Mercury Flathead Intake

Pardon my ignorance. I did check the tech section but did not find anything related.
I have a late Mercury flathead intake with the weird 4 bolt Holley carb.
Are these intakes good for any other carb besides this one?
If so, which and anyone running this combo and if so, do they run well vs. the standard run of....94, 97 etc. or 390 4bbl?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Mercury adopted the Holley 885 carb (with 4 bolt base) in 1949.

There are at least 7 or 8 variations of the 885 as used up until 1951.

For 52/53 (54 in Canada) the Holley 1901-ff carb was adopted of which there were also about 7 or 8 variations.

In 54/5 the Holley 2140 was introduced into the overhead valve V8 engine line. It also features a 4 bolt base but the 2140's base is almost a square pattern while the earlier Flathead based carbs featured a rectangular base plate. They are obviously not interchangeable.


None of these 4 bolt base carbs are very desirably and parts/service kits for them are limited.


.

 

Two barrel Rochester early Chevy (283-327) and some Dodge carbs are a bolt on or miner fussing to get to fit. Or with an adapter a holly style(Motorcraft) two barrel will work. Will post a pic latter.

 

The new two barrel Demon should bolt on and is by far the best two barrel out there, buddy of mine just put one on his 49 coupe and no problems!!

 

Thanks guys. I don't want to run that carb....it's butt ugly! So, it's a shelf item.

The Rochester 2bbl plentiful, rebuild kits and reliable? Are they prone to leak like the 94, 97 etc.
What type of air cleaner/filter top?

 

I'm not a carb wizzard and I'm running a Holley 390 on my other 50 Flatty in my 35 Slantback. Has been good so far. Since I have the Merc intake manifold.....and wouldn't mind someting a little different.........
I'd like some bolt on and go carb out of the carb.

 

Two barrel Demon.......

 

Guees I should mention...this would be going on a 59A flatty.....I would need a riser?

 

I am pretty sure the 49-53 8BA Ford intake will bolt right up to your 59AB. Then just add your 3 bolt 94 and you're "good to go."

 

I have one (merc manifold) &a '42 caddy 326 V8 carb on it, I suppose you could use any 283/265 carb. I thought it will be cool to rebuild a late motor with mild cam & the bigger 2bbl. The upside down carb ISA stupid thing, my buddies IH dump truck has one of those goofy things on it, a bitch to keep from flooding when warm... Like Quasimodo they just don't look normal

 

Thanks, I have all 3 intake manifolds (59A, 8BA and the Merc) so I'm good there. Just wondering if I could do a different and "better" carb. Don't know that Rochester or Demons are "better" but I really want reliability and no "leakers".

 

Here is A rochester 2g on a Merc 4 bolt manifold. Runs great.

 

It's a good, cheap manifold for a mild hop-up. I'm assembling a '42 Merc 239 and am using a '49+ Merc intake with a 2G Rochester. The Merc intake seems to have better runners, and the small base Rochester 2G will flow about 278 CFM. That's quite a bit more than most 3 bolt carbs. You may already know this, but you'll have to address the difference in the way the intakes handle crankcase breathing.

Bob

 

speedy pete....that's cool......I like the look.

 

no....I did not know about the intake breathing issue?

 

I also had a Rochester 2 bbl on my 50 Ford and it ran great. The rebuild kits are cheap and easy to install. The carb is not a leaker I ran it for a few years and never touched it.

 

Breathing.....oh, you mean the 59A at the back and the Merc intake at the front...gotcha.

 

If you already have one, dont be afraid of the 1901. i've used one on my 53 merc for the past 10 years with no issues. the rebuild kit was readilly available. they are prretty ugly though.

 

I also ran a Rochester 2brl on my Merc manifold. And it worked great.

 

thanks...for the Rochester 2G what mods were necessarey? Did anyone use an automatic choke? What to look out for when buying the carb?

 

gee....I have a lot to learn about the 2G...small base, large base, long shaft ,stage, bolt pattern?
I'm confused.

 

If you use the 2G, which is a great little carbie for your motor, you will have to install an extended throttle shaft so you can hook the factory linkage up to the right side as the original had. But, why go through all that trouble when you can simply use a 4 bolt 2110 Holley 94 that will give you the good looks, same performance and no jimmy-jackin' linkage, plus they take no special tools to rebuild.
Just remember the KISS theory.

 

thanks, this will go on my roadster as I am using the full hood....won't see it.....a Rochester 2G is probably my answer.

 

thanks, didn't know about the linkage....nothing is easy! Shouldn't a cable throttle solve that? I have a 94....I just don't like "leakers" and sooner or later...they all seem to leak! My Holley 390 has been on since '07 and looks like new! I want reliability and decent performance.

 

Also the 1942 and up Lincoln/Zephyr V12 carb are a 4 bolt base that will bolt strait on to your Merc intake and work well too.

 

Merc intake with 2G on my 99A Merc.

Bob

 

thanks.
are they plentiful and inexpensive and rebuild kits available? what make are they?

 

cool

how do you upload a pic from your computer?