Holley 94 rebuild

[3twinridges]

After a lot of trial and error finally got a chromate conversion coating on the carb bodies that I like. All of the small parts are plated and ready to go. Only part left is the base. What was the original finish of the throttle body? I thought about zinc plating the base and using a black chromate finish. Anyone tried that, my only other alternative is a matte black paint.

JB

 

[petehoovie]

After a lot of trial and error finally got a chromate conversion coating on the carb bodies that I like. All of the small parts are plated and ready to go. Only part left is the base. What was the original finish of the throttle body? I thought about zinc plating the base and using a black chromate finish. Anyone tried that, my only other alternative is a matte black paint.

JB

 

[19Fordy]

I think the original Holley 94's base was unfinished grey cast iron like Ford 94 sitting on my desk.
Others will know for sure.

 

[tubman]

I paint mine gloss black. But then, I'm more of a "Hot Rodder" than a restorer.

 

[leon bee]

I always thought rust colored was authentic.

 

[kiwi nz]

Yep, just checked my collection, rust is authentic.

 

[Kube]

After a lot of trial and error finally got a chromate conversion coating on the carb bodies that I like. All of the small parts are plated and ready to go. Only part left is the base. What was the original finish of the throttle body? I thought about zinc plating the base and using a black chromate finish. Anyone tried that, my only other alternative is a matte black paint.

JB

As long as you like it, that's all that really matters.
Originally the bodies had a zinc chromate coating that gave them a grayish / silverish hue.
The bases were painted gloss black. Very thin paint to simply keep corrosion away for a short time.
Photo attached is a NOS carburetor (1939 / 40) and even though the photo is not in color, it's quite easy to discern the fact the body was "silverish" and the base gloss black.
After WWII the bodies had more of a golden hue, no doubt due to some chemical changes. However, only a slight tint of gold, nothing like what you have there.

 

[3twinridges]

lol…interesting! I think the carb on the engine now is NOS, all I did was put a rebuild kit in it. It’s the light gold color you describe. I also have another NOS carb and it’s a silverish chromate. But then I also have a gold one, and that’s the one I tried to match. All of them I think are the original finish as the bore plugs aren’t finished and neither is the air horn tube.

I cleaned the base and was going to black chromate it after a light zinc plate but paint sounds much easier!

JB

 

[3twinridges]

lol…interesting! I think the carb on the engine now is NOS, all I did was put a rebuild kit in it. It’s the light gold color you describe. I also have another NOS carb and it’s a silverish chromate. But then I also have a gold one, and that’s the one I tried to match. All of them I think are the original finish as the bore plugs aren’t finished and neither is the air horn tube.

I cleaned the base and was going to black chromate it after a light zinc plate but paint sounds much easier!

JB

Pics as described above

 

[3twinridges]

Pic with two carbs, one on left is what I was trying to match.

JB

 

[petehoovie]

Pic with two carbs, one on left is what I was trying to match.

JB

 

[L-head]

Is it possible to chromate carbs at home? Where do you get the kit or buy the necessary
chemicals to do this?

 

[3twinridges]

Is it possible to chromate carbs at home? Where do you get the kit or buy the necessary
chemicals to do this?

Yes it is possible and very enjoyable. Plating is a pretty fun process. Caswell is my go to for supplies.

JB

 

[petehoovie]

Yes it is possible and very enjoyable. Plating is a pretty fun process. Caswell is my go to for supplies.

JB

Copy Cad & Zinc Plating Kit - 1.5 Gal

Caswell

$320.85

https://caswellplating.com/copy-cad-reg-and-zinc-plating-kit-1-5-gal.html

 

[3twinridges]

It was a rough core, but you can’t judge a book by its cover! I think it turned out nice…….before and after. Need to get it on the engine and tune it.

JB

 

[petehoovie]

It was a rough core, but you can’t judge a book by its cover! I think it turned out nice…….before and after. Need to get it on the engine and tune it.

JB

 

[1952henry]

Chuck Mantiglia has an extensive collection of NOS parts and is quite knowledgeable especially in regards to pickups/trucks and Marmon Herringtons. I believe his work has earned Dearborn awards. I had a discussion with him about carb finishes. IIRC, he sent me a picture of a NOS 8RT carburetor, it was similar to yours. And yes, it was NOS, not rebuilt. He opened the original sealed container it came in.

 

[1952henry]

Yes, JB, Caswell is great. Yes , some of the hardware should have been cadmium, some prolly bare. With MH, who knows? Frankly Im not too concerned. Im rebuilding this MH for me. I try to re-use original fasteners, and don’t like painting what wasn’t painted

Fram oil filter for my CJ2A, parking brake for same, all of the hardware in brake assembly was rust and grease. Re-lined the original shoes.

Other park brake pieces are from a 2wd F3 (my parts pickup), one one right is from the MH. The thumb buttons I nickel plated.

the carburetor base, which is from a mid-50s GMC, was blasted, then cold gun-blued. Once dry, I smear motor oil infused beeswax onto surface. That is followed by a light buffing.

The last picture shows the transfer case torque arm and bracket; the transfer case low range lockout linkage and bronze brackets, bushings added to take out wear, and new plated shaft I made(brackets had traces of black paint, but cant bring myself to paint them. DIY rubber axle snubbers, as originals were petrified, as were the original wood spacer blocks. Had to reshape hardware store carriage bolt heads to match originals, then plated them.
.

 

[1952henry]

This 8RT I refinished/ rebuilt is what led to my discussion with Chuck.

 

[1952henry]

The rest of the GMC Zenith, which recently found a new home.