carb ID

[John H.]

Can anyone ID this carb for me? It is a WCFB without the ID tag on it -
air horn = 6-1020
main body = 0-953
base plate = 1-1387
It has a top choke, no aux butterflys in the secondary barrels and it has fuel level inspection plugs (screw in) on one side of the primary and secondary float bowls similar to some hollys. The air horn has the small tubes where the brass vent cross tubes could be fitted. TIA, John.

[Joe L.]

Re: carb ID

John------

It's an "oldie". It's either a WCFB 2218S or a 2351S. Both were used for the 1955 model year for passenger cars and Corvettes with 265 cid engines. It's possible, though, that some components or configuration elements have been changed over the years so it may not be 100% correct, as-is.

For carburetors, the original type number or GM part number defines an EXACT configuration. If one changes any component on the carburetor, technically, the original carb number no longer applies. The carb then becomes some other number or an "orphan" unit with no real "identity".

[Joe L.]

Addendum

John-----

Something else that I should have mentioned is that the carb numbers that I provided are likely the applicable ones IF the carb is an original CHEVROLET WCFB. During the 50s, WCFB's were also used on Buicks, Cadillacs, Pontiacs and Chrysler products. The identification numbers of the main components of the carbs may have been the same for carb numbers used on other car lines. My reference sources for non-Chevrolet WCFBs are currently very limited.

I feel very confident that the carb is a 1955-era carb, though, and the air horn and main body casting numbers work for the 2 carb numbers that I mentioned previously. However, the throttle body number concerns me. I would have expected a 1072S for the 2218S or a 1334S for the 2351S. It's possible that the 1387S was used, though. Or, it could be that this is a "clue" that the carburetor was originally used on some car besides a Chevrolet and is a carb number other than the 2 I previously provided.

Sometimes, WCFBs will have the carb ID number stamped on the bottom of the throttle body ("base plate"). You might check it to see if there are any numbers stamped there. It's unlikley, but possible.

[John H.]

Re: Addendum

Joe;
The throttle body has the number "1486" stamped on the bottom. It is a thin base (7/8") similar to bual quad and has 1-19/64" bores. Do you have any reference for its application? Thanks for the info, John.

[Joe L.]

Re: Addendum

John-----

The 1486 stamping on the throttle body would indicate a throttle body for a carb used as part of a dual 4 barrel installation. I can't find any reference to this number used for a Chevrolet or Corvette application, though. It could be Cadillac, however. Cadillac used a 2 X 4 set-up on some engines from 1955 through 1957. Curiously, this is the exact same period that the rest of the carb components seem to be from.

[John H.]

Re: 1486 carb, Thank you, John. *NM*