Which Carb is best, and why?

Which carburetor

  • Total voters
    112
  • Poll closed .
CB919ER

CB919ER

Senior Member
I'm still in the process of getting all the kinks worked out of my 29 Coupe. Currently the car has a Marvel Schebler (sp?) carburetor on it and I have a Tillotson sitting on my work bench. I've been told that a should invest in a Zenith for the car as that is what it came with originally and that is what would work the best.

I'm open to ideas, suggestions, and opinions...
 
I prefer the Zenith over any of the pot metal carbs . I prefer the Simmons cast iron carburetor over the Zenith. The Simmons cast iron carb often fools some because it looks a lot like the Zenith carbs The simmons carbs that I have used are simplier and don't drip or leak like the Zenith often does . the castiron Simmons is a performance carb with a high speed passage that functions similar to the model B carb .The model B Zenith carb has a high speed jet and a larger venturi. The B carb is more complicated but probably out performs all other updraft carbs that are used on the model A . That is If the model A manifold runner is enlarged to model B size .
 
I don't know the others cause I work on the Zenith 1 (came with the car).

I dare not go into Holly carbs or other muscle machine juice producers.
 
New Zenith is what I would recommend.

No problems since I installed on our 29. No leaks, no problems, runs great. Enjoy.
 
Definitely either a Zenith or a marvel. I have a rebuilt Zenith on my car which runs great but I do like the pep my grandpa's roadster has with a Marvel.
 
I have a prof-restored Marvel installed with a prof-restored Zenith side bowl under the seat on my late '31. So far the Marvel is more reliable, more powerful, and doesn't leak. YMMV.
 
I've always had good results with the Zenith. Easy to clean and maintain, and runs reliably at all temps and speeds.
 
Marvel carb restoration guy:
T. jr (JR) Bullock
976 Country Road 2310
Texarkana, TX 75503
903-748-8299
karman10134@gmail.com

JR is one of the nicest guys in the business, and has been restoring Model A carbs for many years and Marvel carbs are a specialty. I purchased a restored Marvel from him last year, bolted it on to my '31 that I thought I had completely cleaned out the gas tank. Before long the carb developed problems, so I called JR and he said I needed to immediately send it back, which I did. The very day it arrived JR apparently took it apart, and found it was clogged with rust particles. He cleaned it out, then re-tested it on his own Model A, and sent it back at no additional cost to me along with a micro-filter that he admonished I put in-line with the carb. Last thing he said was I should be sure to contact him with any additional problems with the carb, but reassured me it was running fine on his "A." The in-line filter works great, and the Marvel has run great ever since. Like others who have one installed, I get noticeably more power from it than the rebuilt Zenith or the non-rebuilt Tilley I had on before cleaning out the gas tank.
 
Many carbs fail and initiate a search for another brand or model only because of rust in the tank or because the idle mixture screw is an air bleed and reverse of many other carbs.
 
I use one of JR's Marvel carbs and really like it. Great person with a lot of model A knowledge. Can't go wrong
 
The Zenith was the standard choice of carburetor throughout the "A" era. I believe that certain aspects and flow characteristics were specifically engineered into and during the design of the engine. From my understanding the others (Tilitson, etc.) were after thought, after market items. That's not to say that other manufacturers were not around before, during, or after the "A" development, just that from my reading, etc. the message strongly came through that there was some joint development between Ford and Zenith.
 
I vote for the Marvel. I have a rebuilt (with flow tested jets) Zenith. My 29 tudor ran fine on it, but was subject to stalling when stopping since the float action is in line with the car's direction of travel, and is subject to inertia. Even Zenith must have realized that was a poor design since they changed it in 1932 for the model B. Rather that fiddle with the float level I decided to try (at the recommendation of a model A mechanic) a Marvel. My tudor loves it, and seems to have a little more "zip" than with the Zenith.

Am I worried that my tudor did not come with a Marvel in 1929? Since my tudor is running a 1936 diamond block engine, not really. :D
 
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