4 Barrel Carb?

[jeepguy1948]

I have a Navarro intake (it’s old but you can still buy the same one, it’s the one with the bracket for off side linkage (why you would want that I haven’t figured out)) It uses a butt ugly adapter to use a Carter WCFB. I think the WCFB is probably more carb than ideal and the adapter is ugly so I would like to install a more appropriate carb. Motor is 272 with approx 8.5:1 comp, a Max 1 Cam, and Red’s tube headers. Suggestions on a carb for me to be looking for? Suggestions on what cfm I would want (won’t be winding this all that high it’s a strictly street motor in an F-1

[tubman]

I was under the impression that all of the flathead manifold use the old "square" mounting pattern. This was what was used on the early WCFB's and the pre-56 Rochester 4G's. You may have a later carburetor with the larger bolt pattern. I would suggest getting a proper carb, or if you are going to use an adapter, get one for the later Holley (390 and 600 CFM) carbs.

[jeepguy1948]

Tubman, that is exactly the question I’m asking; what carb should I look for (chances are that someone reading this has one to sell). The manifold flange is indeed square but the carb is a bigger square. That’s about all I know.

[drolston]

I have the Holly 390 on an othewise stock '53 Merc engine in my '34 pickup. In six years of regular farm use, it has never been a bit of trouble. Great around town and on the Interstate. Linkage is a cable arrangement.

[Andy]

The best 4 barrel for a flathead is a 55 Buick WCFB. They have the small pattern base and have the velocity valves in the seconadries. They were originally recommended by a very knowledgeable flathead expert. I used one on my 276. It was perfect with on mod except plugging some holes and removing the starter thing.
Chevys did not get the velocity valves until 57. Lincoln not till 57 also.
Olds might be fine.
The odd thing about the Buicks is the fuel inlet is on the back right next to
the flathead fuel,pump
Here is one on my 32

[jeepguy1948]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Looks good!

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by Andy

The best 4 barrel for a flathead is a 55 Buick WCFB. They have the small pattern base and have the velocity valves in the seconadries. They were originally recommended by a very knowledgeable flathead expert. I used one on my 276. It was perfect with on mod except plugging some holes and removing the starter thing.
Chevys did not get the velocity valves until 57. Lincoln not till 57 also.
Olds might be fine.
The odd thing about the Buicks is the fuel inlet is on the back right next to
the flathead fuel,pump
Here is one on my 32

[47topless]

Looks great! Just needs one more thing, a Batwing air cleaner.

[tubman]

I'm sure the early Buick WCFB is a great carb. The problem is finding one. Same with the early Buick Stromberg 4 BBLS and the famous FOMOCO "tower of Power". I grab every older "square" carburetor I can find and they are few and far between these days. The later 4G's and WCFB's are more common, but won't fit.

[panic]

The Holey 390 CFM is the smallest 4160 type (throttle discs are 1-7/16”, venturis are 1-1/16”) is a popular, practical square-bore single 4 bbl. choice. However, there are (at least) four variants of the 390.
The preferred one (List 8007) is for small V8 & six-cylinder, a different one is for NASCAR, and another for four cylinder engines.

[tubman]

Fellows, please note that "square" (3-7/8"x 3-3/4) and "square bore" (5.625 x 5.160) patterns are different, with early WCFB's, early 4G's, Stromberg's, and FOMOCO "tower of power" fitting the former with later versions fitting the latter. I have Edmunds, Sharp, Navarro, and Offenhauser 4 BBL flathead manifolds and they all have the small "square" pattern.

[40coe]

I have the Holley 390 on my Cabover. I used the Edelbrock intake. I do remember that it is a tight fit between the water necks on the heads. The Carb and intake work great and I have had no problems.
I did have to make a spacer to move the carb forward to clear the doghouse cover.

[Ol' Ron]

Adding a 4bl carb to am old flathead is just esthetics, you just on't need one unless you need the airflow for power. A single 2GC will provide all the air necessary for street, and more. Now for a reliable, easy to tune 4bl the 500CFM Edelbrock is the best one, they don't make a smaller one and you d need an adapter No mater wich carb you use you'll nees an AF meter and a n adjustable ignition system. tuning is the problem nomater wich carb you use. Personally I like the 390, the small primary makes this carb a great one for around town driving, and doesn't look bad either. Reguardless what carb you use reliability will be the issue. Recenly I had a problem with a 3 carb engine running rich nomater what I did. YEP!! bad air cleaners.
Ya can't win for loosing
Gramps

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 40coe

I have the Holley 390 on my Cabover. I used the Edelbrock intake. I do remember that it is a tight fit between the water necks on the heads. The Carb and intake work great and I have had no problems.
I did have to make a spacer to move the carb forward to clear the doghouse cover.

[Ggmac]

I’ve been running the Holley 4360 economaster series . It was suggested by a friend that used them when they were released in the late 70s early 80s on flatheads . They are a spread bore , sort of . Very good so far . I’m running them on 2 flathead motors . Both non stock but not radical. The carbs are cheap and require an adapter . Small primaries , very good throttle response.

[Andy]

The Holleys are too long to use a flathead generator. An alternator wants to spin too fast for the gen mounted fan. My engine would shake the gen loose when pushed. The metal fan in the pic did not fix the problem. I bought a plastic fan from Summit that fixed it. It moved a lot of air, was quiet, and did not shake. Engine never got over 180.
In something else than a 32, you might get away with an alternator with a fan.
I have drawing of the adapter of fan to gen if interested.

[Ol' Ron]

Yes, on all my street engines I use aan electric fan and an aultinator. I also use a Chevy Harmonic balancer witch drives an Alt with a smaller pulley Very quite and smooth. I find the factory engineers are smarter than I , in some cases. Probably not necessary on a car that's not driven much, but mine was my Daily driver.
Gramps
PS you must bore out the Harmonic balancer some but it must be a fress fir. i use .0007, But I must have a frien di this, don't see that well anymore.
G

[scicala]

I'm surprised not many people suggest or use the Holley 4000 teapot 4 barrel. Rated at about 370 CFM, plus vacuum secondaries, so you can't really over carburate,
Plus if your using a '49 to '53 Loadomatic distributor, the Holley 4000 is compatable with it.

Sal

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by scicala

I'm surprised not many people suggest or use the Holley 4000 teapot 4 barrel. Rated at about 370 CFM, plus vacuum secondaries, so you can't really over carburate,
Plus if your using a '49 to '53 Loadomatic distributor, the Holley 4000 is compatable with it.

Sal

[Jeep09]

what size jets are you guys using with the Holley 390 carb (8007)