Stuck gasket on V.W. carb.

[Buick35]

On my son's 69 V.W. that I'm trying to rebuild I'm really having trouble separating the plastic or phenolic spacer on his carburetor to install a new gasket which seemed to be leaking air when I tried cleaning out the passages with carb.cleaner and compressed air.I might have ruined the spacer trying to separate it so I ordered new ones.What can I use to help dissolve the gaskets or how to separate the spacer.Thanks.

[Rusty_OToole]

Never ran into this, my guess is someone glued them together with gasket shellac or some such substance. I would try separating them with a single edge razor blade or sharp knife blade then try Goo Gone, lacquer thinner or whatever will dissolve or soften any residue. Or scrape or sand it off. Put it together with a gasket and no sealer of any kind.

[Buick35]

Thanks but I had a senior moment.My son came by and I told him of the problem and he looked at the bottom of the carburetor and said" what about those two screws"? I said duh, boy did I feel dumb! But I made and installed a new gasket and blew air through the hole and it seems not to be leaking. Not sure if I should use the phenolic spacers I ordered or not. They would raise he carburetors up 1/4" more

Edited May 22, 2023 by Buick35
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[Rusty_OToole]

Maybe I am having a senior moment. I worked on many beetles back in the day, the 1969 model should have a 1500 single port motor with a Solex 30PICT carburetor. I don't recall any spacer screwed to the bottom in fact, I don't recall any spacer.

[Buick35]

It's not a stock motor.He has a dual port 1600 with dual kadrone carburetors and it's for his 69 Karman Ghia.It's getting there.

[Rusty_OToole]

Thank you for telling me that. It would have helped if you thought of it earlier.

[Buick35]

Sorry I didnt.

[Rusty_OToole]

The big problem I remember with Kadrons is catching fire. I seem to recall, the fuel lines were rather hit or miss and could come off or break, spraying the hot engine with gasoline. If I were using a set I think I would find a way to fit hard steel lines,securely fastened, and any rubber lines would be high pressure and secured with good hose clamps.

 

Then there was the problem of tuning but that is a separate issue.

[Rusty_OToole]

Phenolic spacers are usually used to combat overheating. The way your intake is arranged there is very little chance of that. If it came with spacers I would keep them but wouldn't add any unless there is a heat problem.