The Ford Barn

Richard Redmond · 11-23-2010, 04:14 PM

I bought my 1929 Roadster 3 years ago and it's back on the road in England this year. The car was almost certainly built in Argentina, underwent interesting 'maintenance' in Uruguay and Northern Ireland before being restored by me. It is right hand drive with the 3 litre (? 200 cubic inch) engine.

In the boot was an old carb that I thought was a Tillotson. I overhauled the Zenith using a Mac's kit and that is OK. I think I'd like a professional job with the jets flowed. This means sending it to the US and waiting. In the meanwhile, I thought I'd salvage the 'Tillotson' - except it's not - I think it is an Allstate (see pics).

I can get a repair kit from Renner's Corner, Michigan (after a lot of internet searching). Does the Allstate have a good reputation? My car is not for show and I will probably use the Zenith as stock. Nevertheless, I'd like another reliable carb for tuning / diagnostic purposes and I like the look of the Allstate.

Note the terrible arrangement of the throttle flap !!!! The bushing for the rod is very loose (? Zenith throttle rod swapped over in Uruguay) and the intake throat has been trimmed off just in front of the choke flap !!! The control levers look very dodgy.

So - what's the verdict - is the Allstate a good carb to keep as a spare ??

Thank you

JD Miller · 11-23-2010, 04:46 PM

What you have is a Marvel-Schebler carburetor. These were sold by Sears (Allstate), Wards, Western Auto, plus may other suppliers of after-market parts.

They were also sold under the Marvel-Schebler and Johnson-Marvel name. These are good carburetors. Simple in design, easy to clean and repair. Problem is there are no hard parts available. I have over haul kits for these M-S units, but no hard parts. Here in the States they show up all the time at flea markets. Trick is to find one that has a good float and GAV.

I run a M-S on my 31 SW Sedan. It's been on the car since 1949 and has never given any problems. I would not put up with a Zenith and all its inherent problems. You have to run a Zenith for fine point cars, but for a driver the M-S can't be beat.

Clydes 31 P/U · 11-23-2010, 04:48 PM

Richard, looks like a Marvel Schebler(sp) carb to me, they were sold by Sears,Western Auto and others. This is the carb I've been running for over 30 yrs and I love it, have a Zenith and a nos Tilitson but like the Marvel better,but thats just me, don't know what has been done to the one you have. You"ll just have to try it and see if it is worth keeping. Good Luck Clyde

Clydes 31 P/U · 11-23-2010, 04:49 PM

Darnit I type just tooooo Slow

Richard Redmond · 11-24-2010, 01:37 PM

Many thanks to Clydes 31 PU and JD Miller.

Very helpful advice, gentlemen. I shall try to restore the Allstate 2405 and see how my Roadster runs with it.

Richard Redmond · 12-14-2010, 02:32 PM

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I've had a lot of difficulty in getting payment to David Renner of Michigan who also can supply a repair kit. He was reasonably complimentary about the Allstate - saying that Ford in the 1940s would not have sanctioned this as a replacement carb if it was no good.

This is different from the email I got from an employee of The Carburetor Shop (Missouri) -

These were sold as a "throw-a-way" carb. Even the original manufacturer did not sell service parts. If clean, they do function as a satisfactory paperweight. Regards.

Well - I'm going ahead when I get a kit. Sorry I missed GZ's posts in December - did nobody buy his carb?

Richard

JD Miller · 12-14-2010, 06:13 PM

Actually the Zenith would make a far better paperweght since it is heavier.

Sure sounds like The Carburetor Shop has an axe to grind.

As mentioned previously, my 31 SW Sedan has been running a M-S since 1949. Not what I'd classify as a "throw-a-way." Plus I've sold a good number of the overhaul kits for the M-S over the last few years. So far folks that run a M-S seem well pleased with the carburetor's performance.

We've also used M-S carburetors on all but one of the Model A Fords that were in our collection over the years. Never a problem. It was the one car with the Zenith that would drive you up the wall due to lack of smooth operation when compared with a M-S unit.

11-23-2010, 04:46 PM	#2
JD Miller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 139	Re: Allstate 2405 carburetor What you have is a Marvel-Schebler carburetor. These were sold by Sears (Allstate), Wards, Western Auto, plus may other suppliers of after-market parts. They were also sold under the Marvel-Schebler and Johnson-Marvel name. These are good carburetors. Simple in design, easy to clean and repair. Problem is there are no hard parts available. I have over haul kits for these M-S units, but no hard parts. Here in the States they show up all the time at flea markets. Trick is to find one that has a good float and GAV. I run a M-S on my 31 SW Sedan. It's been on the car since 1949 and has never given any problems. I would not put up with a Zenith and all its inherent problems. You have to run a Zenith for fine point cars, but for a driver the M-S can't be beat.

11-23-2010, 04:48 PM	#3
Clydes 31 P/U Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: northern Il Posts: 302	Re: Allstate 2405 carburetor Richard, looks like a Marvel Schebler(sp) carb to me, they were sold by Sears,Western Auto and others. This is the carb I've been running for over 30 yrs and I love it, have a Zenith and a nos Tilitson but like the Marvel better,but thats just me, don't know what has been done to the one you have. You"ll just have to try it and see if it is worth keeping. Good Luck Clyde

11-23-2010, 04:49 PM	#4
Clydes 31 P/U Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: northern Il Posts: 302	Re: Allstate 2405 carburetor Darnit I type just tooooo Slow

11-24-2010, 01:37 PM	#5
Richard Redmond Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Scarborough, Yorkshire Posts: 120	Re: Allstate 2405 carburetor Many thanks to Clydes 31 PU and JD Miller. Very helpful advice, gentlemen. I shall try to restore the Allstate 2405 and see how my Roadster runs with it.

12-14-2010, 02:32 PM	#6
Richard Redmond Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Scarborough, Yorkshire Posts: 120	Re: Allstate 2405 carburetor Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I've had a lot of difficulty in getting payment to David Renner of Michigan who also can supply a repair kit. He was reasonably complimentary about the Allstate - saying that Ford in the 1940s would not have sanctioned this as a replacement carb if it was no good. This is different from the email I got from an employee of The Carburetor Shop (Missouri) - These were sold as a "throw-a-way" carb. Even the original manufacturer did not sell service parts. If clean, they do function as a satisfactory paperweight. Regards. Well - I'm going ahead when I get a kit. Sorry I missed GZ's posts in December - did nobody buy his carb? Richard

12-14-2010, 06:13 PM	#7
JD Miller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Yorktown, VA Posts: 139	Re: Allstate 2405 carburetor Actually the Zenith would make a far better paperweght since it is heavier. Sure sounds like The Carburetor Shop has an axe to grind. As mentioned previously, my 31 SW Sedan has been running a M-S since 1949. Not what I'd classify as a "throw-a-way." Plus I've sold a good number of the overhaul kits for the M-S over the last few years. So far folks that run a M-S seem well pleased with the carburetor's performance. We've also used M-S carburetors on all but one of the Model A Fords that were in our collection over the years. Never a problem. It was the one car with the Zenith that would drive you up the wall due to lack of smooth operation when compared with a M-S unit.