This piece was mounted below the Carter carburetor on a 216 engine. Can anyone tell me what it is and who made it? Never saw one before. Stock or aftermarket? Thanks!
It looks like a carburetor base that someone used as a spacer.
1950 Chevrolet 3100 (Ol' Roy)
1939 Packard Standard Eight Coupe (The Phantom) | 1956 Cadillac Coupe de Ville (The Bismarck) | 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 coupe |1966 Ford Mustang (Little Red) | 1969 Pontiac GTO (The Dishpit) I 1979 Ford F-100 | 1976 Ford F-150 (Big Red) | 1995 Ford F-150 (Newt)
It's a throttle speed governor. Normally found on industrial engines and larger trucks. It appears that the throttle plate was removed to render it inoperable. Fred
1956 3100 Pickup/Red/350/3sp OD/PS/Disc Brakes 1957 Bel Air Sport Coupe/Red/355/TH350/PS/Disc Brakes 2017 Silverado LT Single Cab SB/Black/5.3/6 Speed Trans 1947 Willys CJ2A w/F-Head engine
It is a "Governor" as Fred said. It's used normally on Big Bolt engines to control engine over-speed conditions. The side plate (flat semi-oval plate attached with screws) under your finger tips probably is stamped CHEVOLET VARI-SPEED. See the attached pic below. There are probably other makes/manufacturers, but that's the one I am familiar with.
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/30/202411:47 PM.
~ Dan 1951 Chevy 3 window 3100 Follow this story in the DITY Gallery "My Grandpa Carl's Truck and How it Became Mine" 1966 Chevelle (Wife's Hot Rod) | 2013 Chevy Silverado (Current daily driver) US Army MSG Retired (1977-1998) | Com Fac Maint Lead Tech Retired (1998-2021)
WOW, that brings back a flood of memories. I grew up in the 50's-70's 2 blocks from King-Seely in Ann Arbor. The building is now condos but it has a long history.
Last edited by Peggy M; 05/30/202411:47 PM.
1957 Chevrolet 5700 LCF 283 SM420 2 speed rear, 1955 IH 300U T/A, 1978 Corvette 350 auto, 1978 Yamaha DT175, 1999 Harley Davidson Softail Fat Boy
Yes sir, you are correct. Did some work with the wire brush, and was able to make out the markings. Just like you said, Chevrolet Vari speed. Thank you for the reply! I learned something new.
As others have mentioned, the item is a governor; more specifically, a "sandwich" governor, as it is sandwiched between the carburetor and the intake manifold. Other manufacturers of sandwich governors of which I am vaguely aware are Handy, Hough, and King-Seeley.
All of the major carburetor companies (Carter, Holley, Rochester, Stromberg, and Zenith) also had carburetor models with integral governors; that is, the governor was part of the carburetor.
Governors were activated by a variety of controls. Holley used on various models, water pressure and oil pressure. Stromberg used oil pressure. Carter, Rochester and Zenith used vacuum. There are probably others.
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
