1952 S17 carb issues and special tools for adjustment

I've had really good experiences with the Carb Shop in Salina, KS. Usually just bolt the carb on and go!

You might check the fuel pressure that your new fuel pump is creating, and make certain that the pressure isn't too high for your carb. I think carbs only require around 4psi compared to the higher pressure needed for fuel injected systems.

The Carb Shop
E Lincoln Ave
Salina, KS 67401
Phone: (785) 827-3057

OK, thank you Tim!!!
I will send it off nd also check my pressure when it returns. I do not think it is a pressure issue but never hurts to check!!!

I think Mark Kubancik..... or maybe it was Mark Waite had an experience with having a fuel pump rebuilt AND sent his carb to Salina for rebuild on my recommendation and was frustrated with a leaking carb after the rebuilds, but the Carb Shop saved the day (as I recall) during a discussion about the leaky carb when he brought up the issue of fuel pressure.

Tim...I believe you are referring to me and my '55 DeSoto. Arthur Gould Rebuilders rebuilt my fuel pump and when I reinstalled it my drivability issues were not resolved. They apparently did not check the pressure after rebuilding. Gould is located on Long Island so might be the same place that rebuilt Larry's pump. I've since switched to Terrill Machine for fuel pump rebuilding.

Mark Kubancik

so I have finally remove the carburetor and I did not clean it up at all before I took these photos and by looking at the underside I can tell that it's been leaking for a while even before I rebuilt my fuel pump, now the fuel pump is rebuilt it is leaking like a sieve

here is a view looking at the bottom of the carburetor which I thought overall it was pretty clean once I remove the hard rubber gasket

Hi Larry,

I have been following your post with interest. I too have a 1952 Firedome S17. Looking at the photos of your carburetor, it looks to me like a Carter model BBD. If so, that carb would have a fuel inlet facing the front. That is interesting to me, because the majority of 1952 S17 engines were built with the Carter model WCD which had a fuel inlet in the rear. My car has the WCD on it. The model BBD was used on very late 1952 cars, and all 1953 and most subsequent DeSoto 2 BBL applications.

The Carter BBD is a fairly easy carburetor to rebuild. Versions of it were used all the way into the 1970's, so rebuild kits are still available for it. Have you considered rebuilding it yourself?

Hello again,
I had the carb rebuilt and I installed it...It required some fancy footwork to race from the seat to the open hood to adjust the idle mixture screws to bring it down from what felt like 3-4000 rpm! YIKES!! Now I am idling above 1000 and below 2000 but cannot get it lower.
My manual tells me to set some gaps with special tooling...I had hoped to avoid that...
I will update again next week when I try to explore all the options but the big problem to me seems to be that the carb linkage really needs a return spring. I had to disconnect the pedal linkage and adjust the rod to max length to even get close to avoiding a high revving situation. Now I just have the pedal linkage disconnected.
When I move the linkage on the carb by forcing it to a slower idle I have some spillage from the accelerator pump shaft area.
I am looking for some ideas. Photos will be posted soon as well.

Hi Larry,

Here is a photo of the return spring orientation for a 276 DeSoto engine with the model BBD carburetor. This is from a 1953 car, but the late 1952 was the same. The spring hooks between the lower arm of the carb and stretches back to a bracket mounted under the coil which has a hole in it for this purpose.