I want to add dual carbs to a '50 buick 263. A friend of mine has a 41 - 320 with dual carbs. I know the intake manifold will not fit, but can I use the carbs, and split exhaust manifolds on the '50 - 263 without problems?
Thanks.

The large Buick engine used SIGNIFICANTLY larger carburetors than the smaller engine on the compound carburetion.

You might not be happy with the response in the lower RPM ranges.

Jon.

I have a complete '40/41 248 CID dual carb setup with the exhaust manifold. This setup will fit the '38/51 Buick's. I do not have the air cleaners for the carbs.
If interested you can email me at: wmsteed@ix.netcom.com

Bill

Everything I've seen and read suggests that the carburetors are the same between large and small series: Stromberg AAV-16s in most cases. Are there internal differences taht aren't immediately apparent? I have a large variety of these that I've collected to build two good ones for my car. I hope I'm not mixing them up!

Matt - "AAV-16" refers to a physical carburetor size and type:

A - type A
A repeated = two-barrel
V vacuum power system
1 S.A.E. flange size 1
6 hot air automatic choke

It says nothing about internal venturi size (read air flow). The large series Buicks used a significantly larger main venturi on the inside of the carburetor.

How readily apparant are the differences depend on ones eyesight!

Jon.

If you want to add a dual carb set-up from a 1941/42 248 ci engine to a post war 248 or 263 you have to check the front engine mounts. Around 1948 or perhaps earlier, Buick changed the front engine mount arrangement to a mount on either side of the engine. The one on the drivers side will interfere with the dual carb exhaust maifold set-up. Evidently some guys have figured a way around this.
Good luck.
Joe, BCA 33493

Evidently there is a lot of confusion about just what the Buick compound carb setup is. I am not an expert on this system, however, since I have one in my position that is not attached to an engine, I can relate what and how the system is.

For starters.. the exhaust manifold is not a 'SPLIT MANIFOLD' it is a dual exhaust manifold with dual heat risers located under the carbs. There are two exhaust ports which slope to the rear of the manifold.

The carbs are Strombberg 'AERO STYLE', the front has an accelerator pump and a hot air automatic choke, the rear carb does not. The rear carb has a secondary butter-fly valve, w/counter-weight, mounted in the carb mounting base. This mounting base is thicker than the front mounting base to level the carbs up, allowing for the Buick engine angle.

I have had inquiries wanting just the 'split manifold', which as you can see would not do much good without the correct intake...

Bill