What kind of carb. could we use at a 1929 Continental engine ?

[ThomasBorchers]

Hello !

Now we have the engine timing, new pistons, new valves, gasket set and a new problem with our 1929 Continental 11 E Engine : The carburetor. It is a Stromberg T2 and the housing is in very bad condition. I asked already at "The carburetor shop" but the said that it is very hard to get a good carb like this.

Has somebody an idea which carb. we could use instead of the Stromberg ? It is an updraft type and the engine is a 6 cylinder with 230 cui.

Thank you

Tom

[Guest De Soto Frank]

Thomas,

Did the Carburetor Shop recommend a suitable substitute carb ?

If you measure the mounting flange on the intake (spacing between the bolt holes and diameter of the opening of the intake, you should be able to find a carb that will physically fit, which could then be jetted to match your engine, if necessary.

Carter made an updraft carb that was commonly used as a replacement carb for up-draft systems, and was also used on 1929-31 Chevrolets (194 cid). I've seen this carb adapted to mid-1920's Chryslers too...

There was another Carter updraft used on Chevy and GM Cab-over trucks in the 1940's & '50s...

There is also a Zenith carb currently being offered for Model A Fords (200 cid) that might service your engine...

Just some ideas...

I guess I should also ask if this is a single-throat carb with an "oval" or "diamond"-shaped mounting flange, or a two-throat "dual" carb with a square flange ?

Good luck !

[ThomasBorchers]

Hi Frank,

good ideas ! We will try it as first with a Model A carb which we should have in stock.

No, the carb shop didn't tell me what kind of carb I could use.

Greetings

Tom

[Guest De Soto Frank]

These engines are usually "unsophisticated" enough to run off of almost anything; you may have to do some tweaking to get best driveability/fuel economy...

In the US, the last common place to find up-draft carburetors was on farm machinery: things like Farmalls and the 2N / 8N / 9N Fords... I think they used updraft carbs into the early 1960s, at least.

Good luck !

[Mike Cullen]

The Ford "N" series tractors are a good source they used Zenith, Marval-Schebler and others I assume. They are available from Central Tractor Supply. (somewhere in Iowa I think. They have a website I'm sure. I was surprised at the used parts available as well as new/rebuilt parts for my 8N, it was an early one with the front distributor and they seemed to always have everything I needed)

[Guest De Soto Frank]

Our Ford 2N had a Marvel-Schebler TSX 33 on it...

Our Farmall A had a Zenith... both carbs had an adjustable main jet...

Where either carb may fall short is that they were used on fairly constant-speed /governed farm equipment, and therefore had no accelerator pump... but then I don't think the Model A Ford carb had an accelerator pump either...

The two Carter up-drafts I spoke of previously do have accelerator pumps...

I think I could probably rebuild either farm tractor carb with my eyes closed, even now, twenty years after leaving the farm...

[Ivan Saxton]

Radco Carburetor and Motor Tuneup Manual says that all Stromberg T carbs are practically the same as Stomberg O with the exception of the float bowl assembly design and the high speed air bleed, but all specifications as to principle of operation and jet diagnosis are the same. Model O is built with bronze castings. You should look for an O2 or OE2. OX2 is similar, but the mounting flange is turned 90 degrees.

[carbking]

Probably the reason The Carburetor Shop did not suggest an alternative is insufficient or conflicting information was given, or the question was not asked.

What is the application for the Continental 11E? All of the information in our files suggests that the Stromberg used on the Continental 11E was a cross-flange carburetor (TX-2).

There are no records in the existing (mostly complete) Stromberg files suggesting that a T-2 was used on the Continental 11E; however, there are a few holes in the files.

Replacing a T-2 is quite easy, as there are a number of universal units which may be used, in different qualities and different price ranges. Replacing a TX-2 with a more modern carburetor is often quite difficult; as the more modern units are a straight-flange carburetor, thus requiring a cross-flange adapter. Often the space required for the cross-flange adapter will cause a physical interference. Generally, the best replacement (albeit expensive) for the TX-2 is the earlier brass OX-2. One simply must calibrate the OX-2 to duplicate the calibration in the TX-2.

Jon.