So it's looking like I either need to rebuild my current carburetor (Holley 750) or pick up a new one. The cost of a rebuild kit is something like a sixth or a quarter of the cost of a remanufactured carburetor. I have some work space, but not a whole lot. I've done minor repairs around the house without knowing what I'm doing, but I'm also kind of a clumsy oaf.

So, anyone ever rebuilt a carburetor? About how likely am I to lose something really important or irreparably damage something, thereby rendering the endeavor pointless? Better off just to buy a refurbed one? Either way is cheaper than paying for someone else to do the old one.

Your not real likely to do damage that can't be fixed unless you figure you can accidentally snap a peice of metal in half, and its always more fun to do it on your own. I've done the carburetor rebuild a few times and neve had any problems.

It's possible that they didn't fail at the same time.  It could be that one or two of the components that broke were not necessarily noticeable, and since you didn't take it in until the other few broke and the car started having noticeable issues, it could be that to you it seems everything broke at once when it was really one thing breaking after the other.

Or it could be your mechanic trying to run you up.  Can you take it somewhere for a second opinion, or is it undrivable?

Since the vehicle was rendered essentially undrivable, I'm going to rely on the goodwill and humanity of the mechanics I got it to.

Thanks for the information though, I think I'll search around for other places in town from now on.

Just to reinforce what schroeder said, the timing belt on those Honda B family engines is a major pain in the ass to replace. The engine mount on the front of the engine (the end where the timing belt attaches to the crank pulley) has an engine mount that goes inside the perimeter of the belt - that means you have to unbolt the engine from the car to change the belt. It's a major pain in the ass to work on (they've since changed it in the new J engine family) and you usually need an engine hoist to do it. If you're really crafty you can use a scissor jack, but it's risky (you could crush the oil pan or something else if you're not super careful).

Anyway, the labor costs are going to be a bitch on that repair.

With regard to the local mechanics, a second opinion is usually worthwhile if you can manage it in the future. The prices you'll pay and the honesty of the staff can vary wildly between different places.
It's always worth asking friends in the area, or surrounding areas if they know any decent places.
Last week I had to take my car in to have a tyre changed - it had been left flat for a month or so before I bought it and it had warped. When I took it to the closest garage to me, they looked the car over for 5 mind and told me i needed all new tyres, rebalancing and i probably needed one of my brake disks replaced. They quoted me a figure of over 200 pounds.
Fortunately, i was broke at the time and told them i'd come back this week. On a recommendation from a friend in the area, I tried another garage... who also looked it over and said i needed one tyre... and nothing else. I asked about what the other garage had said and got a reply of 'Nah, you'll easily get another few thousand miles out of it before you need to replace another tyre... and we'll rebalance your wheels for free'. The whole thing cost me 30 quid.
It's unbelievable how willing a lot of mechanics are to screw you over, especially if they get a whiff that you're not au fait with the ihternal workings of a car.

Amusingly, i then lent my car to my folks for the weekend... who immediately lost both sets of my keys, costing me the best part of 200 quid factoring in towing costs, breaking into the car to get the handbrake off, cutting and chipping a key and the like. Good times.

Ah. I knew I didn't really need that solid gold gear knob. Bollocks.

Neither of those will get you any pussy.

My guesses for number two:

1) Because you are totally edgy.

2) Banned from other message boards.

3) Alcohol.

Please, if you're going to go terrorize some other forum--especially one filled with teens and little kids--don't do it in the name of Cracked. We don't like being associated with retarded pedophiles.

....damn, I got ripped a new asshole