across the front bolt holes or from front to rear or diagonally - and I assume your checking the bottom surface of the top plate?

Side to side on the front bolt holes.The numbers one of my q jets says its off a 68 or 69 GTO. Its the worst one and I would like to fix it. It could bring a dollar or two.