LT-1 Carb Question

[Scott S.]

I went looking for a rebuild kit today and the guy at the performance shop was flummoxed by the List number on my carb. After searching through a couple of catalogues he said that it showed up as a Chevelle carb and he didn't have a kit. (btw...Holley tech support told me I need kit# 3-1184)

Can someone please tell me if I have the right carb for a '72 LT-1? Here's what it says on the choke horn:

3959164-GE
List 4346
0276

Thanks,
Scott (#45861)

[Jim T.]

Re: LT-1 Carb Question

Scott the Corvette Black Book lists for a 72 Corvette Holley R6239A and #3999263 for the 350/255HP LT-1.

[Scott S.]

Re: LT-1 Carb Question

Thanks Jim!

[Dick W.]

Re: LT-1 Carb Question

Scott, with that date, the carb is either a 1980 or 1990 built service replacement for something GM that used a Holley

[Clem Z.]

it is a 1969 COPO carb used on 302,396 and 427

all chevys

[Scott S.]

Re: it is a 1969 COPO carb used on 302,396 and 427

Come to think of it the guy at the shop said it was a '69.

If it's a COPO, any chance this is a a sought-after piece? Or do I watch too much TV?

[William C.]

Re: it is a 1969 COPO carb used on 302,396 and 427

I believe it is out of the Chevy Performance Parts catalog, not one used for any oem application.

[Joe L.]

Re: LT-1 Carb Question

Scott-----

As others have mentioned, it's definitely NOT the correct carb for a 1972 LT-1. Also as previously mentioned, it's a 1969 model year carburetor and this, particular, unit was a later-manufactured SERVICE unit for the 1969 application.

The 1969 applications were:

all L-78 engines installed in Camaro, Chevelle, and Chevy II

all passenger car L-72 engines

Camaro and Chevelle 427-425 HP applications (COPO-NOT ZL-1 COPO, though)

This carburetor should function well for a 1972 LT-1. However, it will lack several provisions for 1972 applications. These will especially include the EEC emissions control and idle solenoid provisions.

[Clem Z.]

wrong build date,i am sure someone can

correct that.

[Scott S.]

Re: LT-1 Carb Question

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I'm kinda new to this so I really appreciate having access to so much knowledge. I can live with this carb especially once it's rebuilt, but eventually I'd like to replace it with the correct piece. If I could get the right one for around the same price that I could sell this one for I'd be inclined to make the swap sooner rather than later.

With that in mind, can anyone suggest where I might find the 'right' carb? (R6239A and #3999263). I'm wondering if this is a matter of a few phone calls and a few hundread dollars or if I'm looking at more significant effort and expense.

Again, thanks so much for all the help!

[Joe L.]

Re: LT-1 Carb Question

Scott-----

It depends upon just how correct you want the carb to be. The R6239A was used only for 1972 Corvettes with LT-1 and 1972 Camaro Z-28 with manual transmission. So, there were never a lot of PRODUCTION-dated examples of this carb ever made.

However, the carb was available in SERVICE for many years and, more importantly, it's one of the carbs that Holley "brought back" about 12-15 years ago as a restoration carburetor. I don't think they make them anymore, but there might still be some around.

So, if you can live without correct dates, you might have a better and more economical chance to obtain an otherwise correct carburetor. If it were me and I had a chance to get an NOS/NEW but incorrectly dated carburetor versus a restored/rebuilt unit with correct dates, I'd take the NOS/NEW unit any day of the week (and, TWICE on Sunday!).