1920's Buick Marvel Carburetor Rebuilding

[Hubert_25-25]

This is the 1920's Buick Marvel Carburetor Rebuilding Tech paper that I started several years ago.  I have posted this before, but it was added into other threads and I am wanting to post this once in a place where I can make updates to it.  I keep learning more about these Marvel carburetors, the more time I spend with them.  I also have learned more about other years and this paper applies to them as well.  Others have made parts, and I too have made a few parts and I want our community to know where to find these parts.  Observe the date in the upper right of the first document as that will change with revisions.  Hugh

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by Hubert_25-25 (see edit history)

[broadstreet3]

We make replacement float bowl covers for nearly all Marvel carburetors as well as metering pins.   Vintage Carburetor Ltd.   Website:   www.vintagecarb.com   Email:   broadstreetltd@msn.com    Phone:   440-786-8141  (no text)

[carbking]

First time I have seen this write-up, VERY well-done!

 

A couple of comments:

 

(1) The metering pins are NOT even close to being universal, there are at least 2 dozen different. Always go by the updated bill-of-material for the carburetor. The Marvel prefix for the metering pin is 173.

 

(2) No offense meant, but I would disagree with soldering the main jet and redrilling. Gasoline will erode regular solder the way the Missouri River erodes levees. Possibly if one uses silver solder, which is significantly harder than regular solder. However, the main jet is just about 3/8 to 1/2 inch at the top of the main jet standpipe that unscrews (if one is very careful) from the main jet standpipe. Different original jets might be difficult, but anyone with a jewelers lathe can make one. Marvel made at least dozens, perhaps hundreds of these jets. I have not spent the necessary time to document these things.

 

Jon.

[Terry Wiegand]

As always, Hugh does a fantastic job at what he sets out to do.  I, and a lot of others, will hope that he will do something like this for the Marvel units without the heat riser in them.  There were gazillions of those made before the heat riser came along.  The folks closing up the shop in Phoenix dealt a horrible blow to Marvel Carburetor Restoration.  They truly understood them and made them work like new when they were done with them.

 

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas

AACA Life Member #947918

[hidden_hunter]

19 hours ago, carbking said:

(2) No offense meant, but I would disagree with soldering the main jet and redrilling. Gasoline will erode regular solder the way the Missouri River erodes levees. Possibly if one uses silver solder, which is significantly harder than regular solder. However, the main jet is just about 3/8 to 1/2 inch at the top of the main jet standpipe that unscrews (if one is very careful) from the main jet standpipe. Different original jets might be difficult, but anyone with a jewelers lathe can make one. Marvel made at least dozens, perhaps hundreds of these jets. I have not spent the necessary time to document these things.

 

Is it ethanol gas that's particularly problematic or something present in all gas?  

[carbking]

All fuel will have this effect on solder. Solder is extremely soft. One can literally scratch it with one's fingernail.

 

Jon.

[Hubert_25-25]

Rand and Jon, 

   Thank you for your input.  It allowed me to make another revision to my notes.       

Terry,  

   Thank you for the kind words.  Much of what is in this article is directly applicable to the early carburetors.  Clean them well, blow thru the orifices, replace the gaskets where necessary.  The earlier ones are more durable as they do not have all the pot metal parts.     

Hugh

[carbking]

On 12/27/2021 at 11:54 AM, Terry Wiegand said:

As always, Hugh does a fantastic job at what he sets out to do.  I, and a lot of others, will hope that he will do something like this for the Marvel units without the heat riser in them.  There were gazillions of those made before the heat riser came along.  The folks closing up the shop in Phoenix dealt a horrible blow to Marvel Carburetor Restoration.  They truly understood them and made them work like new when they were done with them.

 

Terry Wiegand

South Hutchinson, Kansas

AACA Life Member #947918

 

I too was saddened when Classic Carbs closed, for a couple of reasons:

 

(1) Larry was a close "telephone" friend. We never met in person, but spent an average of an hour a week via telephone for about 30 years! I lost a really good friend when Larry passed. I spoke to Mark less frequently, but still probably once a month. Larry handled the office, Mark was the machinist/rebuilder.

(2) They were among our top 3 customers for about 30 years. We sold them a ton of carburetor rebuilding kits.

 

Of course, it is the way of the world, but have lost a lot of friends in the hobby in the last few years.

 

RIP Larry

 

Hopefully, someone else that has the desire will start a quality restoration service of all the antique carburetors.

 

Jon.

 

 

[Hube1iam]

This is awesome Hugh. Thank you very much. What a valuable tool you’ve provided. I’ll let you know how we make out

[michealbernal]

Hugh.  I sure wish I had this info when I was working on my Marvel carb.  I burned off copies and put them in my 1928 Buick file.  Thanks