Which carburetor is best

JOES31

JOES31

Senior Member
What carburetors do most of you run on your 29 to 32 A's? I switched out a Zenith for Tiliston and it runs so much better. More power, no fuel leaks and no popping on deceleration. I think the Zenith was a new reproduction that was put on about 10 years ago. Cleaned and reassembled it. It just didn't seem to run right. Found a Tiliston cleaned it and it runs much better.

Is the Tiliston a better carb to run on the A's?
 
I am running a Zenith. I had a Tillitson on for a while and liked it. However, being pot metal I think the Tillitson warped and no longer ran well. I put the Zenith back on and it runs well. I don't have any problems with the Zenith in terms of popping or fuel leaks. A couple of guys in our club run Marvel carbs and really like those.
 
A Zenith properly set with the right jets will be fine , although a tillotson is a very good cab also. At renners corner you could get jets calibrated to your needs,which I am going to do soon. I think the cost is about 38.00.
 
A properly rebuilt carb of any make will make a great carb to use. Properly operating carbs will not leak, pop, get poor mileage etc.
I's only when an owner gets something built correctly that he thinks the old was designed poorly.
 
Mike V. Florida said:
A properly rebuilt carb of any make will make a great carb to use. Properly operating carbs will not leak, pop, get poor mileage etc.
I's only when an owner gets something built correctly that he thinks the old was designed poorly.
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I don't know Mike, I suspect compared to more modern carbs from the 50s-60s the Zenith is pretty lacking.
 
The original zenith is more reliable however the tillotson will idle better which means it atomizes the fuel better.
 
Everyone has their favorite, but, most use Zeniths.
The order I tend to prefer is
1. Marvel
2. Tillotson [ but can be troublesome]
3. Zenith
 
If I buy a Zenith rebuild kit for the Zenith it should run better provided I rebuild it properly? I can' see that it would be any harder than setting up a 4bl Carter or Holley. Would the complete rebuild kit that Snyders has be Ok to use?

Again....new to A's.
 
the jets are questionable at best on these rebuild kits. If you buy them it would be best to flow test them, if no good solder and drill for correct flow.
 
JOES31 said:
What carburetors do most of you run on your 29 to 32 A's? I switched out a Zenith for Tiliston and it runs so much better. More power, no fuel leaks and no popping on deceleration. I think the Zenith was a new reproduction that was put on about 10 years ago. Cleaned and reassembled it. It just didn't seem to run right. Found a Tiliston cleaned it and it runs much better.

Is the Tiliston a better carb to run on the A's?
Click to expand...

I have ran zenith and tilly and others in our club have ran both also, Tilly has always been the top dog . Tilly is easier to adjust and idel is better also the throttle response is always quicker. 2000 to 2003 ran these and stayed with tilly even during great race in 2003. August of 2003 changed to Webber and never went back. 29 roadster I always like the tilly better it stays on this car. have fun modelAtony tony white Lafayette, LA
 
Its a must to install a good set of flow tested jets on these carbs when rebuilding. The jet set from ALL the jobbers are garbage and not proper. Buy a set from renners and use a viton float valve/ needle seat...if your throttle shaft has play install an oversize or it will suck air and or hang up..
http://rennerscorner.com/carburetor.html
Link for renners
 
Joe, you can rebuild your Zenith and it will be fine, the trick is to get PROPERLY flowing jets the repops are pretty poor. You can rebuild your's by soldering the tips and resizing with an orifice bit. Rex Reheis put out a good book on this, or you can buy the DVD from any of the parts suppliers 'Carburetors and Carbohydrates' is very good.Also the DVD will explain the idle circuits and the acceleration fuel circuits, they tell you to drill out the brass plugs to get to them but I would try cleaning them out first with a fine wire before I did that? That's to make sure that they aren't blocked.

Also, buy the books from MAFCA or the parts suppliers, that Les Andrews wrote on repairing your Model A they are helpful.
 
I just rebuilt 2 Zenith carbs. A club member has a flowmeter. I bought 2 kits from Brattons. We flow checked all the jets in both kits and they were dead on. Of course this might have been a fluke but I wouldn't hesitate to use these kits again.
 
Or, just get a fully rebuilt and tested Zenith carb from Bert's in Denver. They do flow test theirs also. Then, the whole thing is tested as a unit and must pass before being shipped to you. Just bolt it on and go, worry-free!
 
P.S. said:
Or, just get a fully rebuilt and tested Zenith carb from Bert's in Denver. They do flow test theirs also. Then, the whole thing is tested as a unit and must pass before being shipped to you. Just bolt it on and go, worry-free!
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That's what I did my car has never ran better
 
JOES31 said:
If I buy a Zenith rebuild kit for the Zenith it should run better provided I rebuild it properly? I can' see that it would be any harder than setting up a 4bl Carter or Holley. Would the complete rebuild kit that Snyders has be Ok to use?

Again....new to A's.
Click to expand...

A Zenith is not the easiest carb to rebuild. There are lots of small passages that can get clogged up. Tilly however is very easy to rebuild. I've done 25+ Tilly's.

https://sites.google.com/site/mrtexascitrus/home/modelacarb
 
Bought a rebuild for my Zenith after running a Tillotson, had my 10 year old boy assemble it for me and put it on. Haven't even had to adjust anything...ran great right away. Certainly got lucky though I'm sure...probably not the norm.
 
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