1950 Merc "Teapot" carb

Chris Marshall

Chris Marshall

Senior Member
I just brought home an original '50 mercury coupe. Still has the original carb on the flathead. I've heard horror stories about these carbs. I plan to drive this car and don't want problems. Would I be better off with a 2GC rochester on the original intake? Maybe like alot of stories, this is an old wives tale and these merc carbs function fine. I'd appreciate opinions and experience with these. Thanks.
 
The carb is a Holley 885. You can Google lots of info on it. They're pretty simple and get the job done. Mine ran fine. I think people are scared of them because the design is unusual with the float bowl on top.

You can run a Rochester 2g or a Stromberg WW on that manifold, but why bother?.
 
No problems with original HOLLEY 885 on the "49-'51 Merc.
The 'teapot' was the one on the '52-'53 Merc.:)
Below is the 'TEAPOT'
 

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49to 51 mercs do NOT have TEAPOT carbs on them.Teapots came out in 52. 49-51 carbs are back drafts and are a very good carb.I have rebuilt dozens of them and have had good luck with them. Do not be afraid of these carbs.Teapots look simaler at the bottom 1/2 but look like there missing the top cover that the dackdrafts do have. ken ct.
 
I ran a Holley 2110 with 4 bolt base on mine for years. It's pretty much a Holley 94 with different base. There are out there and pretty cheap. I bought a couple at swap meets for 10.00 each and got 94 rebuild kits for em.
 
I've been told to bore the Merc intake approx 1/8" on each side (to match carb bores) and mount a rebuilt 2GC. It adds approx 100cfm.
 
According to my old Holley manual, the float level of the Holley 885 model carbs for '49 thru '51 Mercury's was not 1/2". The FUEL level is 1/2" below the top edge of the bowl (gasket surface). The FLOAT level is 7/32" below the gasket surface at the toe of the float with float all the way up.

Sal
 
scicala said:
According to my old Holley manual, the float level of the Holley 885 model carbs for '49 thru '51 Mercury's was not 1/2". The FUEL level is 1/2" below the top edge of the bowl (gasket surface). The FLOAT level is 7/32" below the gasket surface at the toe of the float with float all the way up.

Sal
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100% correct must of had 'Float' on the brain.
 

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If you want it rebuilt "properly" send it off to Daytona carburetor in Fl. And forget about the people that say "they have rebuilt dozens of them" you won't be sorry...learn from my mistake.
Randy
 
Horror stories about the Holley "teapot"/ Mine on the 52 Merc has not given any major problems other than a bad stall out problem at mid throttle. I need to open it up and see what the problem is. Converted to manual choke years ago.
 
The Holley top float series have always gotten a bad rep. They are a very reliable carb as long as the person maintaining it has the proper information and skill set. They can be damaged easily. If a person accidentally drops it, they will be looking for straight parts. The zinc dye castings are complicated and vulnerable to heavy handed mechanics who tighten things till it won't turn any more. I've found several with float bowls warped & dented and they can leak like a sieve if the flanges are damaged.

The little Rochester will bolt on and give good service but it isn't compatible with the Holley Load-A-Matic ignition system that goes with the 885 & towering inferno carbs so a person has to change out the distributor to get acceptable performance with it.
 
Rand said:
If you want it rebuilt "properly" send it off to Daytona carburetor in Fl. And forget about the people that say "they have rebuilt dozens of them" you won't be sorry...learn from my mistake.
Randy
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Or send it to me for a rebuild.

Rand, not all people that say they can do it are frauds.

Sal
 
If there is anybody here that wants to mount a 2GC on a 4 bolt Merc manifold, let me know. I have done it and spent a bunch of money on the proper broach and arbor required. I also have a 2GC base that can be bolted to the Merc manifold to act as a guide for the broach. I did mine and it went great. As near as I can see, I still have at least 1/16" wall thickness in the throttle bores (it's difficult to measure). I did mine with my bench top drill press. My manifold was a Canadian aluminum one, but it cut so easily that I think a cast iron one would be no problem given reasonable care.

Like I said, I paid a bunch of money for this and will probably never use it again, so I'd like to recover some of the $ I spent, plus help some forum members out.
 
There is nothing wrong with the Holley 885. I have one on my "51 Merc. I bought this car in 1994. rebuilt the eng. ( it was blown up and out of the car ) also rebuilt the carb. car had only 68K miles when I bought it , now has 86K and I have had 0 problems with the carb. I say rebuild it and use it. it is a good carb. not necessarily the best for high performance but it works very well IF the load -o-matic distributor is working correctly . my .02 ---Jim. by the way, I recommend Sal. he did a great job on the carbs for my Y-Block 2x4 set-up
 
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Sal, would you give me a shout at "bssmnbll@aol.com". I may like you to take a look at my 885 Holley. I would like to keep my 50 Merc Montery with 49000 on it looking as stock as possible and if it turns out that my stumbling in acceleration is the carb, I'd rather fix it then swap it.
 
I have one of these carbs in my attic. Flathead guys tell me nobody uses them anymore and it isn't worth scrap. If you want it I'll send it to you. It could help with your rebuild. PM me.
 
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