Wanted: 29 Super 8 carburetor

[jrbartlett]

Anyone have a spare, useable carburetor for a '29 Super 8? A replacement Stromberg SF4 or Zenith 63AW14 would be OK too, if I can't find an original Detroit Lubricator or Packard Air-Valve carb.

Please contact jbartlett1@houston.rr.com or call me in the evening at 713-661-1659. Thanks.

[Guest 39Super8]

check on ebay item# 190091613133 I think this is what you are looking for. I have no idea if it is priced right. Good luck.

[jrbartlett]

Actually, the air-valve carburetor on E-bay fits a Standard 8, not a Super 8. The throat size and mounting bolt distance are different.

But sometimes you get lucky. A friend just called and offered to give me a Zenith 63AW14 carburetor, which is one of the possible replacement carburtors that people traditionally put on Packards. What makes this even better is that the carb was given to him by my father some 40 years ago -- so now it's coming back.

[carbking]

If this is a vehicle that you plan to drive much, you will be much happier with the 63AW14 than with the original Detroit. None of the older "airvalve" carbs really like modern fuel; especially when ethanol is placed in the mix. Since the 63AW14 is fully adjustable, one can compensate for the fuel differences.

Jon.

[jrbartlett]

A fly in the ointment. It turns out that the gift carburetor is not a Zenith, but a Stromberg SFM-3, which may not be big enough for a '29 Super 8. Any opinions?

Also, I see references here and there to new Zenith updraft carburetors being available, but cannot find anyone who has them. Any suggestions?

[carbking]

The Zenith 63AW14 is a size 4. The corresponding Stromberg would be an SF-4 or (marine version) SFM-4. The Stromberg SF-3 is a size 3 and suitable for the standard 8 Packard, but not the Super 8.

The new Zenith carburetor are size 1 (O-14991) and size 2 (O-14992). These are the zinc alloy 68 series, and 267 series carburetors. The larger sizes (cast iron) were discontined several years ago. We got the last of the larger sizes, but the new 63AW14's are long gone.

Of course, you could fabricate a "hot rod" manifold, and use four of the size 2's <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> This would approximate the flow of a single size 4.

One caviat to all reading this post. The "new" Zenith carburetors have a fuel valve intended for use with an electric fuel pump. We have been modifying and selling these things for years. A few years ago others with no knowledge of fuel flow requirements also started selling these for use on gravity feed systems, with disasterous results. One MUST modify the fuel valve for use with the fuel system. Two actual examples: a 1971 Pontiac 455 H.O. V-8 with 850 CFM Rochester (actually 839) has a fuel orifice of 0.132 inches (pressurized fuel system); a 1928 4 cylinder Chevrolet used a fuel orifice of 0.140 inches (gravity feed). It is not difficult to do a little planning, and eliminate problems of this type from occuring. There are now several who are selling the carbs with the proper fuel valves. If you are considering a replacement - ASK! If the salesman doesn't know what you are talking about, expect to do the modification yourself.

Jon.