Carburetor choices

[Car Pit]

I'm looking to bite the bullet and get another carburetor.
Is there any difference between the new units that the big vendors offer or are they all from the same supplier?

It is (hopefully) for a driver.

[Joe K]

What are you driving now?

Joe K

[RonC]

I believe Mark Auto Company makes all the new zenith and tillotson carburators

[Mitch//pa]

If your not into rebuilding one yourself, I would stay away from the new units and get a reblt from Berts or renners corner

[Car Pit]

Tried to get the Tillotson to work that has been hanging there for a number of years. Unfortunately, the interface between top and bottom housings is warped enough that I can see daylight through it even though I sanded the bottom surface flat and the hole that should hold the bottom drain plug is basically oversized.

[Joe K]

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You have many used choices.

Tillotson X (your carburetor likely) has been a good performer for many. Downsides is a tendency to warp at the joint and galling out of fasteners (both of these you've seen.)

Zenith I, II, etc that came with the Model A are good carbs. Some swear by them. Some swear at them. Downsides are slightly less gas mileage, a tendency to fade on rapid stops/starts.

Tillotson F1B was a popular carb. Slightly better gas mileage than Zenith and probably equal to Tilly X. Lots of these around but replacement parts are difficult to score. Suffers from the same disadvantages as the aluminum TillyX.

Others can take over the less obvious that I haven't experienced. Like the tractor carbs currently being sold as replacement for Model A originals. (I'm being facetious to try to encourage a response.)

Also those who have used the current "Modern" Zenith and Tilly replacements feel free to comment.

And feel free to "sell up" your particular favorite. Here is a vic - er person looking for advice on what to get if he has only once chance to buy a carburetor.

Joe K

[CarlG]

Weber

[Joe K]

Now Carl. Tell him the upsides and the downsides (be honest - include the cost - he might not care.)

Joe K

[Tom Wesenberg]

From the reports of guys that bought the correct rebuilt Zenith from Bert's, that is the way to go. Everything will look right, fit right, and be right, and most of all drive right.

[Brendan]

Originally Posted by CarlG

Weber

I got one!

[Bob-A]

My '29 had an original Zenith on it rebuilt by Jim Adams in Tennessee. Great carb and rebuild, but unfortunately Jim is now deceased. Recently
I tried a rebuilt Marvel-Schebler on the car for something different. The
carb just did not perform like I wanted. At present I am running one of
the new made "balanced" Zenith carbs. I got it for about a quarter of the
price the parts houses are asking for them. From a fellow FardBarn'er who had someone trade it in to him, saying it would not work right. I looked it
over, checked & adjusted all the settings. And so far with what few miles I have put on it. It works great!

If you are not into working on a carb yourself. Check with a local Model-A club. Somebody probably has a spare, working carb for sale. Or knows somebody who does.

Bob-A

[eagle]

Forbarn member, jmeckel sells rebuilt carbs of most every description.

[newshirt]

I'm another Bert's believer when it comes to rebuilt carbs. When I installed mine, the car ran so smooth I couldn't believe it. Big difference in power and smoothness. Now I know what to expect from Zenith carb performance and will never settle for anything less.

[Rock Hornbuckle]

Zenith Carb #13922 manufactured by Zenith to be a modern replacement for the model A. Totally trouble free, and no GAV to tweek with. I put one on my '29, and I love it. With my fat girlfriend in the coupe it was difficult to be reaching over to turn the GAV knob.

[jm29henry]

I love a zenith carb to me they can not be beat as long as they are properly rebuilt. How ever i do not like the new gas it ruins the gaskets in the carb .Bert sell a gasket set that does not react to the new type fuel .Just a note to help they makes a Stable product that actually treats your ethanol fuel (this is not the red stable) and works really well!!!!!

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Joe K

Now Carl. Tell him the upsides and the downsides (be honest - include the cost - he might not care.)

Joe K

My PU came with an original Sidebowl Zenith, that had theoretically been rebuilt. But, of course, if it was, it wasn't done well. After many attempts at "fixing" it myself, I sought outside help.

The decision to go with a Weber came down to the economics. It was pretty much the same price to have the Zenith Sidebowl repaired or replaced as it was to go with a brand new Weber, including the manifold, air cleaner, and linkage. That, with the advertised increase in power and the expectation of "not leaking", made it a no brainer for me.

All of the above have proved to be true IMHO. This swap is not for one that wants to keep everything as Henry designed it, but it works for me.

(Does that do it, Joe?)

[Joe K]

Very nice. And I imagine after you sold that sidebowl, it became even more financially viable.

Well, maybe not - but something to keep in mind.

Thanks for the reply. You do the hobby a service.

Joe K

[CarlG]

Originally Posted by Joe K

Very nice. And I imagine after you sold that sidebowl, it became even more financially viable...

That was an unexpected bonus. The parts & pieces of the Zenith went several directions, paid for more than half of the price of the Weber.