replacing the teapot carb on 54 Mercury

S

steve fritz

Well-known member
Any suggestions from guys that have the early y-blocks with original teapot Holley 4bbl carb? That would be 54 Merc 256 and 55-56 Ford with 272/292 engines. I have been having problems with my 54 Merc and it's original carb. These intakes have the old "square" bolt pattern, so the later model Autolite and Holley, Edelbrock carbs will not bolt up. Are there still adapter plates available to be able to use these later carbs?
One more question.....how big, CFM wise, should one go with an otherwise stock engine? Along with the carb change, I have been told that one should change the distributor to a 57 and later model with centifigal/vacuum combination advance, and take the old "load-o-matic off.
Any comments from guys who have changed out the teapot would be appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Steve, as far as the distributor goes, you can buy one at a NAPA store. Not sure if the 256 is the same as the 239OHV, and if so, you will need to change the gear on the bottom of the shaft, and not sure if the oil pump drive is the same, so check that too. The carb I used (way back in the early 60s) was a rochester off a Olds, Cad etc of the 50s. Way overcarbed!! A 390cfm or there about would be plenty for that Yblock.
 
Does Holley make a 4bbl carb around the 390 cfm, or would that be a two barrel version? And do you know if there is an adapter available to go onto the original intake manifold?
 
steve fritz said:
Does Holley make a 4bbl carb around the 390 cfm, or would that be a two barrel version? And do you know if there is an adapter available to go onto the original intake manifold?
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Holley does make a 390cfm 4bbl and there is an adapter to mount the later bolt pattern on an early intake. Check with Jegs or Summit
 
The teapot is not all that to rebuild, but the distributor gear on the 54 is not the same as later y-blocks it and the cam have one more extra tooth driving them, so there not interchangeabke. Frank
 
If you want a good rebuilder for the teapot try Mike mSuter in PA 215-757-3678. He runs them after he rebuilds them.
 
I used a Rochester 4CG of a 322 Buick nailhead. It bolted right up, including throttle linkage and was perfect for my 312 engine. I put over 100K miles on it trouble free.
 
Carter or Rochester is a bolt on.I installed a MSD distributor in my Y block and it worked great.I am building a Y right now and plan on making an adapter for the Holly avenger 4 bb. Reason is parts availability and its a good trouble free type carb. I never liked the Tpot and have fixed a lot of them in days past but there are way better options out there and you just have to make a choice.
 
Thanks for the input guys. Another suggestion came up.....what about replacing the original intake manifold on the 54 Merc 256 y-block engine with a later model 292 intake from a 57 and newer y-block ??? Then I could just bolt on a autolite 2100 carb, which are pretty trouble-free carbs? I don't mind going to the two barrel vrs the original teapot 4 bbl, since I'm not into 100% originality anyway. I just want a carb I can use for cruising and one I don't have to worry about not starting, flooding out etc.
I know the two intake manifolds have the same bolt pattern, but don't know if their will be any problems with the ports matching between the heads and later model intake ???
 
Even though there is a difference in the head and late model 2V port size, I think it can work. On hand is a 54 intake, 57 (or later) intake, and gaskets. Will take a look tomorrow and report.

An Autolite 1.01 or 1.02 should work well. Originality goes out the door though.

Just love stuff like this :) . A good thing is that the late model 2v intakes are very inexpensive, except for shipping. However, they can be stuffed into a medium flat rate box and sent for only around 12.00. Done it 5 or 6 times. It surely ticks off the postal handlers to pick up that 30 pounder :eek: .

But it wont look as neat as this:
IMG_1777.jpg


FYI, Teapot is a generic reference often covering two models of Holley 4V carbs. The earlier as shown here is model 2140, the later ones model 4000. That is somewhat of a mistatement too, since a few 2140s were available in I think White trucks, maybe IHC, a fair number of years after disapearing from Ford's.
 
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For reference the port sizes are approx. 1.48 X .95 early, and 1.78 X 1.06 late.
Unfortunately I only have a late model intake gasket. It wont seal on an early intake. Dont know if the early model gasket will seal to the late intake.
 
This may sound like a stupid question - I own a 56 ford 292 with a teapot carburator that I want to change - in order to upgrade to better carburator I read I need a Ecz9425B manifold - is there another manifold that I can look for that would provide a reliable alternative to the teapot. What so special about the 9425B - did ford make another manifold that will work? I realize i'll have to change the distributor as well
 
It's the only popular one that Ford made. It lets you bolt down any holly carb, the flange is not square like the T pot. Was made 1957 up. Not talking of aftermarket there are others available in that industry.
 
wdurecka said:
This may sound like a stupid question - I own a 56 ford 292 with a teapot carburator that I want to change - in order to upgrade to better carburator I read I need a Ecz9425B manifold - is there another manifold that I can look for that would provide a reliable alternative to the teapot. What so special about the 9425B - did ford make another manifold that will work? I realize i'll have to change the distributor as well
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You don't necessarily need the B manifold. As mentioned above, there is an adapter you can use on the A manifold to use the later carbs.
 
I dont think it is in this thread but a Ford guy said recently he has used successfully, in the past, an early Cadillac Rochester carb which fits the A manifold bolt pattern. But...I think I think the original carb is the best ticket, in proper working order of course.
 
Thanks for the input - I'll just buy the 9425B manifold. This is my 1st Ford and am learning a new animal.
 
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