The Jalopy Journal

**Kevin Lee** · 03-03-2004, 11:52 AM

Or possibly H.R. Puffinstuff. A friend of my father-inlaw's gave me a box of old carburetors and made a pretty big deal out of this goofy looking thing. Called it a "double decker" or some such thing. It is a Holley, but I forgot to write down any of the numbers before I came to work.

DrJ · 03-03-2004, 12:03 PM

Looks like a Ford, middle 50's, affectionately called a "teapot" carb.

recycler · 03-03-2004, 12:11 PM

Also affectionally known as the "towering inferno" or "flaming inferno"

Brad

Roothawg · 03-03-2004, 12:14 PM

I see Mayor Mc Cheese......haha

Bass · 03-03-2004, 12:21 PM

Combine two of those on a 312 Y-block in a '57 Ford Police Interceptor for a nice little fire.

That's where the "Towering Inferno" nickname comes from...Police Departments kept having problems with the carbs setting on fire on their '57 Fords.

Deuce Rails · 03-03-2004, 12:23 PM

It looks EXACTLY like H.R. Puffinstuff to me...

(Who's your friend when things get tough?)

Sinner · 03-03-2004, 12:24 PM

It'll make a good paperweight.

Hot Rod To Hell · 03-03-2004, 12:46 PM

Ya know the little robot piggy bank where you put a coin in his hand and he eats it????

**Jive-Bomber** · 03-03-2004, 12:46 PM

You make the call....

porknbeaner · 03-03-2004, 01:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Looks like a Ford, middle 50's, affectionately called a "teapot" carb.

[/ QUOTE ]

we called 'em a tea kettle, same thing I guess.
I ran one awhile on my '57 (untill I could aford one of them race carbs). Never had a problem with it. Of course that was 35+ or so years ago.

I wouldn't run one today, but it would be cool on the shelf.

Bigcheese327 · 03-03-2004, 01:19 PM

I've also heard 'em called the "inside-out Holley" but I'm a big fan of "towering inferno," personally.

Jester · 03-03-2004, 01:27 PM

I don't mean to be a dumb ass but since I don't know I'll ask......what was it that caused the fire....was it just fuel leaking onto the engine or was it something else?

choprods · 03-03-2004, 01:32 PM

we called them "Haystack carbs"-cause they went up in flames about that same speed.....also that was all we had to look at here in farm central to compare em too.....

**Deyomatic** · 03-03-2004, 01:45 PM

Jester, I remember hearing somewhere that it has something to do with the fuel bowl being on the very top of the carburetor. Something about the seal on the fuel bowl leaking.

MBL · 03-03-2004, 01:50 PM

For all of those wondering what happend to our friendly Mayor...he apparently was part of a terrorist organization.
Tim
MBL

justinm · 03-03-2004, 02:20 PM

WRONG

he was issuing marriage certivficates to gay frenchfries......

funny how jive-bomber just happened to wear his "mayor mccheese" racing jacket to work today........

C9 · 03-03-2004, 02:26 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Jester, I remember hearing somewhere that it has something to do with the fuel bowl being on the very top of the carburetor. Something about the seal on the fuel bowl leaking.

[/ QUOTE ]

Usually stuck floats.
Not too bad a problem until the engine backfires.

And maybe not too bad a problem compared to a regular side float carb.
Leaks on those seem to start car fires pretty regular.

Just a guess, but if the float was stuck wouldn't it be better to have it going down the intake while the engine was running instead of all over the engine?
Not good either way, but I think the Teapots got a bum rap.

How many of them have you personally seen on fire?
None for me.
Seen some good Y-Block runners with them though....

recycler · 03-03-2004, 02:50 PM

C9, you might be right. They could have a bum wrap. Towering infernos is what my Dad called them. I have no experience with them whatsoever but it always made me laugh. I have had experience with Holley carbs on fire. My brother's car would have burnt to the ground while he helplessly beat his engine with his windbreaker if not for a rural postal carrier driving by. They are required to carry fire extinguishers in their delivery vehicles.
I do happen to have a brand new Mayor McCheese ,teapot, towering inferno carb that has been waiting for an engine to try it on. If I never do it will sit like a primitive robot on my shelf as a good conversation peice.

Brad

**Kevin Lee** · 03-03-2004, 03:02 PM

I can only hope that one day I hear it called "The Mayor McCheese" at a swap, show, etc. so I can sit back with a smug look knowing I coined the term.

C9 - I think hot rodding is rife with myths, misinformation, folklore, and voodoo. But I'm sure that's not something you didn't already know.

MBL · 03-03-2004, 03:03 PM

And you...a vegetarian.
Tim
MBL

03-03-2004, 11:52 AM	#1
Kevin Lee Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Posts: 6,302	What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? Or possibly H.R. Puffinstuff. A friend of my father-inlaw's gave me a box of old carburetors and made a pretty big deal out of this goofy looking thing. Called it a "double decker" or some such thing. It is a Holley, but I forgot to write down any of the numbers before I came to work. Attached Thumbnails

03-03-2004, 12:03 PM	#2
DrJ Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: PARADISE! (Long Beach, CA) Posts: 8,672	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? Looks like a Ford, middle 50's, affectionately called a "teapot" carb.

03-03-2004, 12:11 PM	#3
recycler Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Siloam Springs, AR USA Posts: 620	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? Also affectionally known as the "towering inferno" or "flaming inferno" Brad

03-03-2004, 12:14 PM	#4
Roothawg Old School HAMBer Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Slackerville, OK Posts: 13,437	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? I see Mayor Mc Cheese......haha

03-03-2004, 12:21 PM	#5
Bass Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 2,916	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? Combine two of those on a 312 Y-block in a '57 Ford Police Interceptor for a nice little fire. That's where the "Towering Inferno" nickname comes from...Police Departments kept having problems with the carbs setting on fire on their '57 Fords.

03-03-2004, 12:23 PM	#6
Deuce Rails Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,021	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? It looks EXACTLY like H.R. Puffinstuff to me... (Who's your friend when things get tough?)

03-03-2004, 12:24 PM	#7
Sinner Grenade Inspector Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Land O' Lakes , Fl Posts: 189	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? It'll make a good paperweight.

03-03-2004, 12:46 PM	#8
Hot Rod To Hell Old School HAMBer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Flint MI Posts: 3,030	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? Ya know the little robot piggy bank where you put a coin in his hand and he eats it????

03-03-2004, 12:46 PM	#9
Jive-Bomber Alliance Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Oaktown, Ca Posts: 2,018	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? You make the call.... Attached Thumbnails

03-03-2004, 01:00 PM	#10
porknbeaner Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Raytown, MO Posts: 9,576	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? [ QUOTE ] Looks like a Ford, middle 50's, affectionately called a "teapot" carb. [/ QUOTE ] we called 'em a tea kettle, same thing I guess. I ran one awhile on my '57 (untill I could aford one of them race carbs). Never had a problem with it. Of course that was 35+ or so years ago. I wouldn't run one today, but it would be cool on the shelf.

03-03-2004, 01:19 PM	#11
Bigcheese327 Old School HAMBer Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Bay City/Caro, MI Posts: 3,914	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? I've also heard 'em called the "inside-out Holley" but I'm a big fan of "towering inferno," personally.

03-03-2004, 01:27 PM	#12
Jester Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Blevins AR Posts: 964	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? I don't mean to be a dumb ass but since I don't know I'll ask......what was it that caused the fire....was it just fuel leaking onto the engine or was it something else?

03-03-2004, 01:32 PM	#13
choprods Old School HAMBer Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Elmer,Mo.USA All the COOL... people on the HAMB have already been here,why haven't you? Posts: 7,271	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? we called them "Haystack carbs"-cause they went up in flames about that same speed.....also that was all we had to look at here in farm central to compare em too.....

03-03-2004, 01:45 PM	#14
Deyomatic Alliance Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Wethersfield, CT Posts: 2,971	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? Jester, I remember hearing somewhere that it has something to do with the fuel bowl being on the very top of the carburetor. Something about the seal on the fuel bowl leaking.

03-03-2004, 01:50 PM	#15
MBL Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL, USA Posts: 1,175	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? For all of those wondering what happend to our friendly Mayor...he apparently was part of a terrorist organization. Tim MBL Attached Thumbnails

03-03-2004, 02:20 PM	#16
justinm Grenade Inspector Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Oakland, home of Pancho Villa\'s son Posts: 129	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? WRONG he was issuing marriage certivficates to gay frenchfries...... funny how jive-bomber just happened to wear his "mayor mccheese" racing jacket to work today........

03-03-2004, 02:26 PM	#17
C9 Member Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Kingman, Arizona - The place on the way to other places.... Posts: 9,537	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? [ QUOTE ] Jester, I remember hearing somewhere that it has something to do with the fuel bowl being on the very top of the carburetor. Something about the seal on the fuel bowl leaking. [/ QUOTE ] Usually stuck floats. Not too bad a problem until the engine backfires. And maybe not too bad a problem compared to a regular side float carb. Leaks on those seem to start car fires pretty regular. Just a guess, but if the float was stuck wouldn't it be better to have it going down the intake while the engine was running instead of all over the engine? Not good either way, but I think the Teapots got a bum rap. How many of them have you personally seen on fire? None for me. Seen some good Y-Block runners with them though....

03-03-2004, 02:50 PM	#18
recycler Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Siloam Springs, AR USA Posts: 620	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? C9, you might be right. They could have a bum wrap. Towering infernos is what my Dad called them. I have no experience with them whatsoever but it always made me laugh. I have had experience with Holley carbs on fire. My brother's car would have burnt to the ground while he helplessly beat his engine with his windbreaker if not for a rural postal carrier driving by. They are required to carry fire extinguishers in their delivery vehicles. I do happen to have a brand new Mayor McCheese ,teapot, towering inferno carb that has been waiting for an engine to try it on. If I never do it will sit like a primitive robot on my shelf as a good conversation peice. Brad

03-03-2004, 03:02 PM	#19
Kevin Lee Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: KC,MO - The cradle of hot rodding Posts: 6,302	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? I can only hope that one day I hear it called "The Mayor McCheese" at a swap, show, etc. so I can sit back with a smug look knowing I coined the term. C9 - I think hot rodding is rife with myths, misinformation, folklore, and voodoo. But I'm sure that's not something you didn't already know.

03-03-2004, 03:03 PM	#20
MBL Alliance Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL, USA Posts: 1,175	Re: What carburetor is this - it looks like Mayor McCheese? And you...a vegetarian. Tim MBL

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