DB Stromberg Bronze Casting Warp Question

[Guest oldodgeboys]

I picked-up two carburetors made for a DB-4, a Stomberg MD and a Stromberg OD-1.

Both carbs have the same condition: the bronze mounting flange ears bow outward from the engine block slightly...about 1/8 inch give or take. Its so consistent between the two carbs that I wonder if the bronze casting was made deliberately this way; after all, the warp would help keep pressure on the mounting gasket and seal the carb against the block (or is that just wishful thinking?).

Has someone seen similar bronze carbs with this type of flange bow?

Should I leave it alone and mount the carb as-is, or try to bend the bronze ears, or make a spacer to make up the gap created by the bow?

The last thing I want to do is break the casting!

:confused: