Labor Day Putting down your wrenches or time for
MORE wrenching? 
Plenty of places to share. | | Click on image for the lowdown. 
====
| | | Forums66 Topics128,010 Posts1,055,303 Members48,419 | | Most Online14,466
Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
Lots of work on Brad's part ... pure enjoyment (and references) for you!
| | THANKS!
For helping keep this great
old truck web site
on the Internet for over 30 years! and not clogged down
with Ads!  Again, thanks!
| | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Running a old rochester carb on my 41 216. Been haveing problems with it, I have a rebuilt rochester off a 261 figured I would swap it out to the 216, Boy was I wrong! It won't fit on the 216, the base and bolt holes are close to 1/2 inch wider than the carb off the 216. Both carbs are identical except the base! I thought all the carbs, 216-261 would interchange? Can anyone fill me in on this?
Also any opinions on the rochester and carter carbs? | | | | | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,708 | Steves41,
I'm not 100% on this, but I believe the 216 carburetor had a 2- 11/16" bolt spacing and the 235 had a 2-15/16". These have SAE numbers associated with them although I don't know what they are.
I thought the 261 used the same bolt spacing as the 235! The difference between the two bolt spacings is only 1/4" isn't it.
Stuart | | | | | Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 Apprentice | | Apprentice Joined: Dec 2007 Posts: 16 | Stuart
Yes closer to the 1/4 inch. but also the whole base is bigger.
I think what I should do is just put the 261 in the truck and quite nursing the old 216. | | | | | Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 Bubba - Curmudgeon | | Bubba - Curmudgeon Joined: Sep 2001 Posts: 29,269 | Stuart is correct that the 54-62 235 Rochester carb has the same spacing as the 54-62 261 Rochester carb.
The earlier 235 and all 216 carb bases are the same and have the closer bolt spacing. | | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,953 | Won't the base of the 216 fit the top of the later model carb. I thought someone had done that. | | | | | Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Oct 2001 Posts: 3,458 | The 261 carb should have different sided orifaces in the power enrichment circuit and probably different hole locations in the throttle body than the 216 carb. It may also have a larger venturi bore. Its more than just the jet that changes between the 235 and 261.
Paint & Body Shop moderator
A lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic. | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 | Is there a differance between the 235 and 261 carbs?? I know they wil interchange but I recently purchased a GM NOS in the box carb for a 261 marked as such. I can't see any differances, possibly internal?  | | | | | Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,602 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jan 2005 Posts: 1,602 | I have a 261 engine and I understand the bolt pattern is the same but there is a fuel/jet difference between the 261 and 235 carbs. But if you have a 261 engine with a 235 head on it, which carb should be used?
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,513 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,513 | +1 on Stuart's dimensions. The 261 carb definetly has a bigger throttle bore than a 235 one but they seem to be listed as the same for replacement purposes.
1952 1300 Canadian 1/2 ton restomod You Tube | | | | | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,186 | I guess I don't need to worry as my NOS 261 carb will be going on my 261. I hope the old carb on the 261 is original (I'm sure it is) but how can I tell? I've never looked, are there part numbers on them? 
Bruce | | |
|
|
