Barry Grant Carb Quality?

[gzig5]

I ran across a Barry Grant 850 double pumper for what seems to be a pretty decent price. I'm not really familiar with these. I think I've read that some of the older ones were good but then they took a turn for the worse? Looks like it's based on a Holley 4150 layout. Can I assume the rebuild kits, jets, power valves and such interchange? Any input on this particular model? Supposedly was run and then on the shelf for 20+ years so needs a kit. Are they a reasonable option for a street driven car? Not crazy about lack of choke, but that could be dealt with if I get it cheap enough.

 

[Newbomb Turk]

It was hit and miss.

If the price is priced (old people will get the Flintstones reference) I’d snatch it up.

Just go through it and pin everything and then look at the tune up that’s in it and make the tune up what you want.

The second thing I’d do is drill and tap everything so I can easily change the tune up.

 

[gzig5]

It was hit and miss.

If the price is priced (old people will get the Flintstones reference) I’d snatch it up.

Just go through it and pin everything and then look at the tune up that’s in it and make the tune up what you want.

The second thing I’d do is drill and tap everything so I can easily change the tune up.

That's kind of what I thought. Thanks.
I love getting a bargain, but I'm also a little tired of ending up with other people's headaches. This one is a bit far away and I have time before the car is ready for the motor so I probably will pass, but at least I know they are a viable option. As much as I'll be driving early and late in the year, I really would prefer a choke on it too.

 

[Bewy]

They did get good reviews from owners back in the day.

 

[RustyRatRod]

If you're planning on going through it, go for it.

 

[gzig5]

I will not be giving a report on the BG carb. It was a two hour drive one way and while a good deal, I stumbled upon a barely used Brawler 750 DP that was an hour closer. To top it off, came with a nice braided AN double fuel line and pressure gauge. I should be good to go but am still going to rebuild the 850 Thermoquad Competition Series I have, as a back up.

 

[TT5.9mag]

The demons by BG were good if you got a good one. There are some horror stories of metal left inside from machining and killing engines and quality over the years getting worse. Regardless, every carb you put on an engine should get disassembled, cleaned, and pinned at the very minimum so you know what you have and know that it won’t destroy your engine. The Brawler is probably just fine for you, but the amount of work to get it on the car will be about the same (cleaning and pinning).

 

[gzig5]

The Brawler is probably just fine for you, but the amount of work to get it on the car will be about the same (cleaning and pinning).

No doubt. You have to do your homework to get good results on the test. Biggest reason I went with the Brawler is it is almost new, literally a few hours on the motor before he decided to LS swap it with a turbo. The shafts are tight, cams are good, etc. No telling how much time was on that Demon, and some of the carbs I see getting sold around here are coming off dirt track and derby cars. The last Holley I rebuilt was a POS that I shouldn't have bothered with but it came with the car. Could never get it to run decently (worn shafts) and then it started leaking and washing the cylinders down so it went directly in the trash. Threw a AVS2 on the car ran 400% better. I swore I'd never buy used junk again, but I'm too cheap and too far in the hole on this car to get everything off the shelf. Plus I enjoy the hunt and the challenge to make old crap work again. Hopeless romantic I guess, or gluten for punishment.