Advice needed, 2.3L Rochester 2 barrel, Remove, Replace, Torque

[Tkdcal]

Greetings all, I need some advice on re-installing my Rochester 2 barrel carburetor on my 2.3L engine. Two of the bolts that attach it to the intake manifold, the ones kind of under the bowl are fairly difficult to get to. I got the forward bolt off with a universal joint socket. The aft bolt was only finger tight. Seems like the last guy to R&R the carb had the same problem. The relief in the carb body surrounding the bolt is barely big enough to get a thin socket into. While you can get a socket on it on the bench, there's no way to fit the body of the ratchet in there and you can't get a straight shot from an extension. Forget the universal, its too fat. Can't get a box wrench on it either. Seems like the only thing I can do is get an open ended wrench on it and get maybe 1/8 turn at a time. Obviously this ain't no kinda way to tighten the bolt up to spec. Anybody come up against this before? Any suggestions? Thanks...Cal

 

[wire2]

Re: Advice needed, 2.3L Rochester 2 barrel, Remove, Replace, Torque

Crow's foot wrench?

 

[U.S.S. Too Tall]

Re: Advice needed, 2.3L Rochester 2 barrel, Remove, Replace, Torque

I had the same problem with my 140 hp/3.0L with the 2GC Rochester carb. It was a pain!! I actually removed the bracket that holds on the throttle cable on. That got me about 3/8ths of a turn with the open end wrench. Its not the best way to put something on to torque, but I did the best that I could. The other three I got on to spec, then I backed one up just a 1/4 turn, and back down with the wrench, to "feel" the torque. Then I put the back one as close to that as I could....

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Advice needed, 2.3L Rochester 2 barrel, Remove, Replace, Torque

Have you tried one of those new ratcheting box end wrenches? Will it clear?

 

[U.S.S. Too Tall]

Re: Advice needed, 2.3L Rochester 2 barrel, Remove, Replace, Torque

No, not enough room behind the bolt to get it onto the bolt

 

[Tkdcal]

Re: Advice needed, 2.3L Rochester 2 barrel, Remove, Replace, Torque

Crow's foot is a possibility. The ratchet box ends are a little too fat I'd think. I was thinking about one of those springy flexible extension things too, but they're not usually good for much torque. These guys had to have used a special tool during assembly. I can't picture a guy on the assembly line fiddling with one bolt for 20 minutes. I suppose another alternative is just to replace the bolts with allen heads and see if I can get a ball-end allen wrench in there.