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Technical Rochester 4G Carburetors - smallbase/large base?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by tubman, Sep 18, 2017.

  1. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,724

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I did a search, and I found one thread where someone alluded to small base vs large base 4G's (like there are for 2G's). However, I did not find a definitive answer. Does anyone know : Did Rochester 4G carburetors come in different base sizes? (I am referring to the bolt pattern on the manifold.)
     
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2017
  2. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,319

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Yes, 55 was the big change even tho some smalls remained. First smalls were 1951-2. First bigs 1954 for the most part. No Chevrolet V8 or Pontiac V8 ever had a small base 4 barrel.
    Small base Rochesters 4GC and Carter WCFB's made excellent replacements Ford/Holley Teapots and bolted directly to aftermarket flathead V8 and inline 6 cylinder manifolds without an adapter.
     
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  4. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,724

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Thank you gentlemen; that was just the information I needed.
     
  5. 302GMC
    Joined: Dec 15, 2005
    Posts: 8,311

    302GMC
    Member
    from Idaho

    Some of the best running cars I've owned had the small base "Quadrajet" (yes, that's a factory term) 4 bbl.
    This one was the best - a '50 Cad 60S low miler with a fresh '53 4GC on a '52 intake. The car got well over 20 MPG, and would smoke the RR tire from stoplights just by flooring it ... this was a 4000 lb + Cad.
     
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  6. I'm a big fan of 4gc's


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  7. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,724

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I'm trying to be, but with the price of cores these days, it may take a while. I was fortunate enough to score a matched set of '53 Olds 4G's a couple of years ago.
     
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  8. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,319

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    They seem to work for me!! DSC00123.JPG
     
  9. Jimmy, are those Rochester carbs on a Y block Ford? That's very cool! I thought I was the only one running a Rochester on a non GM vehicle. My 1953 International has a Rochester 1 barrel on it


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  10. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,319

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Rochesters are too big and hit each other. Those are Carter WCFB's. Carb numbers are matching on the brass tags. One of the Mercury assembly plants used them instead of the Holleys and these are like those.
    Other than the bases, very similar to the 245/270 Chevrolet set up. Ford ran both carbs all the time unlike the Chevrolet which was progressive. I made the linkage progressive on these using some parts from the 427 Fords and homade parts.
     
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  11. I brought these two 4gc's back from the grave. The throttle shafts were all seized and the carbs were a hot mess. They are the originals for this '55 Eldo dual quad intake, high chokes. Got everything freed up and cleaned, then I put it on my 1960 Cad 390. Works great, I opened up the exhaust a bit and it flies, same mpg as before (14-16 on the hiway). I didn't clean the outsides at all, I love old looking stuff, and I love getting old stuff to actually work. I got a deal on the entire set up on ebay ($300) with the correct strait linkage (these were never progressive)

    [​IMG][​IMG]


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  12. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    I've got six of these carbs I'm trying to rebuild.

    Unfortunately, the tags are missing so I'm having a fun time trying to find the carb kits. I just received three Standard Hygrade kits that, from the pictures of the internals of the kit, seemed to have all of the different gaskets [ie top cover, and base to bowl].

    Yep, the kits are WRONG.
    Here is a picture of the bowl.
    [​IMG]
     
  13. carbking
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 3,868

    carbking
    Member

  14. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    Thanks for the links, but I've just about read them all, and from what I've found if the id tag is missing its almost impossible to nail down EXACTLY what it fit.

    However, from looking at many, many 4jet carb pics on the net, I believe I have nailed the carb down to a 66 Olds with a 425 engine. My carb looks exactly like the carb in the link below. Of course it will probably fit just about any big block powered GM from 66, and earlier.

    https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums/general-questions/31592-rochester-carburetors.html
     
  15. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,319

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Linkage makes up most of the differences especially in the 50-60's. Aftermarket carbs usually made only 2 Chevrolet and Ford. They knew where the money was.
     
  16. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    That makes sense.

    I finished building the carb today, and it was a little different vs any of the other carbs I've built especially those looong floats. I spent about an hour looking for a dang float spring that did not exist, and that was fun.

    Spent a bit more time trying to find [out of a pile of carb parts, {my father owned a carb repair shop}] a rubber cup for the accelerator pump as the one in the kit seemed a bit small, then I found out the rubber cup isn't supposed to fit tight in the accel hole.

    So, the next carb is going into the acid dip tomorrow, and it should be a bit easier, and quicker to rebuild vs the carb today. On the carb I'll be vatting tomorrow someone actually took the time to write OLDS BB on the side in paint, so there shouldn't be any confusion on the kit like the carb I finished today.

    Interestingly enough both carbs are the biggest 4gc's made at 692cfm [both also were mated to big block engines]. Strange that I ended up with two of them, I still have at least two more to build after these, but both of them are square bore, and look to be on the small, or med size.
     
  17. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    Sorry it took so long for the pics as you all know Photobucket isn't working for most of us. With that said, I'm trying different photo hosting sites, some take forever to upload a picture so I'm trying to figure out which site is best for me.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2017
  18. tubman
    Joined: May 16, 2007
    Posts: 7,724

    tubman
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Can someone explain to me why they use "Photo Hosting Sites"? I have all of my pictures in various sub-folders in my main Windows "Picture" folder. Every site I've been on as an easy way to upload them permanently. Upload and you're done; they're there forever. No "PhotoBucket" drama. I can see why years ago people used these sites, as data storage was kind of precious, but these days, for all intents and purposes it is infinite. The average "Smartphone" today probably has more data storage than there was in the entire world when I took my first "Data Processing" job in 1965. I worked for a major corporation then and we had an IBM 1411 disk system that held 14 megabytes, and we were the "Big Dogs" on the block.:D
     
  19. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    I wasn't aware that you could do that.

    Out of all of the forums I visit you're the first one I've read who does this. If you don't mind explaining how to do it, I would gladly take your advice. Send me a private message if you like.

    For example please tell me how you would do it on this site, thanks.
     
  20. jimmy six
    Joined: Mar 21, 2006
    Posts: 16,319

    jimmy six
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Eastwood gold, I have it too but don't like it. Been working with some Alodine from Aircraft Spruce but not having much luck. Some guys on YouTube have been doing some great work with Cad plating on small parts. I'm looking to try it. I have a large shaker with sand for snake/reptile tanks which has worked out well.
    Quite a few of my small base Carters have aluminum bases which I paint black. I don't think Rochesters had anything but cast iron. I always use an insulating plate under them. 1/4" and get them off E-Bay. I use a wide felt pen to make the edges black.
    Rochesters were considered replacements for Cadillacs that had Carters when new which came in for warentee work. Guess they are considered a better carb. I have a few I could never get to work right on my Y-Blocks. Carters always worked out and were ez to tune.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2017
  21. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    Does anyone here have a choke shaft, choke plate, and plate hold down screws for a 4G carb?

    I'm working on a 692 cfm 4GC off of a big block caddy engine, and all I need to finish is the choke parts above.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2017
  22. Post a pic.


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  23. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

    OK, here is a picture. It looks like the original shaft was approx 6 inches long. [which, after measuring is about what I figured its the same length as the carb I posted in the pic above].

    Anyway, here is the picture.
    [​IMG]
     
  24. I have a box of 4gc cores. That's the later body style with the low choke. If I have something that might work, you're welcome to it.

    I bought a dual quad set up, both carbs were missing choke plates and shafts. I started buying cores to get the missing pieces. I found out that the shafts are slightly different lengths based on what linkages they used for different applications. I never found the right shafts, but was able to adapt two to work. That was the older body with the high choke.

    I'll check tomorrow. I might have one with the low choke. You could also grab some cheap cores off Ebay, just look for bodies with the choke housing in the same location. Earlier 4gc's have it higher on the body, and the plate is a completely different shape.

    If I have something that might work I'll pm you and pop it in an envelope. I'm sure you would like to hear that tiger roar.

    Rock on


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  25. M-train
    Joined: Apr 22, 2016
    Posts: 30

    M-train

  26. I "pm'ed" you, I dug through some boxes of cores and found something that might work. You can have it, on me, just pm me your address and I'll pop it in the mail.


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