The Ford Barn

Seth Swoboda · 05-19-2025, 10:26 AM

Fellas,

I want to give Charlie some gratitude for rebuilding a Stromberg 97 carburetor for me. I sent him a core for a rebuild. As it turns out it wasn't the best example I could have given him to work with. However, he got the job done and well. Charlie did some great work and fast I might add.

We have a lot of great component service providers for our V8's, Charlie is one of the best and up to the challenge. Check him out, you will be pleased and for a very reasonable price.

Thanks Charlie for your work!

Kube · 05-19-2025, 12:11 PM

Seth, I could not agree more.

51woodie · 05-19-2025, 04:47 PM

Charlie gets my vote from the Great White North. He did the carb and pump for my ‘46 Coupe, and it has never ran so good.

tubman · 05-19-2025, 05:33 PM

Another vote for Charlie. I will also mention that he occasionally does the conversion of GM distributors for use in 8BA engines that allows the use of non-stock carburetion. He has done a couple of SBC flattop Mallory dual-points for me since the original flathead specific models have gotten scarce and expensive.

91A-77B · 05-19-2025, 06:46 PM

How about all who have had great experiences with Charlie; rebuilt carbs, knowledgeable advice, sincere friendship, etc., etc., stepping up and petitioning the Barn to re-instate him? His voice is necessary. He is a Flathead icon. We and Charlie ain't getting any younger. My blown 59A wouldn't be what it is without him.

PeteVS · 05-19-2025, 08:22 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Another vote for Charlie. I will also mention that he occasionally does the conversion of GM distributors for use in 8BA engines that allows the use of non-stock carburetion. He has done a couple of SBC flattop Mallory dual-points for me since the original flathead specific models have gotten scarce and expensive.

Could you elaborate on"SBC flattop" distributor? Is that the '55-'56 distributor before the "cluster" points came to be? Thanks.

scicala · 05-19-2025, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 91A-77B

How about all who have had great experiences with Charlie; rebuilt carbs, knowledgeable advice, sincere friendship, etc., etc., stepping up and petitioning the Barn to re-instate him? His voice is necessary. He is a Flathead icon. We and Charlie ain't getting any younger. My blown 59A wouldn't be what it is without him.

It might be wise to see if Charlie even wants to come back to the Ford Barn,
before doing that. Most of us have his contact info.

Sal

tubman · 05-19-2025, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scicala

It might be wise to see if Charlie even wants to come back to the Ford Barn,
before doing that. Most of us have his contact info.

Sal

I, too, have often wondered if this may be the case.

tubman · 05-19-2025, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeteVS

Could you elaborate on"SBC flattop" distributor? Is that the '55-'56 distributor before the "cluster" points came to be? Thanks.

These are the ones with a two-piece cap, with the rubber insert between the pieces holding the plug wires. I like the way they hold the plug wires, and the just have "the look". Like on this grimy old Olds "Rocket".

KiWinUS · 05-20-2025, 05:03 AM

All Charlie’s work is first class.

chap52 · 05-20-2025, 07:04 AM

Thanks to Charlie for all of the ways that his skills and knowledge have blessed us over the years.
We are all one day closer to our finish line. The skills that we have been given need to be passed on to a young replacement. Where are those High School kids that are intrigued with our hobby that we can lead to take on the job when we are gone?
Every Paul need his Timothy or the skills will disappear. Chap

Tim Ayers · 05-20-2025, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

Another vote for Charlie. I will also mention that he occasionally does the conversion of GM distributors for use in 8BA engines that allows the use of non-stock carburetion. He has done a couple of SBC flattop Mallory dual-points for me since the original flathead specific models have gotten scarce and expensive.

Agree. If you see the various OHV versions cheap at swap and the cap is good, pick them up. The two piece flat top cap is the same on all of various Mallory versions.

tubman · 05-20-2025, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Ayers

Agree. If you see the various OHV versions cheap at swap and the cap is good, pick them up. The two piece flat top cap is the same on all of various Mallory versions.

This is true, but there are two versions of the cap and rotor. They both fit all of the distributors, but the caps and rotors do not interchange, so you need a matching pair.

I find Pontiac and BB Mopar units are easier to find. However, I do not believe they can be converted for flathead use; you need a Chevrolet unit for that. They are good for parts, though.

PeteVS · 05-20-2025, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

These are the ones with a two-piece cap, with the rubber insert between the pieces holding the plug wires. I like the way they hold the plug wires, and the just have "the look". Like on this grimy old Olds "Rocket".

Thanks! I thought it was the Delco distributor that preceded the "cluster" points. I have one of THOSE (the Delco one) that I put together ages ago with a Dyna Flyte (sp?) dual point plate. I look at them now and they're kind of barbaric with the centrifugal advance down in the bottom.

BlueSunoco · 05-22-2025, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scicala

It might be wise to see if Charlie even wants to come back to the Ford Barn,
before doing that. Most of us have his contact info.

Sal

Charlie is hands-down the very best he has saved my kiesters on a number of occasions.
However, he was treated so badly here I never expect to see him back, and I do not blame him one bit...

1952henry · 05-22-2025, 09:13 PM

Not treated badly; rules are clear, you cannot post racist crap here. Charlie did, got the boot. This horse is dead. Please find something else to beat.

51504bat · 05-23-2025, 07:18 AM

delete

scicala · 05-24-2025, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1952henry

Not treated badly; rules are clear, you cannot post racist crap here. Charlie did, got the boot. This horse is dead. Please find something else to beat.

Must be nice to be perfect.

Sal

BoxCar Tom · 05-24-2025, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scicala

Must be nice to be perfect.

Sal

It's not about being perfect.

It's tiring to hear the same old whining over and over and over and over again about whats unfair.

Think of it as a reality check.

Hitman · 05-24-2025, 11:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BoxCar Tom

It's not about being perfect.

It's tiring to hear the same old whining over and over and over and over again about whats unfair.

Think of it as a reality check.

Especially when you come here to discuss fords of various vintage. Plenty of other forums for discussion outside of the T to late ford era

05-19-2025, 10:26 AM	#1
Seth Swoboda Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Southern Illinois Posts: 4,079	Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 Fellas, I want to give Charlie some gratitude for rebuilding a Stromberg 97 carburetor for me. I sent him a core for a rebuild. As it turns out it wasn't the best example I could have given him to work with. However, he got the job done and well. Charlie did some great work and fast I might add. We have a lot of great component service providers for our V8's, Charlie is one of the best and up to the challenge. Check him out, you will be pleased and for a very reasonable price. Thanks Charlie for your work!

05-19-2025, 12:11 PM	#2
Kube Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Wisconsin, USA Posts: 9,850	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 Seth, I could not agree more. __________________ "I can explain it for you. However, I can't understand it for you".

05-19-2025, 04:47 PM	#3
51woodie Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Chelmsford, ON Canada Posts: 604	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 Charlie gets my vote from the Great White North. He did the carb and pump for my ‘46 Coupe, and it has never ran so good.

05-19-2025, 05:33 PM	#4
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 11,629	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 Another vote for Charlie. I will also mention that he occasionally does the conversion of GM distributors for use in 8BA engines that allows the use of non-stock carburetion. He has done a couple of SBC flattop Mallory dual-points for me since the original flathead specific models have gotten scarce and expensive.

05-19-2025, 06:46 PM	#5
91A-77B Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake Ontario Canada Posts: 198	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 How about all who have had great experiences with Charlie; rebuilt carbs, knowledgeable advice, sincere friendship, etc., etc., stepping up and petitioning the Barn to re-instate him? His voice is necessary. He is a Flathead icon. We and Charlie ain't getting any younger. My blown 59A wouldn't be what it is without him.

05-20-2025, 05:03 AM	#10
KiWinUS Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Charlotte NC KiWi-L100 available here Posts: 3,262	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 All Charlie’s work is first class.

05-20-2025, 07:04 AM	#11
chap52 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Marana Arizona Posts: 1,829	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 Thanks to Charlie for all of the ways that his skills and knowledge have blessed us over the years. We are all one day closer to our finish line. The skills that we have been given need to be passed on to a young replacement. Where are those High School kids that are intrigued with our hobby that we can lead to take on the job when we are gone? Every Paul need his Timothy or the skills will disappear. Chap

05-22-2025, 09:13 PM	#16
1952henry Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 1,786	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 Not treated badly; rules are clear, you cannot post racist crap here. Charlie did, got the boot. This horse is dead. Please find something else to beat. __________________ I dig coal, which provides motivation for EVs.

05-23-2025, 07:18 AM	#17
51504bat Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: SoCal-Redlands Posts: 3,413	Re: Charlie Schwendler & Stromberg 97 delete __________________ Making the simple complicated for over 30 years.