55 buick carburetor identification and choke cover cap

[Bluebeard & Rainbow Brite]

Hey folks me again.  So unordered the wrong carburetor choke cap.  Can someone confirm if this carburetor is a stromberg or a carter.

 

Also any leads on a carburetor choke cap for this model

 

thanks 

[carbking]

It is definitely a Carter.

 

Once you identify exactly which Carter, finding the correct choke cap is easy, except for writing the check. Cheaper generic caps may also be available.

 

Jon.

Edited June 20, 2023 by carbking (see edit history)

[KAD36]

The short pivot shaft mounted on the throttle lever at the carb connecting to the throttle rod from accelerator at 3:00 looks loose…see what you think unless you were still working on it.

Also isn’t the the hot air tube (copper colored pipe at 9:00) supposed to go to a high heat source in the exhaust manifold vs open air else when you buy the cover it will look marvelous but open late and run rich.  Lastly even if you have electric wipers make sure that vacuum hose at 12:00 is not sucking open air and is plugged if so.

 

Get a shop manual and read the carb section.  If not then bookmark Hometown Buick.  Don’t see a tag on the carb for a number to reference the manual, so it’s,hard to tell if it’s the right one for the car but if it’s running decent and you want to assume it is the correct model WGD until proven wrong it’s a start…
 https://www.hometownbuick.com/1955-buick-carter-2-barrel-carburetor/

 

Disregard if you already had that link.  Web searches will reveal sources for new/used thermostatic cover if you know the carb #.  If not any carter 2bbl cap might physically fit but the thermostatic spring mounted inside the cover may be “clocked” differently at the setup temp of 70F or have a different spring rate than the correct original.  It could probably be adjusted to work it may not sit on the “ index” mark when you set it up or open the choke at the right rate but at least you’d have a functional choke. If you get the carb number sorted out someone on the team could get you the part number for the correct cap.  You’ll need the 2-3 machine screws to hold it on plus the retainers that go under the screws which you could probably fabricate.

 

There are a couple of things deserving attention first IMHO, past forum threads probably have what you’re looking for on heat source, repair, reference photos, etc and be good research time.

 

 

Edited June 20, 2023 by KAD36 (see edit history)

[old-tank]

That is probably the wrong carburetor for a 55 since the heat tube connection to the choke housing should be at the back or side.  You have apparently bypassed the fuel pump at the right front of the car and used rubber lines.  Any fuel line on top of the engine should be steel.  When not if those rubber lines failed near the distributor you will have a Krispy critter.  Also don't depend on spring clamps on a pressurized line.

[KAD36]

2 hours ago, old-tank said:

55 since the heat tube connection to the choke housing should be at the back or side.

Was wondering about that also…

[Bluebeard & Rainbow Brite]

On 6/20/2023 at 6:21 AM, KAD36 said:

The short pivot shaft mounted on the throttle lever at the carb connecting to the throttle rod from accelerator at 3:00 looks loose…see what you think unless you were still working on it.

Also isn’t the the hot air tube (copper colored pipe at 9:00) supposed to go to a high heat source in the exhaust manifold vs open air else when you buy the cover it will look marvelous but open late and run rich.  Lastly even if you have electric wipers make sure that vacuum hose at 12:00 is not sucking open air and is plugged if so.

 

Get a shop manual and read the carb section.  If not then bookmark Hometown Buick.  Don’t see a tag on the carb for a number to reference the manual, so it’s,hard to tell if it’s the right one for the car but if it’s running decent and you want to assume it is the correct model WGD until proven wrong it’s a start…
 https://www.hometownbuick.com/1955-buick-carter-2-barrel-carburetor/

 

Disregard if you already had that link.  Web searches will reveal sources for new/used thermostatic cover if you know the carb #.  If not any carter 2bbl cap might physically fit but the thermostatic spring mounted inside the cover may be “clocked” differently at the setup temp of 70F or have a different spring rate than the correct original.  It could probably be adjusted to work it may not sit on the “ index” mark when you set it up or open the choke at the right rate but at least you’d have a functional choke. If you get the carb number sorted out someone on the team could get you the part number for the correct cap.  You’ll need the 2-3 machine screws to hold it on plus the retainers that go under the screws which you could probably fabricate.

 

There are a couple of things deserving attention first IMHO, past forum threads probably have what you’re looking for on heat source, repair, reference photos, etc and be good0 research time.

 

 

first off thanks for all the info.  secondly there are to lines here one that is cut and the second one runs up to that tube that is attached to nothing in the other pics ( I think it's the old vacuume hose for the wipers) I also have an electric fuel pump.

 

thanks again

  

[Bluebeard & Rainbow Brite]

On 6/20/2023 at 10:59 AM, old-tank said:

That is probably the wrong carburetor for a 55 since the heat tube connection to the choke housing should be at the back or side.  You have apparently bypassed the fuel pump at the right front of the car and used rubber lines.  Any fuel line on top of the engine should be steel.  When not if those rubber lines failed near the distributor you will have a Krispy critter.  Also don't depend on spring clamps on a pressurized line.

Yes I agree I want to change them to steel lines front to back.  I'm a little concerned that it isn't the right carb on my car. seems to be making it difficult to get the right parts.  Question I'm having difficulty finding the two spots on the manifold where the pipe goes in and comes out the other side.  also does the heat wrap go into the Manifold as well?

[carbking]

The carburetor pictured is a Carter type WCD. Carter produced dozens of different type WCD carburetors; Buick did use some type WCD carbs in earlier years.

 

Something else that I see occasionally is that the obvious is an incorrect carburetor. The not so obvious is the carburetor IS correct for an incorrect engine. Have you verified that the engine is a '55 engine?

 

Once you identify the engine, AND the carburetor; you can determine if the carburetor will work on the engine, or if you need to look for a carburetor.

 

Carburetor parts are quite easy for most models of the WCD (yours) or the 1955 WGD.

 

Jon

[old-tank]

The engine is a Buick, so the carb should have a vacuum start switch on the back side if originally on that engine.

[carbking]

Several different makes used the WCD; the OP really needs to identify what is there.

 

Jon.

[old-tank]

Two carburetors that I used on a Buick 264, one is the Stromberg the other is a Carter.  Also a picture of the manifold showing the location for the heat pipe to the choke.

Edited June 26, 2023 by old-tank (see edit history)

[old-tank]

One more thing:  get a service manual.