Which Carb is best, and why?

Which carburetor

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Brand new Zenith 13922 solved my problems.

Several of our club members have tried restored Marvels and I don't know any who have removed them.
 
A few years ago, people were getting new/modern carbs from Automotive Test Systems in Washington. Does anyone use one of these now? I have Googled them, and it looks like they might not be in business anymore. I don't intend to get one of their carbs, but I am curious if anyone uses one and how it runs.

Ken
 
I have both a "Tillie" and a Zenith and like them both. The key is to properly inspect clean and rebuild them. Rebuilding does not mean simply new jets and gaskets. Although the Tillie is subject to warping I have had good results with putting them in the oven to heat the pot metal and keepin the two halves together with radiator hose clamps while heating to bring them true. Many feel the Tillie is a bit peppier. I do run the Zenith cause that's what it's suppose to have.
 
KenCoupe said:
A few years ago, people were getting new/modern carbs from Automotive Test Systems in Washington. Does anyone use one of these now? I have Googled them, and it looks like they might not be in business anymore. I don't intend to get one of their carbs, but I am curious if anyone uses one and how it runs.

Ken
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yes and great.
 

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Zenith was factory original equipment for 5 million Model A's from 1928 to 1931.
that's a pretty solid record...they work well.
 
The zenith I had runs just fine with my car. I can run 50 mph all day long with it. I just have to open it up 1/4 turn when I come to a stop to prevent her from dying. My Marvel does not do that and I can run 55 all day long with a little extra incase of an emergency.

Mike
 
Many of you say Zenith because that was what the Model A came with and as a "stock" guy myself I can respect that. However, it's not out of the question to think that something else could have been an improvement if it was engineered and tested sometime later. I have a Zenith on my 1930 coupe and have not done any comparisons with any other carburetors, but it just may be that somebody did designed a better carburetor after Zenith's hayday......
 
In the spirit of keeping to '30's parts and pieces, I have to 2nd Purdy's experiences.
In my hands at 5,000 ft, a Model B carb on a stock manifold is a slight improvement over the Zenith 1 or 2. Next up the ladder is a B carb or Simmons with a bored out A manifold and its still nice a Ford 'look'. Better yet for improved lower end and higher end is a Simmons on a Simmons Manifold.
Again ala Purdy, my cast iron dual updraft Uni-Flo manifold will be my next step.
If you are interested in seeing this dual updraft setup, there is a Trojan manifold and an aluminum Uni-Flo on the auction site right now. $$... yet cool to see since Purdy's and my cast iron Uni-Flo's were the only ones we'd seen.
And just so ya know, I was a Model A authenticity buff beginning in 1968 with my first car, a '29 Special Coupe. In the last decade, driving them around town got hairy. Rather than give 'em up, I pepped 'em up and feel capable of holding my own again.
Don't forget, the brakes need to be in excellent factory condition.
Have fun,
geary
 
Thanks Geary for the thought !!! I'll have to check out the auiction sight . I can't have too many dual updraft manifolds !
 
leo said:
Many of you say Zenith because that was what the Model A came with and as a "stock" guy myself I can respect that. However, it's not out of the question to think that something else could have been an improvement if it was engineered and tested sometime later. I have a Zenith on my 1930 coupe and have not done any comparisons with any other carburetors, but it just may be that somebody did designed a better carburetor after Zenith's hayday......
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Not only that, but Zenith changed their own design in 1932, so recognized that there was a problem.

So why would Ford stick with Zenith for millions of model A's? My guess is they were the cheapest option, and worked OK.
 
Ford changed the design in 1932 for more horsepower . The venturi was changed to a larger diameter . A high speed jet was added that cut in at near wide open throttle . The float was hinged differently to reduce sloshing of fuel in the bowl . This reduced the possibility of stalling the engine apon braking . I would think that the cast iron Zenith carbs would be much more durable and more expensive . Ford found a way to make the Zenith design cheaper by making it thinner on the Zenith 3 carburetors.
 
Purdy Swoft said:
Ford changed the design in 1932 for more horsepower . The venturi was changed to a larger diameter . A high speed jet was added that cut in at near wide open throttle . The float was hinged differently to reduce sloshing of fuel in the bowl . This reduced the possibility of stalling the engine apon braking . I would think that the cast iron Zenith carbs would be much more durable and more expensive . Ford found a way to make the Zenith design cheaper by making it thinner on the Zenith 3 carburetors.
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That (bold above) is what I am talking about. If you look at all the changes Ford made through out model A production, most were done to reduce cost so I am guessing that if there were a cheaper option than the Zenith Ford would have taken it.
 
pgerhardt said:
That (bold above) is what I am talking about. If you look at all the changes Ford made through out model A production, most were done to reduce cost so I am guessing that if there were a cheaper option than the Zenith Ford would have taken it.
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There is a difference in reducing manufacturing costs and making something cheaper.

Manufacturing engineers are constantly looking for new ways to improve there products and also cut their production costs.

If there were a better and less expensive carburetor available, that Ford would except, I think he would have most likely used it.

5,000,000 Model A Ford’s with Zeniths. 90 years later and there still running.

My money is on Ford’s decision in 1927 to use Zenith carburetor. Enjoy.
 
pgerhardt said:
That (bold above) is what I am talking about. If you look at all the changes Ford made through out model A production, most were done to reduce cost so I am guessing that if there were a cheaper option than the Zenith Ford would have taken it.
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Not sure what you mean by that BOLD above
 
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