Wanting ideas on good downdrft carb

Dave in Boise

Dave in Boise

Senior Member
Hi All.. Am contemplating 'hopping up' one of my old A's.. A 30 Tudor.. All stock pretty much..

What I have:
bone stock drivetrain, all fresh and rebuilt 3.78 gearing
Motor is a 30 A, Touring grind cam, enlarged and hardened valves and seats, bored .60 over.

Just bought a Snyders High (5.5) compression head, Ansen single downdraft and header, and am wondering what type of Carb should I go with? Not looking to race, but would like to get a bit better getup and go and more hill climbing power.. Not sure if top speed would be better unless I go to inserts and a balanced crank.

Some folks like the Strombergs, and others like the Weber..

Let me know what y'all think :)

Dave in Boise
 
I'm pretty happy with my Weber. The car runs great (it's my daily driver) and has plenty of get-up-and-go. I agree that top speed is limited by other factors than the air/fuel mix, but since I have stock brakes I don't drive faster than 45/50 anyway.
 
Dave in Boise said:
Hi All.. Am contemplating 'hopping up' one of my old A's.. A 30 Tudor.. All stock pretty much..

What I have:
bone stock drivetrain, all fresh and rebuilt 3.78 gearing
Motor is a 30 A, Touring grind cam, enlarged and hardened valves and seats, bored .60 over.

Just bought a Snyders High (5.5) compression head, Ansen single downdraft and header, and am wondering what type of Carb should I go with? Not looking to race, but would like to get a bit better getup and go and more hill climbing power.. Not sure if top speed would be better unless I go to inserts and a balanced crank.

Some folks like the Strombergs, and others like the Weber..

Let me know what y'all think :)

Dave in Boise
Click to expand...

You might like the Flathead ford 6 carb. They work real well on the A engine, and not so pricey. I would recommend using a fuel pump.
 
If you already have the Ansen (and can't return it) a stromberg 81 would be a good choice. Be sure the rebuilder knows what you are using it on.

Charlie Stephens
 
Holley 1904 Glass bowl carb. came on Ford 6cyl. Falcon,Comet. Rebuild kit is about $41.00 from NAPA
Wick
 
Like Dan says, I am also happy with my Weber. My '31 PU is also a daily driver and have had no problems with the Weber at all. Was a pretty clean bolt on install. I'm not using a fuel pump, about 500 miles on it so far. I have purposely run the gas tank almost dry just to see if there was any problem not using a fuel pump, and I never felt that it needed it.
 
The Weber is more sophisticated and current (parts available).

The Stromberg is more nostalgic but out of date (parts expensive).
 
Charlie Stephens said:
If you already have the Ansen (and can't return it) a stromberg 81 would be a good choice. Be sure the rebuilder knows what you are using it on.

Charlie Stephens
Click to expand...

Hi Charlie.. I Got a very good price on the intake, exhaust header and full tailpipe and muffler from a friend who had it before going to a dual carb setup and megaphone exhaust on his hotrod.. $125 for the whole shootin match, just need a carb :) Is there something about the Ansen I should be aware of? Any issues you have experienced?

Thanks!

- Dave
 
Dave in Boise said:
Hi Charlie.. I Got a very good price on the intake, exhaust header and full tailpipe and muffler from a friend who had it before going to a dual carb setup and megaphone exhaust on his hotrod.. $125 for the whole shootin match, just need a carb :) Is there something about the Ansen I should be aware of? Any issues you have experienced?

Thanks!

- Dave
Click to expand...

Dave,

I haven't run one but also have not heard of any issues. I think your friend will find out he is overcarbureted.

Charlie Stephens
 
Hey Charlie,
Overcarbureted, mabe. But, my opinion, it would depend on the TYPE carbs used. For instance, I use two stromberg 81s(on a warmed up B) , and have for years. She runs like a 'scalded dog'! The carbs work together naturally, not as primary/secondary.
And, as someone above said(I think)the ford single barrel works well and probably would in pairs..my quess. I talked to guys that say that they even use two stromberg 97s successfully...but jetted small as possible. Hmm, I'm going to try that someday!

But to answer Daves' question more closely: carb guys/gurus say : basically match the engine cu in configuration and you should be ok. Now the stock A/B is about 200.5 and an 81 services about 110/120 cu in each! So do the math and it comes out that TWO 81s should work on a well running A/B engine...NO! So apply this info to any carb that you are contemplating using. good luck.
 
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George Miller said:
You might like the Flathead ford 6 carb. They work real well on the A engine, and not so pricey. I would recommend using a fuel pump.
Click to expand...

George,
I have a couple of the ford 6 carbs(I think:confused:). Do you have a model number for that carb, so I can check against mine?
Also what model/make electric pump have you had success with? thanks:)
 
Been there, done that...

The engine in my '28 is similar to yours. I started with a Weber 32/36 on a Scalded Dog intake manifold (see http://www.foxvalleymarc.com/Tech_section/weber_carb/adapting_a_weber_32.html)

Two years ago at the Newport Hill Climb I did some testing with the Weber and a rebuilt Stromburg 97. The Weber had a bit more "oomph" at higher rpms. The Stromberg had a noticably better throttle response at low rpms. For whatever reason, the Weber was always a little easier to start when cold. I chose to run the Stromberg and was happy. Since then, I have replaced the rebuilt Stromberg with a new Stromberg from England (http://www.stromberg-97.com/) and am even happier. Both 97's were jetted "stock", #45 mains, #65 power).

If you want to use the Weber, contact Sammy at Arizona Model A (http://www.arizonamodela.com/). His Webers are already jetted properly for the Model A. He also offers a tidy choke cable adapter to replace the GAV and a nice bell crank throttle linkage that works with the Weber intake manifold.

If you want to use the Stromberg 97, contact one of the authorized sellers listed at the Stromberg website. Prices vary among the sellers, so do a bit of shopping.

There is also another "new" Stromberg copy from Speedway Auto Parts, but I have no experience with them.

If your goal is to use the other items that you have, the most "bolt on" ready carb would be the Stromberg and Sammy's choke cable adapter for the GAV. I have discovered that a fuel pump and pressure regulator is necessary for me.

Hope this helps.
Peace, Phred
 
hardtimes said:
George,
I have a couple of the ford 6 carbs(I think:confused:). Do you have a model number for that carb, so I can check against mine?
Also what model/make electric pump have you had success with? thanks:)
Click to expand...

Sorry I can not get the number off the carb. The carb was on a Model A pickup I had, that I sold a couple of years ago. I got it from a dealer of rebuilt carbs at a swap meet years ago. He said it was from a flathead Ford 6. I did remember them from years ago when I worked on cars for a living. I would guess 1946=1951

Fuel pump any good pump will work, but you need to keep the pressure under 4 lb. I use a regulator when I use old carbs. I have a flat head V8 in my hot rod roadster with 3, 94's I run them at 3.5 lbs
 
A single Stromberg 97 will work fine with smaller jets and power valves. I had good luck with .043 main jets and a .067 power valve.
 
The single carb for the old six does not bolt directly on the Ansen intake. Years ago I ran the same intake with the ribs along the top and Ansen in a window there. The same intake was also made as a Burns. Carb wise I started with a Holley 94. Then a Stromberg 81, both completely stock. The stromberg got the same fuel economy as the Holley. Lastly used a Holley 92 with a 6.5 or 5.5 power valve and stock jets. This got the best economy because the enrichment circuit was slower to act. Fuel mileage went up a bit, but the plugs still indicated rich mix. The Ansen intake was not as jazzy so I went to a Thomas two carb with Stromberg 81s. There was a flat throttle response off the line and fuel economy went away. Stromberg 81s are still a $200 core for a good one then the rebuild. The Holley 92 is not a common carb because production was tiny for the '39-'40 V8-60 and that makes them a $125 if the seller knows what they are, but many don't. Where value is the goal, the Holley 94 is the bargain, but a bit of carb knowledge may be needed to optimze. Stromberg 97 may be a good choice but hype keeps the prices up there. Fuel pump and regulator needed on most choices. Good Luck with the Ansen. Fred A
 
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