Hello, I'm considering picking up a '28 Ford Roadster with a '56 331 Hemi. I don't know a whole lot about early Hemi motors/carb's, aside from a few details I've found on this forum. I'm hoping you guys can help me identify the carbs in the pictures below, and answer some questions i have about the setup. The Engine # stamped on the block is VT-448 – 1749C. There is a tag on the Rocker Arm covers that states Remanufactured in Calgary Alberta Chrysler method Model 981 – 1749 Mains Std. Bore 3 13/16 or 15/16 060 Rods Std. Date 23 11 62 The carbs appear to have been manufactured by Carter "Ball & Ball", and show some signs of leaking. Should the carbs and/or the motor need to be rebuilt, do you guys know if parts are easy to find?
For some reason they left the governors on that intake, most likely a truck motor. The carbs look like they've had some leakage issues but it's most likely just the modern fuel boiling over onto a hot engine.
VT-448 translates to a '56 truck 331. I have one except that mine has a more or less conventional two barrel carb. I've always wanted one of those manifolds, because it would be fun to open up the bores and use some adaptors and run a pair of small base 2GC's. The engine in my avatar has 2 2GC's adapted to a Wiend dual-quad manifold, and it runs real strong. I did a little figuring and I think the throttle bores could be opened up enough so that the flow wouldn't be strangled.
Thank you for confirming. What manifold is it? It also sounds like the factory truck heads are typically swapped out, however I'm not entirely sure what all has been done to this motor.
The Jalopy Journal
