v8 flathead carb swap?

[Upchuck]

can a guy swap out them 2 barrel 4 (stud)bolt carbs for a newer one from local junkyard with no modifications?

and while I'm here what sort of preparations should I make for an initial attempt to fire up one of them old flatheads that been sitting for years besides the oil change, ignition and fluid checks?

I was going to make sure water pumps are free to turn or else just take off the belts altogether, I am not sure about that old fuel pump though, can I just take it off as well? I don't intend to let it run long just want to see if it'll run is all

I figure it either won't fire up at all or it'll fire right up blowing the dead mice, nests, and crap out of the exhaust and burn my shed down! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

[FLAT6]

Rochester 2G carbs with the small base plate are pretty close to a bolt on, as well as auto-lite carbs from the 60's and '70s
Mike

[286merc]

I take it that you have a Merc intake.
A small base Rochester will work in a Merc/Ford if you mount backwards to access the linkage. Roughly 53 to late early (pre smog) 70's on GM's; a zillion were on SBC's.

Also some Carters as found on Mopars but stay away from the smog years.

[Upchuck]

its supposed to be a 52 or 53 merc engine yes, it does have a 4 bolt base, the current carb looks something out of a scifi movie, I was told its a holley #887?

me having absolutely no ford experiance of any kind will have a treeeeemendous amount of questions to ask if you guys got the patience for me http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[286merc]

49-51 Merc used a Holley 885 which is a backdraft carb. 52-3 used the infamous Towering Inferno, the Holley 1901.

[Upchuck]

this is it!

they worth rebuilding or should I get that rochester on?

[286merc]

Restorers want that POS! Thats the 1901.
Put it out of its misery...PLEEEZZZZ.

[warbird]

Toilet bowl Holley!

Get rid of it.

[Upchuck]

whats wrong with them carbs that they seem to be so despised?

I'm gonna go with the consensus they are not the best so I'll look for a replacement, just wondering why they are "unpopular"

[wideglide74]

I had the opportunity last week to spend some time oogling a BEAUTIFUL 51 ford that had a rochester on a merc manifold. He said it ran very well.

[Bruce Lancaster]

If you change the carb (Except for a few other fifties Ford carbs) you will have to change the distributor--it depends on venturi depression for its full throttle advance, and there ain't no reasonable way to hook it up to any carb not designed for it.
There are also a number of other carb choices, such as two barrel B&B/Strombergs and carters from early 318 type Dodges and Plymouths. Just take a gasket with you to the junkyard.

[286merc]

whats wrong with them carbs that they seem to be so despised?

They werent called the Towering Inferno for nothing! Life is not complete until you actually see one in full bloom. The Mercs went to a 4bbl version, the Holley 4000 (also on Lincolns) in 54 which was just as bad. In fact some assembly plants refused to use them and made arrangements for 56 models with Carter for a WCFB that worked with the Lodomatic distributor. Also used on the over the counter dual quad 312 T Bird setup.

Be careful when raiding boneyards, Mopar in particular came with some strange setups during the early attempts to cut down on emissions.
The Carter BBD is the series mostly used.

[sidevalveguru]

I guess it's almost like religion, we all have dearly held beliefs. Some (most?) car nuts believe that flatheads are old boat anchors; that if you aren't running some DOHC aisian thing you aren't with it. Same w/ carbs generally. While i find 'tuna' cars interesting, i have no desire for one.
None of us here have ever seen/had a 97 all weepy because some ham-fist abused it? i think that a lot of the teapot's problems were due to lack of care.
i plan to use two in my next project; we'll see...

[fleetbob50]

I was turned on to an aftermarket carb made by Shiebler or maybe Tilitson, will have to go home and check, that has a base with a multi hole setup that works on 3 or 4 bolt flanges on ford and several others. It has a variable needle valve through the bowl . Looks a lot like a Ford flathead six carb except for the base and they work fine. Best part is they can be foun d around the swap meets for as little as 5 bucks apiece