The Ford Barn

41plym · 08-13-2013, 11:44 AM

Thoughts on Marvel Shebler carburetors?

H. L. Chauvin · 08-13-2013, 11:56 AM

Carburetors are like fine Swiss watches.

With care they can "all" last 80 years with no changing of jets -- I know I have a few.

Also have a Marvel like that -- 28 MPG & untouched.

The "untouched" ones, (of all makes), are the best -- hope you find one.

steve s · 08-13-2013, 12:01 PM

A fellow in our club specializes in rebuilding them. Everyone who has used one loves it. As I recall, the biggest aggravation is leaking around the GAV.

Mitch//pa · 08-13-2013, 12:16 PM

marvel was the best running carburetor i ever had on my car. i use a zenith for authenticity and keep the marv under the seat

41plym · 08-13-2013, 12:38 PM

Glad to hear it. I bought one off eBay from a guy that rebuilds model a carbs, he told me he has a marvel on his personal car. I didn't think to check here before I bought it but it sounds like I'll be ok.
He has a 100% positive feed back on all his rebuilds so I'm not worried about quality.

H. L. Chauvin · 08-13-2013, 07:51 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Also with a Marvel, the bowl is not round inside; hence, upon very quick stops & sharp turns, one hardly hears of a Model A engine flooding & dying on a quick stop or sharp turn as with a round bottom Zenith.

Marvels were manufactured with a very soft alloy; hence, very delicate.

Assembly screws & fastening screws when provided too tightly at both gaskets can allow these carburetors to become easily deformed.

Purdy Swoft · 08-13-2013, 08:46 PM

I've run the Marvel carbs in the past and they do run good. They are not as finiky as the Tillotson model X or XF. They did warp at the flange and tend to run lean and require the GAV to be opened a tad more. They seem to be the simplest design of all. Mikes Affordable use to and maybe still sells them, rebuilt, exchange. According to an artical in the third edition of the Fast, Hot for Hot Fours magazine for 2004, the Marvel carb flows more than the model A Zenith 1or2 . Here ie the list of which carbs flow the best in order, according to the artical. Zenith B, Tillotson X, Tillotson F1B, Holley double venturi (early 28 A) , Johnson Marvel ,Zenith 1or2, Simmons Alloy, Zenith universal Alloy. I have no reason to doubt the tests. It seems that the Marvel Carbs did run a bit faster than the Zenith. The Zenith cast iron carbs are more durable. In case of fire, only the venturi would melt in the Zenith, the Marvel could mostly melt completely.

08-13-2013, 11:44 AM	#1
41plym Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ridgefield Washington Posts: 87	carburetor Thoughts on Marvel Shebler carburetors?

08-13-2013, 11:56 AM	#2
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: carburetor Carburetors are like fine Swiss watches. With care they can "all" last 80 years with no changing of jets -- I know I have a few. Also have a Marvel like that -- 28 MPG & untouched. The "untouched" ones, (of all makes), are the best -- hope you find one.

08-13-2013, 12:01 PM	#3
steve s Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kalamazoo Posts: 1,656	Re: carburetor A fellow in our club specializes in rebuilding them. Everyone who has used one loves it. As I recall, the biggest aggravation is leaking around the GAV.

08-13-2013, 12:16 PM	#4
Mitch//pa BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Bucks County, PA Posts: 11,454	Re: carburetor marvel was the best running carburetor i ever had on my car. i use a zenith for authenticity and keep the marv under the seat

08-13-2013, 12:38 PM	#5
41plym Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Ridgefield Washington Posts: 87	Re: carburetor Glad to hear it. I bought one off eBay from a guy that rebuilds model a carbs, he told me he has a marvel on his personal car. I didn't think to check here before I bought it but it sounds like I'll be ok. He has a 100% positive feed back on all his rebuilds so I'm not worried about quality.

08-13-2013, 07:51 PM	#6
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: carburetor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Also with a Marvel, the bowl is not round inside; hence, upon very quick stops & sharp turns, one hardly hears of a Model A engine flooding & dying on a quick stop or sharp turn as with a round bottom Zenith. Marvels were manufactured with a very soft alloy; hence, very delicate. Assembly screws & fastening screws when provided too tightly at both gaskets can allow these carburetors to become easily deformed.

08-13-2013, 08:46 PM	#7
Purdy Swoft Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Alabama Posts: 8,099	Re: carburetor I've run the Marvel carbs in the past and they do run good. They are not as finiky as the Tillotson model X or XF. They did warp at the flange and tend to run lean and require the GAV to be opened a tad more. They seem to be the simplest design of all. Mikes Affordable use to and maybe still sells them, rebuilt, exchange. According to an artical in the third edition of the Fast, Hot for Hot Fours magazine for 2004, the Marvel carb flows more than the model A Zenith 1or2 . Here ie the list of which carbs flow the best in order, according to the artical. Zenith B, Tillotson X, Tillotson F1B, Holley double venturi (early 28 A) , Johnson Marvel ,Zenith 1or2, Simmons Alloy, Zenith universal Alloy. I have no reason to doubt the tests. It seems that the Marvel Carbs did run a bit faster than the Zenith. The Zenith cast iron carbs are more durable. In case of fire, only the venturi would melt in the Zenith, the Marvel could mostly melt completely.