Carburator mystery in my '39

[Guest TECAKE]

I have a 39 Century 4 dr convertible w 320 ci engine...running but not great. Had some free time coming up and decided a carburetor rebuild wouldn't hurt...to my surprise on hunting rebuild kits, I have a carter 664 2bbl, which in my perusing different sites, is apparently for a '39 series 90 (?) Roadmaster .

It runs OK...but...its not the correct carb for sure. Should I replace with correct which could be either a Carter or Stromberg it seems, or just use and rebuild what I have? Opinions are welcome.

If anyone would know where in a production run Buick decided to use either Stromberg or Carter it would make my choices easier.

Thanks in advance.

[carbking]

The Carter 664s was originally used on 1948 and 1949 Buick series 70 with the 320 CID engine:

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/Kbuick2.htm

The Carter documentation indicates that the first Carter to be used on the 320 CID was 1940, not 1939; so if you wish to be totally original then your choice is Stromberg.

However, (opinion) since the 664s was a newer design than the WD-0 Carter used on the 1940 Buick, and also newer than the original Stromberg (Stromberg replaced the AA series carburetor in the early 1950's with the WW) I would suggest the 664s is an excellent choice for a "driver" that would lose a few points in a national show.

Also, the Carter WCD with the Carter metering rod design is much easier (albeit maybe initially more expensive) to modify for use in a variety of conditions (lower energy ethanol fuel, high altitude, etc.) than the Stromberg.

The WCD series Carter (the 664s is a WCD) was not obsoleted until the mid-1970's.

Jon.

Edited May 6, 2014 by carbking (see edit history)