There, I fixed it for ya!
The myth that mechanics are knuckle-dragging moronic thieves is only true on the internet.
I have hired and worked alongside of hundreds of mechanics/technicians in my DECADES and have NEVER once come across one like that.
But I met THOUSANDS of consumers that THINK we are.
MAIN JETS:
It is easy to reset idle speed and idle mixture. But, it could really foul things up to adjust the main jet. This is because to pass smog you need to have it set precisely, and most people don't have the smog equipment to set the main jet exactly.
The main jets are easy to get to. They are adjusted by a single screw in the middle of the carburetor (between the butterflies). This is why it is so easy for mechanics to tamper with them.
Let me give you an example:
My car didn't pass the smog check because the harmonic balancer came apart, so the timing marks were not where they should be. The smog check tech (back when they were allowed to work on cars) changed my timing to line up with the marks, found that the car didn't run at all, so adjusted it so it would barely run. I was required to have accurate timing marks to comply with state smog rules. I had just injured my back, so, though I knew how to put on a new harmonic balancer (and had put that one on years ago), I had to let the mechanic put one on. The mechanic insisted that the problem could not be caused by a separated harmonic balancer, and, without my consent, tried to adjust the main jets (without adequate tools or knowledge). He found that I was right about the harmonic balancer, which he eventually changed, but the main jets had been moved, and I had to reset them without the proper equipment. I got the main jets very close to right, took it to a smog check mechanic, and found that it was slightly off. I readjusted it slightly (noting the chemicals that were coming out of the gas to let me know if it was too lean or too rich). I finally got it adjusted right (but it cost me money to recheck the smog).
The mechanic seemed to be honest, and was only trying to help (trying to save me a costly harmonic balancer installation). The same mechanic (who owned the repair shop and was a graduate mechanical engineer (bachelors of science), but not trained to repair cars) took shortcuts taking the belts off of my car (pried them off without loosening them). This wrecked the bearings of my brand new steering pump, my alternator, and my smog pump, causing immediate failure of all three, which I had to repair at my own expense.
OTHER CARBURETOR PARTS:
The choke is sometimes messed up by mechanics, and that causes the car to start hard on cold mornings. Other carburetor parts are inside the carburetor, so they are harder to get to. Some carburetors can come apart in half while mounted on the car. This allows adjustment of the float bowl level (how high the gas rises in the float bowl). You don't have to remove many linkages to do that (on some carburetors). The gaskets generally don't use gasket glue, so they can be reinstalled (don't require new gaskets).
Here's a paranoid nut case if I ever heard of one! Why would a mechanic steal parts off a carb?
If you don't trust the mechanic, take it to another one.
if you dont trust your mechanic, why in the hell was he working on your vehicle? another question, just what is this otherwise pristine example of nostalgia? most modern techs under the age of 40 dont have a clue about how or why a carb works. simple right? just turn the adjusting screws right? wanna see something even funnier? ask em to draw out a breaker ignition triggered schematic lmfao
Your question is too vague, what exactly are you trying to figure out, and why?
that was about the dumbest answer ive heard... what do you think older cars used? plus I no guys who swap out the newer styles for the old carburetor styles cause they prefer it... you think every one transferred over to throttle body and crap? hahahha some people still use carburetors no matter the year of vehicle. but it is more common in older vehicles.
to actualy answer the question... why would you even ask that... they could take springs. about anything they want... but for the car to still run... then id assume some thing simple like a spring, linkage part, or the throttle ring clip... id say a gasket but its hard not to rip them if they been on along time.. why would you ask this? if your having a issue you need to ask about your issue first cause its more likely that some thing is wrong... maybe the mechanic messed up the fuel mixture or another part is bad... the mechanic might even of messed up some thing he did to the car.. but highly unlikely to have stole any parts off the carb lol.
its better if u just tell us whats wrong with the car and lets go from there.
crap I just read the heading of the question (or altered) well basicly the fuel mixture screws can easly be altered which can make the world change for it good and bad ways... they could remove a spring messing throttle up. change the idle screw setting, the choke could be unhooked or messed with... any linkages to it.. or if they took it off or apart he might of messed the gaskets up... if it had a spacer between carb and intake he could remove that,, the spacer gives noticeable difference when you have it or not... but you don't have to have it.. its a added after market piece that many people add.
if you have a 4barrel carburetor as was most popular.. he could of unhooked the 4 barrel or adjusted it to where the 4 barrel does not kick in when its suppose to or any at all.... many things can be altered hahahahaha
There are no carburetors in cars any more.
