1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

[Dave C.]

I have had my 3124 completly restored and I went to put the carb on the engine last week to fire it up and found the replacement fuel line fittings were to small for the carb inlets. I read some back posts from Joe Lucia and have figured out that the carb fittings have been changed. Two questions 1) are the orginal style fittings still available or 2) is there an updated adapter to work in its place.

thanks

Dave

[Verle R.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

Are you referring to the fittings that screw into the float bowls?
That suggests the float bowls have been changed.

Verle

[Dave C.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

Actually the fuel bowls are correct I believe just the fittings were changed.

[William C.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

The inlet fittings on a 3124 are unique to that carburetor. I do not believe they are interchangable with another type. Do you have a picture you can post?

[Dave C.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

It will be next week before I can get a pic - but will do so

thanks

[Jack H.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

There were two versions of the 3214 in production (early and late) with the early version having small bowl inlets and the later version (approx May of '65) having the large inlets similar to later year Holley carbs that would accept internal fuel filter cartridges. The early version of the fuel bowl (pretty scarce critter) used small brass nuts at the carb while the later version of the bowl used larger black steel nuts.

We have quite a few 396 cars in the Rocky Mountain chapter and they run the gammet in terms of their 3124 carbs (early factory, late factory and even later service replacement). All have no problem accepting the standard fuel lines that run from the GF-416 back to the carb.

My hunch is something wasn't right on your original setup and now that the carb's been 'restored' it's back to factory original configuration. Paragon sells perfect reproductions of the individual fuel lines (a kit for all three, pump to filter, Y-adaptor block, and adaptor block to front/rear bowls). Their version of the Y-adaptor block is a little different from a factory original (has Paragon's emboss), but they will sell individual sections of the fuel line to those who ask.

I'm guessing that the problem is in your fuel line fittings and not in the inlet 'plumbing' of your restored carb. Actually, I'm really hoping that's the case because if you had the early version of the 3124 with small acron inlets and brass nut, finding correct replacement parts is TOUGH!

[Mike M.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

the 3124 inlet fittings are unique to vette mark 4 engines. referred to as acorn fittings. believe Barry Blocker used to repo them--he owns a machine shop in the midwest. good luck, mike

[Wayne M.]

Small inlet w/brass acorn nut

Here's one that was on eBay a year ago.

Am I correct in assuming that ALL factory 3124's had small inlet bowls, and the difference in later production was that they got rid of the brass nut shown in the pic and replaced with a steel nut ?

And that the thread size of the brass and steel nut was the same, and is the same that would screw into the steel fitting on a center-hung bowl of (say) a 3247 ??

[Bill W.]

Re: Small inlet w/brass acorn nut

I think all factory 3124s had the small acorn nuts .

[Michael H.]

Re: Small inlet w/brass acorn nut

Wayne,

I agree, I think you have it right. Not exactly sure when the fitting changed from brass to steel but I believe it was some time during the run of 396 cars. The dimensions stayed the same. I don't think any 396 cars used the large fitting/bowl combination used on 66 and later but I suppose it's possible that some very late cars may have.

[Mike M.]

Re: Small inlet w/brass acorn nut

agree with wayne and mike. mike

[Jack H.]

Minor correction...

All 3124 carbs used in '65 production had small acron fuel bowls. The fitting nut DID change during the model year build. From the '65 JG:

"...Original fule inlet nuts are a small design constructed of brass on both the front and rear bowls. Steel fuel inlet nuts entered production on May 17, 1965."

It's the service replacement fuel bowls that will have BOTH the big steel inlet nuts and the large diameter acron cavities.

[Dave C.]

Re: 1965 396 - 3124 fuel inlet fittings

Thank you for the note - the carb date is end of June 1965, so it should have the later steel design what ever they look like. My carbs now have a brass larger style of some description.

Dave