Posted on 08/27/2022 9:13:31 AM PDT by DFG
Agated neighborhood in an upscale Tampa suburb is a strange place to send your carburetors for rebuilding. The shop sits in the three-car garage of a lovely home, alongside a similarly lovely turquoise 1957 Chevrolet Nomad wagon. There is a long table with some chairs, and a workbench is parked next to a couple of soda blasters. All is lit by florescent bulbs overhead.
This the modest domain of Riley’s Rebuilds, a carburetor rebuilding service headed by Riley Schlick.
Riley is a 17-year-old girl: A surfing, skating, soccer-playing, Jeep-driving high school senior. Four of her high school friends, all girls, have learned to rebuild carburetors too, rounding out the staff of Riley’s Rebuilds. Ship them your worn-out carburetor, and they’ll ship it back soda-blasted, ultrasonic-cleaned and rebuilt to original specifications.
On what planet is this happening?
Here on Earth, actually, where a girl with a screwdriver, a drill, and some wrenches can earn “really good money,” Riley says. Her father, Dane, is an amateur mechanic. That’s his Nomad, which he’s had for about 15 years, and he also has a much-modified Dodge Little Red Wagon pickup that he drag races. He’s the one who taught Riley how to rebuild carbs, and she taught her friends, and now they all have part-time jobs “that pay us well,” Riley says. “For teenagers, anyway. So much better than minimum wage.”
(Excerpt) Read more at hagerty.com ...
Bttt.
5.56mm
Fuel injection is for people who don’t know how to start a car in cold weather or repair one it’s called a theft device for the car.
Absolutely cool. I’ve always considered carburetors a source of black magic...never to be touched by MY hands without incurring the wrath of evil spirits hiding in the carbs. That’s definitely a “someone else” job as far as I’m concerned.
I found a guy to rebuild my two ‘79 Yamaha XS650 Special carbs. Came back looking brand new...and turned the bike into a very solid runner.
Much success to these kids.
Hat tip to the young ladies who know more than most their age.
Best of luck
Carburetors are for people who can’t figure out how to fix fuel injection.
I just had my fuel injectors replaced yesterday on my 99 Suburban, and it’s running really rough now.
The guy said that my plugs need to be replaced for it to smooth out. That new plugs will burn hotter and get all of the gunk out.
I miss carburetors.
California, Washington and Massachusetts have all ordained the end of gasoline engines. New York next. That means all the old cars will be run until eternity.
Fortunately, the old cars can be repaired indefinitely. That’s why I have a 57 Bel Air, a 67 Camaro and a 48 Chevy pickup. I can see the handwriting on the wall.
Rebuilding carbs is no big deal except that you better get those tiny tiny circuits inside clean.
Anyone can fix fuel injection just plug in another one simple for the simple it’s why cars are made like they are now.
and abuse being ugly too.
Wonderful story!
I wonder if they’ll do fuel injectors. I’d be happy to send business their way if I’m in the area, if they can do that.
Be hard to say though, especially with the chip shortage. But I can always get them to troubleshoot my lawnmower.
Loading the parts cannon and shooting it can get pretty expensive.
Is the o2 sensor, MAF, fuel injectors, ignition coil, who knows, hell, replace ‘em all!
Most places that do anything with fuel injectors seem to get a lot of cores, clean and flow test them, and come up with a matched set. Ebay is the place to find them.
Anyone who can rebuild a quadrajet and make it run right deserves a lot of respect.
Some engineer must have been paid by the part it contained or else wanted to earn a spot in Rube Goldberg’s hall of fame.
I’ll keep running carter afb clones or better yet fuel injection!
Rebuilding a carb is easy. However, if it doesn’t perform right when you’re done, then you haven’t really rebuilt it have you? Some are easier than others.
Well, there’s ADA compliance, and healthcare, social security, worker’s comp, OSHA compliance - and that’s just off the top of my head - enough things to crush many a small business in its infancy.
OTOH, this really made my day, seeing kids her age actually achieving things most kids only ever watch on TV or Youtube.
Good on her parents.
Whatever her choices, I have no doubt she’ll go as far as she wants in this life.
> Fortunately, the old cars can be repaired indefinitely.
Yeah, but they’ll make the parts suppliers go out of business. Fortunately modern tech can rescue you, but eventually you’ll end up with enough equipment to build your own cars…
“you, but eventually you’ll end up with enough equipment to build your own cars…”
That’s where I’m headed. Have my tig welder, arbor press, bead roller, tools. Setting up my aluminum casting today. Need an English wheel.
Thank you for coming in and taking a dump on the post.
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