The Ford Barn

tjfl · 07-05-2015, 08:46 AM

Have a 52 Merc with a tea pot carb. Will idle perfect but die shortly after giving it throttle. Found the diaphram cracked for the power valve. Currently looking for a replacement - hopefully will correct the situation. I'm totally ignorant on this style carb and see no point in replacing but I'm open to an alternative replacement if it's more reliable and cost effective. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks, Tom
PS. Running an electric pump with a regulator set at 2 1/2 psi. Fuel tank has been drained and is clean.

Mike51Merc · 07-05-2015, 08:53 AM

This is just a guess, and maybe somebody will chime in who knows for sure---- if it was mine I'd get a power valve for a Holley 94 and put it in there. See if the valve has numbers on it.

As for a replacement carb, a Rochester 2GC or a Stromberg WW will bolt on to the 4 bolt manifold, or you can swap manifolds and put a 3 bolt 97 or 94 on it.

V8COOPMAN · 07-05-2015, 08:57 AM

The early Rochester 2GC carburetor that was found on 265 and 283 Chevies of the '50s and '60s will bolt right onto your manifold, and a lot of flathead guys with the Merc 4-bolt manifold have taken advantage of that fact and really love the way they run, and their simplicity. They can still be found at swap meets and on eBay. Rebuild kits are available. See the link below! DD

http://www.carbkitsource.com/carbs/t...Jet-index.html

tjfl · 07-05-2015, 09:16 AM

Sounds like the Rochester may be the ticket. Just didn't want to write off the tea pot without giving it a chance. Ironically I just donated a 2GC to one of the guys. The 3 bolt intake with a 97 or 94 looks like my second option. Thanks again...

scooder · 07-05-2015, 12:13 PM

If you change to a 97 or a Rochester you'll have to swap out the ignition. 8BA type 94 is ok, it's the loadamatic ignition on there and must have a loadam carb with the vacuum line half way up the back.
Martin.

Johnnydidd · 07-05-2015, 12:14 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

will the 2GC work off the later model chevy?

V8COOPMAN · 07-05-2015, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnnydidd

will the 2GC work off the later model chevy?

No! Even though they look like the same animal, they are physically larger in almost every dimension.........certainly won't bolt-on to the Merc flatty. DD

tubman · 07-05-2015, 12:30 PM

If you use an early 2GC, you'll find that it has to mounted backwards so the linkage etc. ends up on the proper side. I have one on a Canadian aluminum Merc manifold. While the bolt pattern is the same, the throttle bores on the Merc manifold are quite a bit smaller. I bored mine out to match the carb.

scicala · 07-05-2015, 02:15 PM

This is just my opinion, but you should consider keeping the original teapot 2 bbl. If you change, you just set off a chain reaction of work, jury rigging and money being spent to change things like, air cleaner, linkage and ignition advance. There are kits and individual parts available for you're teapot carb.

Also, Mike51Merc suggested using a power valve from a Holley 94 type carb. This is not possible. Completely different animal and design.

If you are interested in carb work, I can help.

Sal

rotorwrench · 07-05-2015, 02:45 PM

Top float Holley carbs work OK for the stocker but they are sensitive to heavy handed maintenance. I've restored a few of the older 885 shrouded models and they work well and are reliable if a person uses care to disassemble/reassemble with tools that fit the purpose well. The castings can get warped easily if torqued too tight or if they get dropped during handling. They will leak like a sieve if things don't fit up well. With the bowl on top a person can't afford a leak. Towering inferno is not a moniker to be taken lightly. They burn good if they ever get started.

Walt Dupont--Me. · 07-05-2015, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

If you use an early 2GC, you'll find that it has to mounted backwards so the linkage etc. ends up on the proper side. I have one on a Canadian aluminum Merc manifold. While the bolt pattern is the same, the throttle bores on the Merc manifold are quite a bit smaller. I bored mine out to match the carb.

Tubman. Are you saying the aluminum Canadian intake has bigger throttle bore? I have one of those intakes hanging in my shop for 10yr's or more, never realized it had a bigger bore. Walt

Kahuna · 07-06-2015, 12:07 AM

TJFL
Contact Sal Scicala above. He'll take good care of you
Jim

tjfl · 07-06-2015, 06:53 AM

Confused / ignorant on the ignition system - figured vacuum is vacuum. Do remember in the 60's of Ford using a dual vacuum chambered distributor. Haven't given up on the tea pot yet. Looks like Sal has a good track record and may lead me down the right path. Thanks, Tom

Mike51Merc · 07-06-2015, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjfl

Confused / ignorant on the ignition system - figured vacuum is vacuum. Do remember in the 60's of Ford using a dual vacuum chambered distributor. Haven't given up on the tea pot yet. Looks like Sal has a good track record and may lead me down the right path. Thanks, Tom

Look up "Load-a-Matic" distributor. This distributor's advance works off of a ported venturi vacuum on the carburetors that were specifically designed to pair-up with. If you connect it to manifold vacuum, it works backwards.

tjfl · 07-06-2015, 09:26 AM

Mike, Did some research... No centrifical advance. Has 2 springs that are preset from the factory. Two vacuum sources - 1 in venturi 2nd half way up the base. Thanks...

flatheadmurre · 07-06-2015, 03:33 PM

Load-a-matic is no joy in the stock application starting to swap around carbs or cams will start an avalange.
The merc carb aint bad just different and then everybody runs and hide...
Rebuild what you have and it will work good

Kahuna · 07-06-2015, 05:55 PM

Also, on my Teapots, I use 5 lbs fuel pressure, not 2-2 1/2.
Sal will know best for your model, I'm sure

tubman · 07-07-2015, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walt Dupont--Me.

Tubman. Are you saying the aluminum Canadian intake has bigger throttle bore? I have one of those intakes hanging in my shop for 10yr's or more, never realized it had a bigger bore. Walt

No. it has the same throttle bore size as an American one. If you read my post again, you will see I "bored it out" to the same size as the 2GC. I used something called a "Roto-Broach" I got from an outfit called "Drills and Cutters". It was expensive ($135), but it worked extremely well. So well, as a matter of fact, I'll bet it would work on an iron manifold.

BTW, if you are tired of having that manifold "hanging in my shop", I'll glady take it off your hands. On the other hand, if you want to run it, I'll let you use my "Roto-Broach" to bore it out. It will work with a regular drill press (I used a scrap 2GC base bolted to the manifold as a guide).

Also, I have a friend who just got a '53 Mercury. He was having similar problems and got a kit from Daytona Parts. Put it in and problem solved.

Mike51Merc · 07-07-2015, 07:26 AM

Oh, and you can also swap in a Holley 885 from the earlier Mercury-- and keep the load-a-matic distributor.

tjfl · 07-07-2015, 07:42 AM

Have 2 tea pot's and gave the numbers to Sal. Both are 52 Merc with one being auto the other manual. He's willing to help me out. He also said the fuel pressure can be boosted and recommended checking the vac advance which checked out good. I still don't understand the principle of using manifold and ported vac on the dist and if that's the case why you can't "T" into both ports to supply the dist?
I haven't touched a flat head since the 60's. What a wealth of knowledge on this site!!! Young kids don't know what they've missed and are missing!!!

07-05-2015, 08:53 AM	#2
Mike51Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 1,582	Re: Tea pot carb help This is just a guess, and maybe somebody will chime in who knows for sure---- if it was mine I'd get a power valve for a Holley 94 and put it in there. See if the valve has numbers on it. As for a replacement carb, a Rochester 2GC or a Stromberg WW will bolt on to the 4 bolt manifold, or you can swap manifolds and put a 3 bolt 97 or 94 on it.

07-05-2015, 08:57 AM	#3
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,184	Re: Tea pot carb help The early Rochester 2GC carburetor that was found on 265 and 283 Chevies of the '50s and '60s will bolt right onto your manifold, and a lot of flathead guys with the Merc 4-bolt manifold have taken advantage of that fact and really love the way they run, and their simplicity. They can still be found at swap meets and on eBay. Rebuild kits are available. See the link below! DD http://www.carbkitsource.com/carbs/t...Jet-index.html __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

07-05-2015, 09:16 AM	#4
tjfl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chenango Bridge, NY Posts: 100	Re: Tea pot carb help Sounds like the Rochester may be the ticket. Just didn't want to write off the tea pot without giving it a chance. Ironically I just donated a 2GC to one of the guys. The 3 bolt intake with a 97 or 94 looks like my second option. Thanks again...

07-05-2015, 12:13 PM	#5
scooder Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,595	Re: Tea pot carb help If you change to a 97 or a Rochester you'll have to swap out the ignition. 8BA type 94 is ok, it's the loadamatic ignition on there and must have a loadam carb with the vacuum line half way up the back. Martin.

07-05-2015, 12:14 PM	#6
Johnnydidd Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Overland Park, Ks Posts: 559	Re: Tea pot carb help Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) will the 2GC work off the later model chevy?

07-05-2015, 12:30 PM	#8
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,627	Re: Tea pot carb help If you use an early 2GC, you'll find that it has to mounted backwards so the linkage etc. ends up on the proper side. I have one on a Canadian aluminum Merc manifold. While the bolt pattern is the same, the throttle bores on the Merc manifold are quite a bit smaller. I bored mine out to match the carb.

07-05-2015, 02:15 PM	#9
scicala Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Detroit suburb, MI Posts: 3,794	Re: Tea pot carb help This is just my opinion, but you should consider keeping the original teapot 2 bbl. If you change, you just set off a chain reaction of work, jury rigging and money being spent to change things like, air cleaner, linkage and ignition advance. There are kits and individual parts available for you're teapot carb. Also, Mike51Merc suggested using a power valve from a Holley 94 type carb. This is not possible. Completely different animal and design. If you are interested in carb work, I can help. Sal

07-05-2015, 02:45 PM	#10
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,409	Re: Tea pot carb help Top float Holley carbs work OK for the stocker but they are sensitive to heavy handed maintenance. I've restored a few of the older 885 shrouded models and they work well and are reliable if a person uses care to disassemble/reassemble with tools that fit the purpose well. The castings can get warped easily if torqued too tight or if they get dropped during handling. They will leak like a sieve if things don't fit up well. With the bowl on top a person can't afford a leak. Towering inferno is not a moniker to be taken lightly. They burn good if they ever get started.

07-06-2015, 12:07 AM	#12
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Tea pot carb help TJFL Contact Sal Scicala above. He'll take good care of you Jim

07-06-2015, 06:53 AM	#13
tjfl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chenango Bridge, NY Posts: 100	Re: Tea pot carb help Confused / ignorant on the ignition system - figured vacuum is vacuum. Do remember in the 60's of Ford using a dual vacuum chambered distributor. Haven't given up on the tea pot yet. Looks like Sal has a good track record and may lead me down the right path. Thanks, Tom

07-06-2015, 09:26 AM	#15
tjfl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chenango Bridge, NY Posts: 100	Re: Tea pot carb help Mike, Did some research... No centrifical advance. Has 2 springs that are preset from the factory. Two vacuum sources - 1 in venturi 2nd half way up the base. Thanks...

07-06-2015, 03:33 PM	#16
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: Tea pot carb help Load-a-matic is no joy in the stock application starting to swap around carbs or cams will start an avalange. The merc carb aint bad just different and then everybody runs and hide... Rebuild what you have and it will work good

07-06-2015, 05:55 PM	#17
Kahuna Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NorCal Posts: 2,617	Re: Tea pot carb help Also, on my Teapots, I use 5 lbs fuel pressure, not 2-2 1/2. Sal will know best for your model, I'm sure

07-07-2015, 07:26 AM	#19
Mike51Merc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Northeast Pennsylvania Posts: 1,582	Re: Tea pot carb help Oh, and you can also swap in a Holley 885 from the earlier Mercury-- and keep the load-a-matic distributor.

07-07-2015, 07:42 AM	#20
tjfl Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Chenango Bridge, NY Posts: 100	Re: Tea pot carb help Have 2 tea pot's and gave the numbers to Sal. Both are 52 Merc with one being auto the other manual. He's willing to help me out. He also said the fuel pressure can be boosted and recommended checking the vac advance which checked out good. I still don't understand the principle of using manifold and ported vac on the dist and if that's the case why you can't "T" into both ports to supply the dist? I haven't touched a flat head since the 60's. What a wealth of knowledge on this site!!! Young kids don't know what they've missed and are missing!!!