396 carburator deductions

[Ken A.]

I have a 396 coupe that I hope to restore someday, so in the mean time I am trying to find the parts I need. I am currently looking at a couple of carburetors. One is supposed to be a correct carb for the 396, but it is dated after my car's build date. I also know of a service replacement carb, that I am told is the same part number, but a later date than the originals, and it is about $200 cheaper. So my question is, what difference does it make in judging? Both carbs supposedly have the same number, and both are later than my car, so would they get the same deduction and how much would that be? Thanks, Ken

[Mike M.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

i would think that both carbs would get identical deductions. those 3124's with appropriate dates will be costly. beware that some carb rebuilders grinding off the later date and re-stamping the appropriate dates. look closely at the back side of the air horn where the dates and list #'s are stamped as sometimes there is evidence of the air horn being re-stamped. mike

[Wayne M.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Mike --- I would think that a caliper measurement of the thickness of the air horn metal on each side of the stamp would tell if it had been machined enough to eliminate the unwanted number(s).

[Mike M.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

i believe the counterfeiters are silver soldering before stamping then gold cad to hide the silver solder. look for faint grinding scars on the back side which doesn't usually get the dedicated sanding as the exposed front surface. mike

[Dick W.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

i would think that both carbs would get identical deductions. those 3124's with appropriate dates will be costly. beware that some carb rebuilders grinding off the later date and re-stamping the appropriate dates. look closely at the back side of the air horn where the dates and list #'s are stamped as sometimes there is evidence of the air horn being re-stamped. mike

The better builders are rolling the numbers out and then revamping. If done properly, undetectable, incorrectly you can feel the lines where it was rolled out. I visited the matter at this over twenty years ago and watched it being done.Just don't before silver solder will work.

[Philip C.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

I have a 396 coupe that I hope to restore someday, so in the mean time I am trying to find the parts I need. I am currently looking at a couple of carburetors. One is supposed to be a correct carb for the 396, but it is dated after my car's build date. I also know of a service replacement carb, that I am told is the same part number, but a later date than the originals, and it is about $200 cheaper. So my question is, what difference does it make in judging? Both carbs supposedly have the same number, and both are later than my car, so would they get the same deduction and how much would that be? Thanks, Ken

Hi Ken I see your question wasn't totally answered, I would contact the judging chair of your chapter, or the national 65 team leader for the judging rule. We did get a nice lesson on how carbs are stamped and how to detect it. Phil 8063

[Rob M.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Ken,

If all other aspects are correct except the date, you should expect to lose 20% of the originality points assigned to the carb.

Hope this helps

[Ken A.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Rob, Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. I've gone with the service replacement. Ken

[Dick W.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Rob, Thanks, that's what I wanted to know. I've gone with the service replacement. Ken

My mind is fuzzy but I seem to remember that there are some other differences in the 3124 service replacements. Maybe someone will chime in with that info

[Carl N.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Dick, service carbs did not have the acorn nuts for the fuel lines on the bowls which is the most noticeable difference. These are now being re-popped and look too nice - have no idea how they will be judged - again how many $$$$$$ is each point worth?

[Wayne M.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Here's one (possible) difference that we discussed a long time ago; ie. the dimple near the gasket flange. I have only 2 service 3124's and the original is long gone. This one dated as shown with the wrong metering blocks, and another dated 8_7_4 has the correct blocks. Both have the large ['66-up] bowls. I didn't realize the small bowls with the acorn fitting were still being re-popped; always thought it was a limited run at high $$$.

Second pic is off eBay, showing brass fitting. Question -- when the '65 TIM&JG says later production used steel fittings, does it mean they just changed the material of the acorn, or does it mean they changed the bowl inlet design to the steel fittings we see in '66-up ?

[Carl N.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Wayne, the acorn nut is being re-popped NOT the fuel bowl - sorry I was not clear, don't want to get anyones hopes up and the re-pop nuts are not cheap $75.00 pair plus require rethread of bowls - they are sold as a replacement for "stripped" threads on the bowl - maybe to avoid problems with Holly and AC. As far as I know all the original "Acorn" nuts were brass - re-pops are brass. Most '66 up used steel with some re-issue carbs from Holley using aluminum - I have never seen a steel Acorn nut with the right threads, but that's not to say they don't exist out there!

[Bill W.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

DSCN1488.jpgDSCN1489.jpgHi Wayne . I dont want to hijack a thread but I have two original 3124s a 533 and a 553 both are complete , one restored by Kunz 20+ years ago (553) and one never touched (533) . Neither have a dimple .The place where you have a dimple is open casting .Both have orig. blocks , bowls and acorn fittings if anyone needs photos .

[Mike M.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

my original 3124, dated 532, has the dimples. mike

[Michael H.]

Re: 396 carburator deductions

Question -- when the '65 TIM&JG says later production used steel fittings, does it mean they just changed the material of the acorn, or does it mean they changed the bowl inlet design to the steel fittings we see in '66-up ?

Wayne

There's a pic of a new early production 66 425 HP that appears to have the same carburetor bowls with the small fitting as a 65 396. I think the picture was in a Hot Rod type magazine.

Would this mean that all 65 had the small fitting bowls? I don't know.