Hey Guys I'm posting here because I think you might be the only ones that would know. I have a Stromberg AAV on my 55 Buick Special, it never really performed well, and then I picked up some dirt from a bad gas tank and now I can't get it unclogged. I've tried taking it apart and rebuilding it, running wire and carb cleaner through the p***ages, soaking it, but it's just not right. I want to swap to a better carb but keep the manifold. Would a Carter BBD fit my manifold. I tried a 2 barrel from a 72 Lemans I had laying around but it was too big, as was the Holley 2 barrel I had. What is out there that fits my small bolt pattern 4 bolt manifold?
The Stromberg type AAV- is one of the better older 2-barrel carbs ever made. I would suggest determining WHY it has never performed really well. But if you really want to change: Early production 1955 Buick series 40, in addition to the Stromberg, used a Carter WCD. The WCD was replaced in mid-year by a WGD. Buick NEVER used the cheaper BBD. The Stromberg type AAV was replaced in mid-1955 by the type WW. And no offense meant, but are you sure the carburetor is your issue? That Stromberg AAV is darn near bullet-proof! There are LOTS of carbs that use the small base 4 bolt throttle body, but the only ones that MIGHT work better than the one you have is the 1955 Buick Stromberg WW or the 1955 Buick Carter WGD. On a scale of 1 (awful) to 10 (wonderful) I would give the AAV a 8 and 3/4 to a 9 for the WW and a 9 and 1/4 for the Carter WGD. Jon
Really? Well I ***umed the Carter would be a better carburetor considering it uses metering rods so it can change the fuel curve depending on engine load much like a AFB or an Edelbrock which are both nice driver carbs. Whereas the Stromberg just has plain Jets, with an enrichment circuit and nothing else much like a Holley. Right now to get the car to the highest vacuum at idle the left mixture screw is out 4 1/2 turns the right screw is only out 2 turns. So there's some thing plugging the p***ages. I've tried soaking it, running thin wire through the p***ages, compressed air, carb cleaner, and forcing oil through them. But I couldn't get it right. The local rebuilder wants around $400 to rebuild it. So at this point it's like just buy a better carb. There has to be a more efficient and responsive carb out there that would bolt on?
The BBD does not use metering rods (different steps), it uses step-up rods (one step, on or off). Different calibration jets are virtually unobtainable unless you own a machine shop. The BBD jets are a pain to machine. First one has to machine the physical jet, with whatever orifice is desired; then the upper part of the jet must be machined for a steel "guide" to maintain the position of the step-up rod. A new guide must be machined from steel, and pressed into the upper part of the jet. Also, due to the design, the throttle shaft/throttle body wears badly. I can not recall EVER seeing a used BBD that did not require a new throttle shaft and bushing the throttle body. The Carter WCD / WGD mentioned in my earlier post DO use metering rods. And the jets are interchangeable with those from an AFB; although if you stick with the original WCD / WGD, no calibration changes should be necessary. Jon
Ok so is there a more common carb I could run? The WCD and WGD for a 55 or 56 buick aren't all that common. Is there something like a 2GC that fits? Rochester 2gcs are everywhere. Basically I'm hoping for a more common 60s-70s carb. Or os it really worth just finding the WCD/WGD
In the FWIW category, the Stromberg adjustment range on your carburetor is 1/2 to a MAXIMUM of 2 turns; with the normal setting of 1 1/4 turns. Anything OVER 2 turns will impair the idle. Have you run a compression test? Jon
Thanks for the question, but no longer have the time to rebuild anything; the kit business keeps me too busy. Since you have pertronix, have you upgraded to an alternator? Jon
No I have a freshly rebuilt generator. It works fairly well I'm running right around 13 volts at idle
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