NOS carburetors. What issues to be aware of if any?

-

JamesLong

Member
Joined
Apr 18, 2020
Messages
8
Reaction score
2
Location
WA
Found a NOS 2bbl carburetor Carter BBD for my super six. I've had issues with all 3 of the used ones I've rebuilt. I'm thinking NOS should be a good route. What does everyone think? Should I rebuild the NOS carb? Could there be an issue with the old paper gaskets? Accelerator pump? O-rings? Thanks for looking and any help is much appreciated.
 
Last edited:
Found a NOS 2bbl carburetor Carter BBD for my super six. I've had issues with all 3 of the used ones I've rebuilt. I'm thinking NOS should be a good route. What does everyone think? Should I rebuild the NOS carb? Could there be an issue with the old paper gaskets? Accelerator pump? Thanks for looking and any help is much appreciated.
I would buy it and if it looks good from the outside run it.
It has been 10 years ago that I purchased a NOS Holly 2280 to use on the slant six D150. Put it on and ran it. Other than going through the carburetor set up, adjusting idle air and adjusting the choke, the carb was fine.
 
Found a NOS 2bbl carburetor Carter BBD for my super six. I've had issues with all 3 of the used ones I've rebuilt. I'm thinking NOS should be a good route. What does everyone think? Should I rebuild the NOS carb? Could there be an issue with the old paper gaskets? Accelerator pump? Thanks for looking and any help is much appreciated.

How much are they asking for the nos carb ?
 
So generally speaking a NOS carb might be more reliable than a used one off the bat? Throttle shaft bushings are not worn, throttle base shouldn't be warped, scuffed, etc. These areas as mentioned tend to get the most wear? It's my understanding that typically rebuild kits these days have better quality rubber parts that are more fuel resistant than what was used from the factory build decades ago. Even if the carb looks fine and ready to go should I expect a rebuild sooner down the road? I guess my ultimate question is that a NOS carb sitting for 45 years but never used does the gaskets and rubber components degrade, even in storage and if so does anyone think they degrade slower in storage? UV rays break down rubber, but the needle valve and accelerator pump are inside the carb.
NOS Holly 2280
I do recall this being another bolt on assembly for the super six setup. If I recall wasn't there another Holley 2bbl carb that bolts up to super six setup as well? Just scoping other possible ideas if needed. I would like to hear about other alternatives for bolt on 2bbl carbs for super six setups, however I am open to Weber 32/36 setups as well!
Thanks again for all your responses.
 
Last edited:
I would pull it apart to check out the condition of the insides anyway.
And also to make sure that the float is adjusted properly etc. and it is clean and everything is there.
If you have any doubts, replace parts as needed.
Keep in mind that a lot of N.O.S. parts were not put on cars when they were new because of some minor defect.
This is especially true with body panels.
Also, I think that they are asking top dollar at $269 for a relatively uncommon application........
What is the difference in this carb and the one that they are asking more for?
 
A nos carb won't be worn out like the used ones are but they may still need a kit. They have been sitting for half a century and gaskets and accelerator pumps may be dried up or cracked. I wouldn't bolt one on and expect it to work perfect.
 
I've used a couple of my NOS Thermoquads. Put it on, get it running, watch it closely for fuel leaks, if none you should be good to go. Keep an eye on it for a little while. Many years ago I bought a Holley spreadbore and I didn't use it for several years. When I installed it, it did not run very well, a small spider had got inside and made a home. I cleaned it out and it worked fine.
 
Nothing runs like a new carb—a real one, not the Chinese copycat trinkets.

In theory, you have to be all worried about old gaskets and stuff.

In practice, better than 9/10 times all you have to do is use an unbent paper clip to carefully push the inlet needle off its seat (they stick with years of sitting on the shelf), install the carb, spray some light oil—WD40 is fine—into the carb bowl through the internal and/or external vents and operate the throttle lever a few times to lube the accelerator pump plunger, start the engine, and make your adjustments.

Carburetor operation and repair manuals and links to training movies and carb repair/modification threads are posted here for free download.
 
Would you still have to rebuild an NOS carb with the ethanol compliant rebuild kit?
 
Last edited:
No, because gasoline containing methanol is not generally available, and the carburetors used in the A-body era tend to be just fine in as-manufactured form with the 10% ethanol in most US and Canadian gasoline (ethanol is a whole lot less corrosive than methanol). Ethanol-related carburetor problems tend to crop up with "remanufactured" carburetors that have been abrasively cleaned—sandblasted, etc. This strips the passivation coating off the castings, leaving them very vulnerable to corrosion induced by alcohol and the water it carries.

But the gaskets in a NOS BBD aren't going to dissolve in today's gasoline. The float's brass, so no problem there. The accelerator pump will usually be fine, too.
 
No, because gasoline containing methanol is not generally available, and the carburetors used in the A-body era tend to be just fine in as-manufactured form with the 10% ethanol in most US and Canadian gasoline (ethanol is a whole lot less corrosive than methanol). Ethanol-related carburetor problems tend to crop up with "remanufactured" carburetors that have been abrasively cleaned—sandblasted, etc. This strips the passivation coating off the castings, leaving them very vulnerable to corrosion induced by alcohol and the water it carries.

But the gaskets in a NOS BBD aren't going to dissolve in today's gasoline. The float's brass, so no problem there. The accelerator pump will usually be fine, too.
My bad, I meant ethanol, but thanks
 
I'd put new gaskets and rubber parts in it ,adjust it properly and run it. It's old ,the metal parts are all good but the rubber and gaskets are finished by age
 
assuming there has never been gas in the carb, I'd run it. The worst that could happen is that it would leak and you would have to replace the gaskets and it could mean years of worry free service with nothing done. I would follow slantsixdan's recommendations...
 
My one and only experience with a nos was bolt it on and go, no problems. Put a nos carter 2 barrel on my 318 '79 power wagon over a year ago and great thus far.
Have owned the truck since new, probably had at least 3 re-built parts house carbs on it thru the years. This one seems to be the best, don't remember exactly what went wrong with the original, probably ethanol gasoline, which I do not run in the truck anymore.
 
Also, I think that they are asking top dollar at $269 for a relatively uncommon application........
What is the difference in this carb and the one that they are asking more for?
The other one is $272 so not much more. Both have same 6537s tag.
 
Last edited:
Depending on the year the NOS carburetor was built, it could have been sitting on the shelf for up to half a century. Slantsixdan is on the right track, just if it were mine I would locate & purchase a rebuild kit just to have on hand in case it needs a rebuild. That way if it leaks, you have the kit handy instead of having to scramble around trying to find one.
 
I use to grab a 2bbl off a 318. Clean it up a little, bolt it on, and burn rubber. :usflag:
 
I use to grab a 2bbl off a 318. Clean it up a little, bolt it on, and burn rubber. :usflag:
According to the Carter BBD Service Manual it says the super6 and 318 BBD's are not interchangeable. However I've always heard others (including yourself) say they're nearly identical and work fine interchanged and the only huge difference is the idle air hole in the throttle plates. There are a few other small differences. Since my NOS carb was for 74-77' 318 trucks anything important I need to look out for (adjustment wise) or just set it up as I have done as usual with the super6 BBD's? Thanks
 
Depending on the year the NOS carburetor was built, it could have been sitting on the shelf for up to half a century. Slantsixdan is on the right track, just if it were mine I would locate & purchase a rebuild kit just to have on hand in case it needs a rebuild. That way if it leaks, you have the kit handy instead of having to scramble around trying to find one.
Of course, having a rebuild kit around is always handy just in case. I forgot where the last time I ordered one was for the previous BBD but I am going to get on that. Either way the NOS carb is here for this weekends project, nowhere to go but maybe the parts store if the new battery terminals don't fix the problem on the (Ford) daily driver.
 
According to the Carter BBD Service Manual it says the super6 and 318 BBD's are not interchangeable. However I've always heard others (including yourself) say they're nearly identical and work fine interchanged and the only huge difference is the idle air hole in the throttle plates. There are a few other small differences. Since my NOS carb was for 74-77' 318 trucks anything important I need to look out for (adjustment wise) or just set it up as I have done as usual with the super6 BBD's? Thanks

Set it up as usual, and see how it runs. You might like it how it is, or may want to play with jetting. I had a free flowing exhaust, with electronic ignition. That's pretty much all there was, and it ran fine right from the get go.
 
According to the Carter BBD Service Manual it says the super6 and 318 BBD's are not interchangeable.

If your carb is configured for automatic choke, the choke lever is different/not compatible; you'll have to figure out a workaround for that. Depending on the year and spec of your V8 BBD you may or may not have difficulty attaining a good idle speed adjustment. If you can clear those two hurdles you'll be fine putting a 273 or 318 BBD on a Slant-6.
 
-
Back
Top