early corvette Blue Flame 3 carb set up ?

Has anyone here run one? I just bought a '51 chevy coupe and guess what it came with?? it seems complete, carbs, intake fuel lines linkage and split exhaust manifold. I am going to pick the car and parts up this coming Saturday.

I'd be real interested in hearing from someone who ran one of these, info like good cam choice, does it get reasonable mileage? etc..

The original 216 is gonzo but it comes with 2 54 or up 235's one has the 848 head. Car has old paint which I'll leave, no rust at all, well...we'll see about that right?

I'll post pix on a new thread when I get it home.

Cheers!

Laz

 

Dang, it even has the factory split manifold? The Corvette restorers would freak over that!

 

You'll probably have to trim the driver side firewall reinforcing rib to clear the rearmost carburetor.

 

Yes it does, I've not found the air filters yet but think they should be here somewhere. it is unlikely the Corvette restorers are getting this...unless they don't run well....Wonder if the other motor has a 241 head....that would be the corvette head the intake and carbys came from.... saturday...

 

Has to be the coolest Chev hop up ever, and the slowest.

 

I'd like to see it. And I'm a Ford guy.

 

Pics?

 

Those were Carter Zf sidedrafts single barrels , worked pretty well as I recall. I knew a Chevy service manager that was a dyed in the wool 6 banger guy and used a complete take out 'vette engine in a '55 chevy 210 sedan. It was a total sleeper and surprised more than one v/8 driver. I would think that setup would be of value to a 'vette restorer if complete. I think that engine used a special cam also. S

 

I was thinking thay were carter YH carbs.

 

Pix Saturday, Honest Injun...

 

Good catch , at the very worse it will look cool.
Those are Carter YFs and was used on the Corvair, the Vette and the Ford Marine (boat motor) Y blocks.

 

Indeed!

 

That is a very good score. You are right, the restorers will be in a tizzy.

 

The Carter YH(orizontal), not to be confused with the YF(ord) or the very scarce YS(ealed) carburetors came in four separate and distinct "generations". There is some additional information in the "Eddie Miller Streamliner" thread on this forum.

As a caviat, the generic rebuilding kits available at the FLAPS have INCORRECT GASKETS AND FUEL VALVES. The incorrect gaskets can be modified if you know how, but the incorrect fuel valves will cause flooding.

If you can get the setup in your vehicle, I believe you will like both the performance AND the WOW factor.

Should you decide to install them, and you don't have one; acquire a uni-syn for synchronization of the three carbs. Not difficult if you have the tool.

Additional information: The YF's were used on other than Ford and the YS's were used on the military Jeep with the fording (underwater) package, thus the need for a sealed carburetor. The three series share very little other than circuitry technology and the "Y" prefix; virtually no parts are interchangeable (a very few parts are interchangeable from the YF to the YH).

Jon.

 

I love to wind up Corvette people, it's so easy ! Like when I sit on the front ( or any) fender of my ratty 59 and set a beer next to me...

 

Hay mictim64 I have one of those set ups for the Y block on a gray marine boat

 

Kopper Kart had'em.

 

Chev`s Blue Flame Six always reminds me of lighting Blue Angels ha ha ha ha ha.

 

I think that a lot of those dual exhaust manifolds were sold to hot rodders over the parts counter. I've owned several over the years, and most of them had date codes of '56 or '57.

 

I have done a few sets. What carbking said it dead on.
I can tell you from experimenting with them, the head and 261 cam from the corvette is where the benefit is.

What is the other part number of the other 235 head?

The 848 head is the generic 235 head.

 

They work great!! Early 60s, had a 54 -210 with a 261 and that setup. Suprised a lot of V-8 drivers!! Vette cam was the same as the 261 great mid end. My 261 was .060 over bore and had .060 off the 848 head. Got 18MPG or so at 70 . Just wish I had converted it to open drive line and a 4 speed. Killed lots of the stock 3 speeds and a few axles and tied up one drive shaft in a knot.

 

Yep late 54 and the few from 55 had that "upgraded" cam....from the 261.

That red vette in the pictures has been owned by the same guy since '60. He bought it out of the military and took it to Hawaii. Over there the head was replaced with a very nicely done and shaved 848. Installed and it ran great, but not quite what he remembered.

When he contacted me to do the cars tuning after it was restored in 04, I found an original "vette" head and had it redone.

I can tell you he cried cause the car was faster than he remembered as a young man. Hard to beat old memories that are usually better than the real thing.

That car would downshift and break the tires loose......

It would run away and hide from a stock 350.

Syncing the carbs correctly is mandatory.

 

The manifold is a clone but the p***ages are matching the diameter of the head exhaust ports. I found it at a Pacoima Swap meet and installed it. It does allow for better performance. The Power Plant is a late '53 Corvette that has a Clay Smith cam as a replacement. Howard Johanson gave us a lot of help with this project and yes it does make a great combo of street and strip. Fun car, dependable engine and the sound with a pair of 26 inch gl*** packs with 2 1/4 tubes is great. I'd do it again if I did find another of those sixes around.
Niormbc9

 

1953 BLOCK #3701481(early)-3835911(late) 150 horsepower. HEAD #3836606
1954 BLOCK #3835911 155(late w/261cam) and 150 horsepower engines. HEAD #3836241
1955 is the same as late 54 but only around 200 vettes with 6's were made.

 

here are some air cleaners
http://www.thehotrodcompany.com/shopnow/show_item.asp?product_id=120

 

friday night, truck is fueled, trailer attached. bet I won't sleep much tonight. Pics tomorrow!

Cheers!

 

I'm back at the shop, car is awesome! No rust at all. Carbs look great has air cleaners linkage and a nos choke cable the guy said was really special. Have a full pick up of parts to unload, car was full too . Diggin! Tried to upload pix from iPhone but they wouldn't go. Will post pix later.

Happy days!

 

here's some picz! What a great day! details to follow, bed time here

Cheers!

PS: The big question, run the Corvette set up OR the harper? I love some of the problems in my life!

 

Pix of the car. It is TOTALLY RUST FREE! Amazing! it came with 2 235's new WW tires, all sorts of parts, factory A/C set up and an vintage aftermarket unit, lots n lots of parts. Couldn'tbe happier!

 

This car was at the Chill show this year in Wichita. I think it was a 50 but it had a 6 with a 2 carb set up and split exhaust manifold. Really a nice car. Your's looks really good too and I think that Corvette intake/exhaust would really set it apart. Nice score.