Hi there, my name is John. I have a 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale and was wandering what the best place to get specialty parts for it would be. It does need a new carburetor (has a 350 cubic inch engine with a 2-barrel Rochester) and an electro-vacuum heater control valve. Thank you and have a wonderful Easter!

 

Welcome john

everyday parts like brakes, bearings, carbs, rebuild kits and engine parts etc can be found at rockauto. More car specific parts can be found at vendors like fusicks, or the parts place..

you out may find there is less aftermarket support for non cutlass Oldsmobiles.

 

If you need 73 delta specific parts an ad on this site may help locate them as we have several members w olds parts hoards

 

Everyday mechanical parts can be found at your local auto parts store.

 

What's wrong with the current carburetor? Can it be rebuilt?

 

Be aware that the quality of most rebuilt carbs sold at auto parts stores and on-line vendors is crap. These are usually frankencarbs pieced together and tuned to a generic standard, not the specifics for your vehicle. Unless the carb is physically broken or otherwise damaged, rebuild the one you have. Assuming it's original to the car, you at least know that the jets and settings are correct.

 

It's simply old and worn out. There isn't anyone in the area who rebuilds carburetors either.

 

If you replace it dont turn in the original as a core. If it is original you will want to hang on to it. Post the numbers on the carb and the cowl tag under the hood. We can tell if its original to the car.
Cliff may be able to help you. Yes he is the Qjet guy. I know Mike can help. Heres a couple of links:

https://www.carburetor-parts.com/2G-...Jet_c_140.html

https://cliffshighperformance.com/

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...arburetor,5904

 

Thank you, I greatly appreciate the help! Yes it is the original carburetor and I wouldn't turn it in for the core charge if I had to replace it, the old carb would stay with the car perhaps to be rebuilt someday. I still have the original fuel pump I replaced last year as well. Unfortunately the alternator and the water pump were replaced before I bought the car so those originals are gone.

 

First of all, carburetors are not difficult to rebuild. I've done it twice. Nowadays there are youtube videos galore to show you how to do it. A rebuild kit is maybe $20, and you can do it yourself in an afternoon. And you'd be rebuilding a 2-barrel, which is easier than doing a 4-barrel.

Second, carburetors don't "wear out" the way tires wear out. They'll last forever if rebuilt when needed, and rebuild kits include all the parts that do experience wear, like springs, gaskets, float, and any other rubber parts. So get to it, man! Save yourself time and money, learn something, have some fun along the way, and keep the car original.


The base engine in the '73 Delta 88 was a 350 with a 2-barrel carb, and the VIN would have an "H" in the fifth position. I would seem unlikely that someone would replace a 4-bbl with a 2-bbl, so this is probably the original engine and carburetor.

 

I would not be concerned about these as they are wear parts that often need to be replaced due to age as much as mileage or anything else. After all, you don't worry about having the original oil filter or air filter, do you? One has to draw the line somewhere. In fact, I'd be a bit hesitant to trust a 46 year old fuel pump. There is no dishonoring the car by replacing the fuel pump or water pump or alternator or radiator hoses or parts like these when needed, and I doubt any future owner would care much if you gave him the original, non-functioning fuel pump or water pump when you sold him the car or that having those parts in a box in the trunk would be much of a selling point. But I think having the original carburetor DOES have some value, which is why I recommend rebuilding it. If you can replace a fuel pump, you can rebuild a carburetor. (But I wouldn't save the old gaskets, float, etc. to give to the next owner, either!)

 

I greatly appreciate the help and the insight! At the moment I haven't a lot of time since I work during the week and have CDL training during weekends until June. This weekend was actually my first weekend off since January only because the technical school is closed for Easter. If I got a replacement carb I wouldn't be turning the original in for the core charge, it would stay with the car until it could be refurbished at some point in the future. The engine and carb are indeed original to the car. Thank you again for the help!