School me on stromberg carbs

[GB SISSON]

I have at least one kicking around, but I am real familiar with the 94 type setup and am real comfortable with them. Why are the strombergs a big deal? Hot Rod nostalgia or are they really better somehow. I am currently running (from memory) a 2110? from a Y block on my 276 stroker in the ol' wood wagon.

 

[ford38v8]

The little I know about them kinda mirrors what you know. Yes, nostalgia, but with a twist: The early multi-carb manifolds were designed for Stroms, fitted closely together, almost touching. You’ve seen 94s at swap meets having the airhorn’s front mounting screw sawed off? Now you know why. Back in the day, rodders had no choice but to use Stroms because the 94s would have to be butchered to fit, and thereafter would spew raw gas on a Pretty engine due to the chopped off mounting screw. This note comprises my entire library of wisdom about Stromberg.

 

[Tim Ayers]

Personal preference at this point. I like Strombergs because they are super simple carbs. There is also no power valve to blow out like on the Holley.

 

[pistonbroke]

I agree with both Ford 38 amd Tim A. But do have my two cent's to add. With non Ethanol gas you can park your Stromberg for years and it will still run when you get back to it. Your Holley or ford will leak from shrunken gaskets and the powervalves will not work . Ask me how I know. Tim

 

[pistonbroke]

One more thing on Strombergs. As far as I know you can't run a stromberg with the 49 and later Loadomatic distributor. They dont have a port with the corect vacume signal. There may be a model out there that I have not come across but to date it has avoided me. Tim

 

[Tim Ayers]

One more thing on Strombergs. As far as I know you can't run a stromberg with the 49 and later Loadomatic distributor. They dont have a port with the corect vacume signal. There may be a model out there that I have not come across but to date it has avoided me. Tim

There are. I believe these came out after Stromberg left South Bend, IN and moved to Elmayra, NY. They are definitely an aftermarket offering of the 97.

 

[cas3]

Because they're cool! Here's one Uncle Max worked over

 

[petehoovie]

Because they're cool! Here's one Uncle Max worked over

 

[GB SISSON]

Ok, Thanks, that's some excellent info! I really do like simple, but I do like my loadamatic too. The woodie really starts and runs great, so perhaps I'll break my usual routine and subscribe to that attitude that says 'If it ain't broke don't fix it'. As a chronic (serial?) tinkerer I've always hated that expression. Some of the most fun I've ever had is fixing things that ain't broke. And Skip, it is cool but that pie crusted bias ply it's sittin' on might even be cooler.

 

[Bored&Stroked]

The Holley 2110 is a great carb for a larger engine . . . heck, two of them might even be better on your stroker motor. The Stromberg carbs we use -> 48,81,97 are about the simplest carbs you can run in that they have no vacuum operated power/enrichment mechanisms - so you don't have to tune that aspect of them (other than the size of the mechanical power valve).

Back in the day, they were the most plentiful carb one could find - with plenty available at junk yards for the early hotrodders. One could also buy them new - for cheap. I think they just became the "standard" carb for most multi-carb setups. (they became part of the hotrod parts culture).

Truth be told, the Holley 94's (and variants) are better at load sensing (due to the power valve) but are a little harder to initially setup. I really like the Holley 2110 carbs for larger cubic inch flatheads.

 

[GB SISSON]

Thanks Dale, now I have one more thing NOT to fix. My stromberg is a 97.

 

[GB SISSON]

Here are a couple pics. I was hoping not to upset the cobweb in the airhorn. That way in case I sell it someday, I can call it a 'barnfind'. In the back of my mind still burns this little hot rod flame. At 72 yrs and standing 5'-6" I relish the thought of working on a flathead V8 without leaning over those huge jailbar fenders, standing on a section of 4x12 block just to reach the idle adjustment screws. The 1/2 ton woodie not so bad, but the tonners sittin way up firm and high on those 34" tall 7.50 x 17s (gotta love 'em though).

A footnote: Interesting that a guy on this forum for 12 years and 6000 posts has never driven or ridden in a car with a flathead V8. Only trucks, and only one has been a 1/2 ton. The rest tonner or bigger. In fact I have never driven or ridden in any kind of hot rod or souped up car of any make with the exception of my HS girlfriend had a cousin visit with a 289 in a mustang. He took me for a ride and it seemed fast to me (my VW had 40 hp). I recall a photo of a house were I lived until 3 yrs old and there was a bone stock '46 ford coupe parked alongside, so some of the above statements may prove false.

 

[Scotty's 52 F3]

So..........you're gonna build something around that carb huh? I can't wait to see it.

 

[GB SISSON]

So..........you're gonna build something around that carb huh? I can't wait to see it.

The longest journey starts with a single step.

 

[tubman]

I'll bet that he's started with less!

 

[GB SISSON]

I think a clear title might have to figure in somewhere. Perhaps even a chassis that matches it. I have 4) 16" wire wheels with tires that hold air. Various truck chassis without titles. Hate that.

 

[Ziggster]

The little I know about them kinda mirrors what you know. Yes, nostalgia, but with a twist: The early multi-carb manifolds were designed for Stroms, fitted closely together, almost touching. You’ve seen 94s at swap meets having the airhorn’s front mounting screw sawed off? Now you know why. Back in the day, rodders had no choice but to use Stroms because the 94s would have to be butchered to fit, and thereafter would spew raw gas on a Pretty engine due to the chopped off mounting screw. This note comprises my entire library of wisdom about Stromberg.

Interesting. Didn’t know that. Picked up this Edmunds vintage dual carb intake up in Hershey last Oct. Was surprised at how close things got using Holley 94s.

 

[Ziggster]

Here are a couple pics. I was hoping not to upset the cobweb in the airhorn. That way in case I sell it someday, I can call it a 'barnfind'. In the back of my mind still burns this little hot rod flame. At 72 yrs and standing 5'-6" I relish the thought of working on a flathead V8 without leaning over those huge jailbar fenders, standing on a section of 4x12 block just to reach the idle adjustment screws. The 1/2 ton woodie not so bad, but the tonners sittin way up firm and high on those 34" tall 7.50 x 17s (gotta love 'em though).

A footnote: Interesting that a guy on this forum for 12 years and 6000 posts has never driven or ridden in a car with a flathead V8. Only trucks, and only one has been a 1/2 ton. The rest tonner or bigger. In fact I have never driven or ridden in any kind of hot rod or souped up car of any make with the exception of my HS girlfriend had a cousin visit with a 289 in a mustang. He took me for a ride and it seemed fast to me (my VW had 40 hp). I recall a photo of a house were I lived until 3 yrs old and there was a bone stock '46 ford coupe parked alongside, so some of the above statements may prove false.

Just turned 60 last year. I’m 6’-6”, and have only rode in a vintage hot rod thanks to @Stogy on the HAMB. It wasn’t flathead powered either. lol! I’m hoping to have a running chassis with my speedster flathead powered build this fall.

 

[Chris Marshall]

Here's photos of an elusive NOS aftermarket 97 I have with the loadamatic port along with paperwork. These were marketed for all flatheads through '53 to replace the 94's.

 

[Bored&Stroked]

Pretty cool - have never seen one of those!