Well, I've been dealing with Stormbergs for a long time and just was informed that the Elmira, Strombergs are rare..True.. I have lots of them..I only see that they are the embossed circle with no 97 logo??? Duane..
So why are they called Elmira, and do they just have an embossed circle with no number, or is there more? And what makes they so rare? Just never heard the term before.................other than the song.
Uncle Max on here will know. As I understand it, the Elmira were aftermarket replacement Strombergs built under license. I believe they had a third circuit for enrichening the off-idle circuit...
Stromberg carbs were first built in South Bend Indiana, and later in Elmira ,New York after the company was aquired by the Bendix Corporation during WW2. Other than some small tooling changes the carbs are very similar. One must remember that at one time, the EE-1 style was used in 13 different automobiles, not just Fords, this accounds for different tops, choke configurations, jetting, power valve machining, etc.
Flat Ernie.Your right about the off idle circuit. If you look at them the have the small dump tubes in the venturies..I understand that the new 97s have a very close management system as the Elmirs..Actually, they are best for big block engines, ie..Hemis..they run richer which the big bores like..Anyway, I was just courious, about the info I received..Been doing this a long time and never knew.. Learning is great.. Build the past to todays standards..Of course. Duane.
What 4 port Riley says is true, and there are other differences as well between the Elmira versions, of which there were at least three. Some were blanked in the circle where the "97" usually is and some were marked. All were EE1-1 designated. Most, but not all came with the chevron or "V" shaped base. Some of these bases, again not all, had the third protruding idle squirter. (these have been plugged in the latest English carbs) Others were plumbed from the right side venturi, into the base, for a vacuum take-off when used with the old Ford Loadamtic distributors. These carbs were sold at dealerships and places like Western Auto and Pep Boys, as a direct replacement for the Holleys of the era. Another difference is that the Elmira carbs had very small auxilliary airbleeds adjacent to the idle jets - only about 1/2 the size - just under 1/16" - of the bleed holes in Southbend carbs. If you mix and match them, you need to drill these bleed holes to the Southbend size (7/64"). The idle jets are .030" instead of .025" as well. Finally, if you're using a Southbend body on an Elmira base, don't forget to notch the venturis to fit around the squirters. That's all I'm good for tonight. . .
In 1972 I went to work for Bendix at their Motor Components Division in Elmira. As I recall they were just starting to phase out production of the 97 about then. They were building the 97s for the service (replacement) business for a variety of vehicles. It seems to me that most were used on school buses and medium duty trucks. That particular factory was very vertically intigrated. They poured the casting and machined most of the other parts in house. That ment that all of the tooling, blueprints etc were all in that factory and when they made the decision to exit the business I tried to tell management that the 97 tooling was valuable and they should try to sell. Not being car guys they didn't want to hear it and just trashed it all. I can only imagine how many 97s would be out there today if they had saved that tooling and sold it to someone who knew what to do with it.
I have an Elmira mid section sitting next to a South Bend mid section on Bud's B. To me, the Elmira was exactly like the SB except for the small lettering on the right side. Both have the large "97", the same idle circuits (as far as I can tell), and I'm pretty sure the Elmira was on a regular D base, but that obviously could have been switched sometime in it's life.
I have two Strombergs, they are identical, except, one has the small 97 embossed and the other has nothing there at all. What does that mean?
Small 97's, in my experience, all seem to be original Ford ones; They carry a small "67" above the 97 size designator and a matching "67" right above that on top casting if all is original. The "67" is the Ford part number prefix, put there so parts man could distinguish the new carb stuff from the 48. If there's nothing where the 97 goes, no numbers AND no circular pad, carb is very likely a 48. Many 48's carry the 48 part number prefix in tiny letter cast at upper edge of left side. The 48 stamped on the back is the normal jet size for a 48, and has nothing to do with the 48 part number... I do not know if any large-character 97's came via Ford...just know the small ones did.
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