I bought a 1946-1948 Ford flathead V8 from a guy last weekend. He says it was in a 1/2 ton pickup. Didn't notice until today that the carb had a funny brass thingy hangin off the side, with a small copper tube that goes into the top of the bowl. Spacer plate under carb is for vacume...like a Columbia rear end and I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not. It's just a regular Holley 94 model 59...anyone know what that brass thing is???
Good Eye, 440 Roadrunner. That's what it is ! I got two of those Southwind heaters in my Garage. outagas
It's the "generic" fuel siphon for a Southwind heater. Some carbs had a specific siphon produced that would bolt on without modification, but that one fits all and siphons from an extra hole drilled in the top of the carb above the float bowl. I've got a siphon that bolts to a 97 and siphons off the jet plug screw area. Ever see a Stromberg (or Chandler-Groves) with an extra hole drilled in the top? We all have, right? Well, the owner of that car bought the generic Southwind instead of the Stromberg-specific model.
Yo Alchemy, If I have a Stromberg with a hole above the float, that is a siphon hole? I just assumed all came that way and that it was a vent hole which would explain why all of us with Stromberg equipped flatheads always smelled fuel in the garage around the cars. Should those holes be covered?
I think most carb rebuilders recommend filling the hole with a small lead BB, hammered flat in the hole. Then you can file it a bit and it will hardly show. Strombergs vent just fine without any auxiliary holes.
You also have a plate adding an extra vac hookup below the carb...this is the air pull that works an actual venturi in the South Wind...it meters its fuel via a self contained carburetor! I'd bet that in the northern parts of the USA, 10--20% of Strombergs have the little holes. Very few Ford carbs seem to...presumably the hotwater heaters were solidly taking over by the late '30's.
WOW! Learn something everyday. Thanks guys!! And yes, I have seen Strombergs with the little hole on top...I now know what thats for Thanks y'all!!!
Whoa. Anytime the number of punctured Strombergs you see passes 20% of the herd, it's time to load up the deuce and move south!
I've got one of the vacuum adaptor plates, was on a 3 deuce setup that came with a partly completed car I bought. I removed the plate while shining up the manifold and carbs before selling the setup. I remember that these heaters were supposed to work real well when they were right. Never had one myself. Closest to them I personally came was a '56 or '57 Chrysler stopped on the side of the road late one night, black smoke streaming from the car, and all the middle aged and elderly lady occupants out on the side of the road. I stopped and managed to figure out that the car had a gas heater and it was malfunctioning. When I turned it off the smoke stopped and the ladies were able to resume their trip home to points in South GA after their trip to Atlanta. Cold, true enough but at least able to ride. Would like to know more about those old heaters, how much gas they used, and whether one could be used today in a roadster I'm building. My last roadster was sans heater, but I was 18 and now I'm 72! These old bones get cold, and I always heard those heaters got hot fast! Dave
I've worked with combustion heaters in aircraft over the years and I've always felt they are a little on the dangerous side. Ricky Nelson's death in that old DC-3 comes to mind. If the outer combustion can cracks you will have a carbon monoxide leak into the passenger compartment. On an old roadster it probably wouldn't affect you but in a better sealed car it could be deadly. They have to be inspected yearly before you use them or your asking for trouble.
On my 8BA, I'm using a vacuum adapter plate as the connection for the PCV under the center 48. Seems to be working well.
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