W.C.F.B Carburetor

[Fordestes]

I have a W. C. F. B. Carb. with the early cast iron square base, what parts if any do I need to replace for modern fuel? This carb was rebuilt some time ago and never installed , will the float valve need to be replaced for present day fuel or is it a brass valve ? I have never rebuilt a W.C.F.B.
Thanks

[ford38v8]

I'm not familiar with those initials. Please spell it out.


no matter what carb it is, an old rebuild should be reexamined to determine if suitable for modern fuel. Brass valves should work fine.

[petehoovie]

WCFB

The WCFB was Carter’s first attempt at a four-barrel carburetor.

[tubman]

White (Metal) Cast Four Barrel. Any current kit from a reputable supplier (Daytona Parts, Mike's Carburetors) should come with alcohol resistant parts.

[V8COOPMAN]

They were really good old carburetors that were found on '50s GM V8s. I THINK Charlie NY has one on the flathead in his pick-up and swears by it. I had one off of an old Buick on a little 265 Chevy back in the '60s and it performed really, really well. A good choice for a four barrel (CFM-wise) on most of the street flatheads we run. DD

[tubman]

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I have one from a '54 Chrysler. They came on just about everything except Fords in the mid-fifties. These days, some of the cores can be worth a LOT of money.

[Hal Beatty]

Very good carbs, at least in my experience. They've given me good performance on Y-blocks and Cad engines.

[Charlie ny]

10-4 on the Carter sq base 4 brls.....same 50's vintage GM Rochesters great too.
Carter more sophisticated with vac controlled metering rods.
Charlie ny

[Fordestes]

I have some gaskets but no valves ,I am kind of partial to the brass valves , it looks like quite a chore to rebuild one , That is why I want a solid needle, I have had issues with some of the softer valves in other carbs, it seem the carbs with the dual floats were the ones I have had problems with after about a year or so of use. it may be where I was buying them as for the quality, I have used the flat type and had flooding conditions too. looks as if the rubber needles will have to do, I have one carb that was rebuilt about 50 years ago from a now defunct carb shop in California. and never installed ,I was thinking about re sealing it and having a good needle ready in case it don't have a brass one , Charlie do you rebuild the w.c.f.b ? Thanks for spelling it out Tub Man, I didn't intend to confuse anyone ford38v8, w.c.f.b is all I ever heard it called and you don't need to tell me a brass will work fine, I figured that out all by myself.

[Andy]

You will probably not need anything for your carb. The accelerator pump has a leather cup and the needle valves are steel on brass. They do not leak because no low openings in the bowl. I have been running one for 30 years and I never replaced anything.

[dbtenner]

Is this possible to use on a stock intake manifold on 34’? The bottom is a 4-barrel right?


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[CA Victoria]

I had one professionally rebuilt for my Flathead, it ran flawlessly. The builder made a modification, apparently there was a condition where it would stall in a turn? Maybe someone else can add more to this. I used the stock heat tube for the choke it worked well.
With a little work it will bolt directly to most of the early intakes, I ran a Fenton.

Watch out for the cast aluminum 4bbl adapters. Some are junk and will warp when you bolt the carb to it and leak. I made one from 1/2” aluminum plate to solve the problem with the AFB.

Also ran an early 60s GM AFB small square bore 400 cfm. Carb. that I rebuilt at home. It too ran really well on the 8BA.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by CA Victoria

I had one professionally rebuilt for my Flathead, it ran flawlessly. The builder made a modification, apparently there was a condition where it would stall in a turn? Maybe someone else can add more to this. I used the stock heat tube for the choke it worked well.

Also ran an early 60s GM AFB small square bore 400 cfm. Carb. that I rebuilt at home. It too ran really well on the 8BA.

Watch out for the cast aluminum 4bbl adapters. Some are junk and will warp when you bolt the carb to it and leak. I made one from 1/2” aluminum plate to solve the problem.

Right. I found that out the hard way trying to run one on a circle track car. Are you sure the "small square bore 400 cfm Carb" was an AFB? I never heard of one. Perhaps a small base Rochester 4G?

[Ol' Ron]

Daytona carburetor will have all the parts for this build. used several of thes carbs and they work well on a mild 276, with good mileage.

[CA Victoria]

Yup, Carter AFB, I think it was a 4055s used on the 1966 Buick 340 engine.
1 7/16 x 1 7/16.

[Hal Beatty]

This is a good source of parts and info. Jon knows his stuff.

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Car...arburetors.htm

[PeteVS]

My '63 C**** 250 HP base engine came with the WCFB. Runs pretty well.

[leon bee]

Tubman I heard it stands for Will Carter Four Barrel. I've been messing with the one on my nailhead for 45 years.

[tubman]

Could be. Is "Will" a proper name or a verb? I thought my version was correct because the carburetor that succeedded it was the AFB, which stands for Aluminum Four Barrel, which would be consistent. When I was younger, some of the guys said it was short for "Awful Fuckin' Big", but I don't think that's so because those guys never heard of 850 Holley's or Dominators.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by leon bee

Tubman I heard it stands for Will Carter Four Barrel. I've been messing with the one on my nailhead for 45 years.

No, it's White Cast Four Barrel.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by tubman

I have one from a '54 Chrysler. They came on just about everything except Fords in the mid-fifties. These days, some of the cores can be worth a LOT of money.

"56 Mercury 312's used the WCFB.

[aussie merc]

will carter's four barrel DAMM good carb small cfm that covers a lot of holes that holley and edelbrock don't tuned well will out proform most modern carbs specially on the smaller displacement V8s

[leon bee]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

No, it's White Cast Four Barrel.

Carburetorshop.com likes Will Carter Four Barrel.

[PeteVS]

I seem to recall having seen Wrought Cast Fuel Base for WCFB and Aluminum Fuel Base for AFB.

[earlyride]

Originally Posted by tubman

Could be. Is "Will" a proper name or a verb? I thought my version was correct because the carburetor that succeedded it was the AFB, which stands for Aluminum Four Barrel, which would be consistent. When I was younger, some of the guys said it was short for "Awful Fuckin' Big", but I don't think that's so because those guys never heard of 850 Holley's or Dominators.

Proper name, Its actually William Carter Four Barrel

[tubman]

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I find it hard to believe that the Carter Carburetor Company would officially name their first 4 barrel carburetor (introduced in 1952) after a person who sold the company in 1922. I find it likely that a more descriptive terminology would have been used.

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by earlyride

Proper name, Its actually William Carter Four Barrel

Do you have a reliable, documented source for that information?

[jimvette59]

I have one on my 59 corvette for more than fifty years I rebuilt it a few times it's a simple carburetor to work on. If it was rebuilt in the past take the fuel pump out oil it and massage it and run it. I have had no problem with the Ethanol gas. Jim T.

[tubman]

Originally Posted by CA Victoria

Yup, Carter AFB, I think it was a 4055s used in the 340 engine.

Sorry to go a little O/T, but this has been bothering me for the last day. I have no problem with the 400 CFM AFB 4055S from a Buick 340 part, as that is the proper application. My problem lies in the "small base" statement. I define "small base" as the WCFB style which is 4 3/4" X 4 7/8".This is shared by early Rochester 4G's and Strombergs. Did the carburetor you are referring to bolt directly to the manifold or was an adapter required? If there really were "small base" AFB's, I'd sure like to have one.

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by tubman

If there really were "small base" AFB's, I'd sure like to have one.

I've surely never seen one, but WTF do I know? DD

[RalphM]

I believe this is the same one, with manual choke. I will need to go through this before trying on one of my flatheads. Never messed with one before.

[V8COOPMAN]

For those of you that really have an interest in these carbs, I just found a lengthy thread over on the HAMB (with a link BELOW) that states that these WCFBs were manufactured by Carter (ONLY) in 214 different types between 1952 and 1967. They were used in cubic inch applications ranging from 241 CU. IN. to 440 CU. IN. Click the link below. DD


https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...b-tech.851851/

[tubman]

What I glean from the thread (believe me, "carbking" is one of the most knowledgeable guys around) is that they made later WCFB's with the "Carter Rectangular" (AFB) pattern. To me this says that a "Small Base" AFB doesn't exist.

[earlyride]

Originally Posted by 40 Deluxe

Do you have a reliable, documented source for that information?

An article written by Jim O'clair for Hemmings on the carter four barrel, which he refers to WCFB as William Carter Four Barrel. And I think I bought a kit for one I owned referring to it as the same, but looking on line I came across the reference White Cast Four Barrel for the first time and arguments for both, so what the hell

[tubman]

Since William Carter was essentially gone from his own company by 1922, I don't think they were that sentimental. If they were, it would be the "WCMFB". Will Carter Memorial Four Barrel.

[bobH]

Originally Posted by CA Victoria

I had one professionally rebuilt for my Flathead, it ran flawlessly. The builder made a modification, apparently there was a condition where it would stall in a turn? Maybe someone else can add more to this. I used the stock heat tube for the choke it worked well.
With a little work it will bolt directly to most of the early intakes, I ran a Fenton.

Watch out for the cast aluminum 4bbl adapters. Some are junk and will warp when you bolt the carb to it and leak. I made one from 1/2” aluminum plate to solve the problem with the AFB.

Also ran an early 60s GM AFB small square bore 400 cfm. Carb. that I rebuilt at home. It too ran really well on the 8BA.

Regarding the 'bog' when you nail it in a turn.... I bought a new car in 56, which I still have. It came with a WCFB, and I have lived with that 'bog' for over 63 years. Yes, they bog when nailed in a turn. (At least mine does.)

[Fordestes]

I was thinking about sending the clean one ( rebuilt but not used) of three out for rebuild from what I can gather two of them were a pair ( primary and secondary) , I have some special carburetor rebuilding tool sets from my fathers and uncle Bob's racing days in the fifties to the mid sixties, this carb is foreign to me so I was hesitant to dive into it, however since I see a bunch of knowledgeable people here I may go ahead and tear into one of these and see how she flies , I feel confident enough that I can ask questions on here if I get stumped on something , I see those metering rods, and that is a grey area for me. I will have to purchase a new 5 gallon can of B-12 carburetor cleaner before I get started . I was undecided about the W.C.F.B Or to use one of my Rochester 4 jets, one of the 4 jet cores have the floats separated so I will need to find some floats when or if I decide to use one of them, also I want a manual choke ,has anyone installed a manual choke on a W.C.M.F.B ? If so where do I find the parts to change to a manual choke ? you all have educated me somewhat and given me the confidence to try a rebuild , I have found a gentleman who can make me some brass needle valves if I don't find some factory ones .
Thanks a bunch for your support in this matter.
Fordestes

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by bobH

I bought a new car in 56, which I still have.

C'mon Bob, we're all friends here. A car that you bought new in '56... and still own.....that's SPECIAL! What kind'a car is it? DD

[bobH]

DD, here you go.... Way off-topic here, it's a 56 Chevy, Bel Air Sport Coupe, 265, 3 spd

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by bobH

DD, here you go.... Way off-topic here, it's a 56 Chevy, Bel Air Sport Coupe, 265, 3 spd

Nice car! I am not a Chevy person, but that is one car I would love to own!!!

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by bobH

DD, here you go.... Way off-topic here, it's a 56 Chevy, Bel Air Sport Coupe, 265, 3 spd

I love it, Bob! One of my earliest (and dearest) cars was a '56 210 w/265 3-speed. I'd probably still own that car if someone hadn't wanted it more than me (stolen downtown Houston). Many thanks for the reply. DD

[tubman]

As soon as I read your post, I checked out your location, because I was afraid you might be in the rust belt. Southern California! Congratulations on your purchase! What's chances of posting a picture? Some things are too cool to ever be "off-topic".

[40 Deluxe]

Originally Posted by earlyride

An article written by Jim O'clair for Hemmings on the carter four barrel, which he refers to WCFB as William Carter Four Barrel. And I think I bought a kit for one I owned referring to it as the same, but looking on line I came across the reference White Cast Four Barrel for the first time and arguments for both, so what the hell

From experience I've learned not to trust everything printed in Hemmings. They seem to rely on submitted material written by 'most anyone, knowledgeable or not! A lot of urban myths get repeated in their articles, likely due to a lack of research.

[Flathead]

I always knew it as White Cast and if you stop and think about it, Will Carter just doesn't cut it.