Slightly OT - possible rare carburetor

I want to put a small base 2GC on a Merc manifold on my '51 club coupe. I have obtained 4 slightly different carbs that look like they would fit. The one that looks like the best fit is numbered 7008597. My research tells me this may be the center carb from a 1965 GTO tri-power. If it is, would this be a desirable carburetotor for someone restoring a GTO? I'd rather see it being used that way than taking it "out of circulation" by using it on my car. I tried to get on the GTO board to post this question but couldn't because I'm not a member. Can someone who is a member there or knows for sure help me out?

Thanks,

Tubman

 

Where are you getting the number 7008597?

It is not a Rochester identification (tag) number.

It is not a casting number that was used on a 1965 GTO tripower.

You can access the GTOAA website without being a member, but there is no tech forum, just addresses. POCI used to require membership to access their tech forum; as I am no longer a member of POCI, I do not know if this is still true.

Jon Hardgrove (GTOAA carburetion tech advisor)

 

You would not be taking it out of circulation if you put it on your flatty unless you don't intend to drive the flatty, ever. If you can get it bolted on and working use it.

 

I agree with beano on this one. As long as it has gas going through it, it is still in circulation. You may end up with some crazy looney paint code date code pontiac guy chasing you down the road but it is not out of circulation.

 

Or you may end up painting your car a Goat color.

 

I think the 7008597 is an old GM part number. I found a lot of carbs by searching under that number.

Example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Car...Parts_Accessories&hash=item3a7a72d5c2&vxp=mtr

It looks like your suspicion is correct, it could be part of a 3x2-barrel setup. But based on the number of hits I got, they don't seem to be that scarce.

 

1965 Pontiac GTO Rochester 2GC Tri-Power carb numbers:

7024178 - Front

7025175 - Center w/ 4 speed

7025177 - Center w/ Automatic

7024179 - Rear w/ Automatic

7025179 - Rear w/ 4 speed

 

The Rochester's the guys on the ford barn say to get have a very similar cubic inch to the flathead. A 255 Merc wants a carb from a 265 or a 283.

 

The carburetor from the Ebay listing from S. Mazza is a Chevrolet carburetor, PROBABLY (although this is a guess without the identification number) from a 1959 or 1960 283. The 7008597 is a CASTING number, not an identification number. One CANNOT positively identify most Rochester carburetors from the casting numbers. This carburetor is definately NOT a tripower carburetor.

Since (to the restorers) genuine tripower carbs are worth significantly more than non-tripower carbs; many carburetors of unknown origin are listed as "possible tripower" carburetors in the hope of selling for much more. The thing is, virtually everyone that will spend the big bucks on the tripower carbs recognize them, and laugh at the spurious ads.

While the Mercury and the Chevrolet have different fuel curves, this carb is probably a good starting point to put on the Mercury engine. Idle tubes will probably require resizing, and the main metering jets and power jet will probably need replacing.

Jon.