I am looking for some advice on replacing the carburetor on my 1953 chevy 3600 with a 216 engine. when the truck starts I get a puff off very black smoke that puts a big stain on the garage wall and then a puff of black smoke at each gear change. Once the truck is driving it appears OK. But I think the problem I have is that the carb is over fueling and perhaps dumping a load of fuel in at start up. The engine doesn’t really need any choke and does smell very rich at start up. The truck had the carburetor rebuilt by the previous owner but perhaps not to a very good standard. It isn’t leaking any fuel out the casting so that is one good sign. Basically I want to try replacing the carb and I also want to keep the old carburetor core as a spare and its not worth the cost of shipping as I am in the UK.
So my options are:
1) A reconditioned carb from oldchevytrucks. I am told they are often still no very good even when reconditioned and worried about warped casting issue. I have also found they have very poor customer service and just generally an nightmare to deal with from experience mosly just very poor communication and email. https://www.oldchevytrucks.com/cart/product.asp?prodid=REME377&i=20054|||||
2)Also considering a Replacement Carburetor from Mikes for Rochester B - N228 This is a brand new carb but not sure it will fit and is more expensive - Anyone running one off these.
3) Are there any other plug and play options. I am looking for a line of least resistance really and cost isn’t a issue and would rather pay once etc. I have heard about the Cart YF but not found anyone willing to ship one to the UK and I am not sure on the make and model required perhaps someone can advise etc.
So if anyone can recommend the simplest solution to getting a replacement carb. Its worth me repeating Im in UK England so I am not familiar with the Chevy its my first truck. There nothing really commonly available regards parts here in the UK so anything will have to be shipped from the states so trying to avoid costly mistakes. I am ok doing mechanical work but really know knothing about carburetors and I am a bit out my depth. Will any of thes carburetors be resistant to alcohol added to fuel, I cannot buy straight gas in the UK anymore
(1) Carter W-1 - 1941~1948 Chevrolet 216 tag numbers 483s or 574s (don't get one of the 684s from 1949). The Carter W-1 is virtually bullet-proof, and has a leather accelerator pump, which is impervious to ethanol contaminated fuel.
(2) Stromberg BXOV-2 aftermarket for 216 Chevrolet part number (stamped on carburetor) 14-22. Also has leather accelerator pump.
(3) Carter YF aftermarket for 216 Chevrolet stamped number 964s. Has NEOPRENE accelerator pump, which will eventually fail if used with ethanol. The more often you use the vehicle, the LESS issues you will have with the pump, and the longer it will last. A vehicle that is only driven occasionally, will have the pump fail more quickly. The issue being once the neoprene has been introduced to the ethanol, AND ALLOWED TO DRY, the neoprene becomes hard and brittle. When the brittle pump is then asked to function, it cracks. Since you live in the UK, if you go with the YF, try to have the seller send you 2 or 3 extra pumps and top cover gaskets.
Please do not fault vendors that do not ship to the UK. The cost is horrible, and during the pandemic, shipping time is unpredicable.
We even had to stop shipping to Canada during the pandemic. One can give the customer a tracking number, and he can track the package, and see that it was actually shipped. But if the customer has not received the package which he may have paid $150 or so for shipping in 3 months or more, one has a VERY unhappy customer!
Of the 3 carburetors mentioned above, parts availability is best for the Carter W-1, as it was original equipment. We have all parts (except castings) for the other 2, but again, do not ship to the UK.
Just to be safe, there are some of the cheaper rebuilders using neoprene pumps for the Carter W-1. I don't think anyone is making them for the Stromberg, but I could be behind the times. Would highly suggest you ask the vendor if the pump is leather.
Jon.
Good carburetion is fuelish hot air The most expensive carburetor is the wrong one you attempt to modify. If you truly believe "one size fits all," try walking a mile in your spouse's shoes! The Carburetor Shop
I have just received (today) a Carter YF 787SA. It is dirty, however at first look it seems to be complete. This was sold to me as a carb for a 235, however it is clearly not...it is for a 216. Please let me know if you have any interest in this and I'll look at it more critically and not as a parts carburetor. I notice it is missing the choke/throttle cable mount piece, however one of those possibly could be found or even made. It certainly isn't perfect, however the good news is I don't have a lot of $ in it.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
Hello Jon I just sent a private message on your Carb Thansk
Thanks lots of good Advice on this post thanks. I have to say I dont see why postage should be a problem, I export stuff and spare parts all around the world myself. I just accept that it is going to be expensive to ship parts using DHL. It may be expensive to ship parts to the UK but Its a bigger problem when peeople wont ship parts when your trucks is off the road waiting for that part sat on a shelf in the USA. I do often find it better to pick up the phone and just call the states most people are more helpful in person than via an email. The filter does have a paper element inside but the old filter did come with the truck so it wont hurt installing that for a trial.
Thanks again everyone for the advice.
Chris
Last edited by ThreeSixHundred; 05/12/20212:46 PM.
The pandemic has affected shipping. Couriers are not asking for signatures - they just drop the package on your porch and take off. "Porch Pirates" are taking advantage of this and stealing parcels. If possible, it's best to get the package delivered to your place of work where someone will keep an eye on it. Hard to do if you are retired.
Anyway, a carb kit is probably the cheapest way to go. Might be possible to get one in the UK if the Bedford trucks with the stovebolt engine had Rochester carbs.
Just checked shipping costs from Missouri to South Yorkshire via US Priority Mail.
Carburetor rebuilding kit - approximately $60.
Carburetor - approximately $160.00
This is WITHOUT adult signature. Adding the requirement of an adult signature would add a few dollars.
Again, even if a customer is OK with these costs, what about time?
In May of 2020, we shipped a carburetor kit to Canada. 11 weeks later, the customer called that he had not received it. Post Office tracer. Post Office could not determine what happened (USPS fault, Canadian Customs fault, Canadian Post Office fault). They continued to look for it for 6 months, never found it, and since the case was unresolved, WOULD NOT PAY, even though it was sent priority and insured! We did get an email from the Post Office every week for 6 months telling us they were still looking.
Sent second kit at our expense (both kit and postage). Took about 6 weeks.
I understand a customer wanting a part, but I am not going to fight this fight. Eating a repair kit PLUS international postage kind of removes the profit from the sale. Cheaper to NOT make the sale, and leave the parts on the shelf. Definitely not the customer's fault, but just not really a economically feasible sale.
Fortunately this time, it was only a repair kit. The previous time it was two restored carburetors. USPS and Canadian Customs both pointed fingers at the other, and we ate the carburetors.
And Chris, this is exactly why I gave you exact part numbers. Still trying to help, just not willing to lose money to do so.
Jon.
Good carburetion is fuelish hot air The most expensive carburetor is the wrong one you attempt to modify. If you truly believe "one size fits all," try walking a mile in your spouse's shoes! The Carburetor Shop
As I say know the difficulty of shipping I have had problems myself but luckily on few occasions you have to look at these things in the round.
I have to say that all the problems that I have had are using the lower cost carriers. I have never had problem with DHL and it’s an end to end service they also sort out the customs charges up front. I’m just saying some customers are willing to pay the shipping costs we don’t have a choice. I guess the global pandemic hasn’t helped luckily we appear to be in a better place than most countries in the U.K. but you never know what coming next. Thanks for the explanation.
Regards Chris
Last edited by ThreeSixHundred; 05/13/20216:49 AM.
Well, the 787SA is off on the way to England, all bathed and fitted with a few new parts, gaskets, etc. Let's take a look. Image one below is a look down the throat. Say ah, Mr. Carter. Image two shows the innards with the diaphragm, metering rod, etc installed. Image three shows the new diaphragm (I've had decent luck with these...better than I've had with some). Image four shows the nice clean filter screen. And image five shows the inside of the top plate. Everyone say a prayer the various postal folks do their jobs well and that Chris receives this promptly and that it helps his truck. It showed age & use, but inside was pretty nice.
~ Jon 1952 1/2 ton with 1959 235 | T5 with 3.07 rear end
