Nathan - if ENOUGH time is spent on the B, it can get pretty close to the YF.
How much time is enough time ???
In 1995, I did such a test (no, no chassis dyno, no A/F tests, only "seat of the pants" testing on a Chevy Biscayne).
Now, the question is: "how much time is ENOUGH time" ???
The answer: 42 hours of shop time !!!!!
In rural Eldon, Missouri, the CHEAPEST shop time of which I am aware today is $60/hour, most are more than $100.
42 times $60 is $2520. Anyone want to buy a Rochester B for more than $2500 ??? If so, don't call me, today, I don't have 42 hours to waste on a B !
And the kicker is: in 5 years, you get to do about half of that again !!!!!
Jon
I am totally satisfied to know that someone, at some point, did the work. 1995 wasn’t exactly yesterday, but would love to read some of what you recall from that “seat of the pants” work.
My reason for even thinking about such an experiment was to just put to bed the idea that the effort to properly restore a B was worthwhile.
That said, I can understand and appreciate what the OP is going through trying to keep a truck on the road. The 235-sized, manual choke, YF’s are getting pretty darn scarce. If the OP is willing to consider an auto choke carb, there are all kinds of possibilities we could discuss. Even outside the YF family.
Side note - I recently acquired a 235-spec Stromberg BXVD-3 after a year or more of looking for one at a price I was willing to pay. It’s a side project thing at best, but once I get it rebuilt, I do want to do some “seat of the pants” comparison to my 2100s. Not that I have any complaints whatsoever, just trying to learn a different carb and to share those leanings. The Strombergs aren’t discussed often here.
