Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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.

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

I always thought rust colored was authentic.

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

Yep, just checked my collection, rust is authentic.

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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.

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

Pics as described above

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

JB

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

JB

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

Copy Cad & Zinc Plating Kit - 1.5 Gal

Caswell

$320.85

https://caswellplating.com/copy-cad-...t-1-5-gal.html
https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-h3ii...469141.jpg?c=1



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Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...7&d=1774183697
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/attac...0&d=1774183697

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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.

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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.
.

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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

Re: Holley 94 rebuild
 

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