The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 230 Carb Identification

I've been looking for a 230 Chevy Carb for my truck. A fellow member on here has a couple of 60's Chevy Inline 6 Carbs laying around but doesn't know what they're off of. Is there any telltale way to identify one of these carbs by serial numbers or dimensions? I can't be of any help because all I have to go by is a 292 Carb which is bolted on there now and I'm trying to just get the correct one for my 230. She's running a little fat with the 292 carb. Thanks...

What year of 230?

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Kchevrolet2.htm

http://www.carburetion.com/kits/chevy.htm

http://www.carburetor-parts.com/Articles.asp?ID=485

The local parts house will have rebuilt carbs on the shelves. They may or may not work right, depends on the day. The major rebuilders though all the main parts in one bin and use out of it when building carbs. They all fit together and function, but not they way they should.

Its better to find a whole factory built carb and rebuild it.

Joe

1965

Thanks so much for the wealth of info BTW Joe! This is great!

Joe,
Stovebolt member Carbking sent me this reply last year when I had a question.

RP = Rochester Products
7023017 = Chevrolet 230 CID six 1963~1965
C = Third production engineering change
F5 = June 1965
90 = the badge number of the final inspector of this unit.
Based on that info:
My carb coded out as follows
70 = 1960's Rochester prefix
2 = 196X
3 = 1963 This indicates the X is a 3
0 = 1 barrel carb
1 = Chevrolet
7 = manual transmission
C = Third production engineering change
F5 = June 1965
90 = the badge number of the final inspector of this unit.

You can see a photo of my original 230ci carb tag on my website. Click home page at the top and go about 1/2 way down.

Well ive talked to 3 guys with potential carbs and nobody finds numbers. Based on lugnutz post the number would never tell you it is indeed for a 230. So the only chice I have is hope any given carb is for a 230. Buying a rebuilt for $300 is hit and miss. Hmmm, I might put my truck up in the classifieds. This simple carb issue is killing it for me. Thanks

You can look at the numbers from the venders I posted and find which ones fit 230's or 250's, both will work. Once you get the number, then ask around.
Pontiac, Olds, Buick, GMC, and Chevy all used 230 and 250 inline engines, you have a hugh range of carbs to choose from. They all will be some what identical except for minor metering changes and vacuum ports.

Joe

The problem is that even a 292 carb will work. Obviously because that is what I have bolted on my stock 230 intake right now so at some point there has to be a leap of faith in believing that a certain carb is from a certain model based on a seller's word. Unless of course they could find some numbers which nobody has yet. I have one guy on another forum whom says he has a 230 carb and couldn't see any number but he's going to take another look tonight. What gets me is you can buy a carb by year on the classic parts site but it's only by year, so I suppose they have 230, 250, 292 carbs all in the same pot.

Is there any possible way to rejet my carb to work better? I live at high altitude so I really need to lean it out.

Can anyone id a carb 7024561 ? A guy on another forum has one by this number. Looks like on the info above it might be a 64 but the question is for what engine is it? Thanks

Have the seller measure the throat diameter, 292"s use a bigger size, if this other one is cheap and smaller diameter inside, it should work half way decent.
Try this link from another post for more carb numbers.

http://www.russellsnewoldparts.com/images/CARB%20PDF.pdf

According the the info provided earlier for decoding Rochesters:
7024561

70= Late 60s
2= 60's
4= '64
5= Quadrajet (4 bbl) California standards
6= Pontiac
1 (Odd Number)= Manual Transmission

If this is deciphered correctly, the Quadrajet wouldn't work.

Joe, that was some great info you provided! I'm afraid I didn't find the carb number above in the list for Pontiacs or in the Kits list.
Jerry

Thanks for the info. Obviously there is something wrong with that number or he wasn't able to read it correctly. He told me it's carb off a 230 off a C10. I'm currently waiting on a pic. He said he had it apart and he tore a gasket so it will need to be rebuilt.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings, but:

(1) Rochester 1 barrel and 2 barrel carburetors manufactured prior to the 1968 model year were identified by tag only (well, the very early 1 barrels up to about 1954 had the last 4 digits stamped into the original airhorn to bowl gasket). If the carburetor was rebuilt once, the original gasket was discarded, so the tag remained the only sure method of identification.

(2) Rochester carburetors CANNOT be identified from the "casting numbers". Casting numbers are usually (not always) in a circle or partial circle. These numbers will be "raised" numbers (standing proud of the casting surface). Casting numbers were used as an internal (to Rochester) number specifying a casting "blank" prior to machining. Thus the same casting (by number) could be machined a number of ways, thus creating different parts. Also, the decoding method by Lugnutz is NOT applicable to casting numbers.

(3) Beginning with the 1968 model year (after the last model B carb), Rochester began stamping the actual identification number into the carburetor body. This was required because of the Federal Clean Air Act of 1963, Amendment of the 1966. As the carburetor is considered a part of the emissions systems, it became necessary to be able to identify a carburetor.

(4) Commercial carb rebuilders (that sell through FLAPS) GROUP a number of carburetors together with one calibration. The tag was removed to prevent sharp customers from determining that they got the wrong carb from the FLAPS.

Please don't "shoot the messenger".

Jon.

So the bottom line, is getting a carb that will make the truck run good is pretty much impossible, and likely wont' run any better than the carb I have there now pouring gas in there. I can see why people scrap these 6's in favor of a V8. Is there any possible way to rejet these?

[quote=krazymatt
....So the bottom line, is getting a carb that will make the truck run good is pretty much impossible, and likely wont' run any better than the carb I have there now pouring gas in there. [/quote]

Not at all, you have several options, but they require a little patience.

(1) Determine what carburetor you should have; and do a daily search on Ebay for a tagged original with that number.

(2) Carter made a number of both original equipment and aftermarket carbs for the Chevrolet 6. I have posted these before on this forum. A search of the forum should turn up these numbers.

(3) There are probably some members here that could help you with a tagged Rochester; as many feel the Carter is a better unit, so there are quite a few of the Rochester units around.

(4) It is certainly possible to recalibrate what you have, assuming the internal venturi is correct for your engine.

(5) And don't forget that at least 90 percent of all "carburetor problems" are actually ignition.

Jon.

Thanks. I will look into your suggestions.