Hello, I just bought a Nicson side draft intake from a fellow hamber, and I wanted to know what type of carbs it was originally set up for? It has zenith type flanges but what type of Zenith would it be set up for? Will these type of zeniths give me problems? I want to stick to the era of the manifold which is early 50's, so later side drafts (like the carter YH that are on it) just won't cut it for me. Anyone got any suggestions or ideas? thanks in advance! Chris
46-47 International COE is what I heard.Good luck.Heathen probably knows more than me.Those are early 50s carbs,53 Corvette.
I am ***uming that you got the intake huh? Try PM'ing Xderelict, that was his intake before I bought it. He may be able to help with the proper setup. Also early 50's Hot Rod Mags have an ad in them for this intake I am pretty sure. That may another place to find info.
Yes, that intake was cast with the Zenith side drafts used on late '40s/early '50s IHC C.O.E. trucks in mind. Roger Huntington's Chevy and G.M.C. speed manual (now available in reprint form) has a picture of the intake, complete with carbs.
That's great! Does anyone know the markings on the carbs from the COE truck carbs so that I can start tracking down 3 of them? thanks, Chris Oh and upon more research the carbs on the manifold in the picture are early 50's Nash carbs, They look almost identical to the corvairs except the corvair bodies were black from the factory. They might work, but I think I'm going to have clearance issues between the hood sides and carbs.
Hi, I have the same manifold and the carbs you want to find are the 80BV10 series. There are 3 versions (with a 4 digit part number on the dime size ID plate) of this carb that I know of, which is extremely rare compared to production on most of Zeniths other carb series. In fact I'm yet to find even one on eBay after looking for over a year. I did locate a carb shop in Missouri who had 2 NOS carbs but wanted $600 each. Even the kits for these are $90 each. The other option I contemplated was using a Zenith from a Harley or other bike. Good luck, hope this helps.
Carter YHs were used on Turbo Corvair's Olds turbo F85,53-55 Vette's and many marine apps plus others.
I guess after reading this post , i am once again confused??? WHY not use the Carter YFs like the 1953 Vette used etc. Also the marine Y Block Ford used twin Carter YFs as well. Pretty straight forward and seem to work very well, nice linkage chokes etc.
The two carbs on the ends of that manifold came off a twin carb marine manifold for a 327 amc engine.The carter yh's would be a period correct compromise until Zeniths could be found.
I have nothing to offer on the Zeniths, but I do have a story. A local here in Colorado Springs decided to build a sprint car style hillclimber for the '53 Pike's Peak race. He used a 270 GMC with high lift rockers, Nicson side draft intake and headers, and brand spankin' new Carter yh's ordered from the parts counter of the local Chevy dealer. The thing made a BUNCH of power, scared him going up the hill, so he never took it out of second. Over-revved it and hurt the engine. For the '54 season the GMC was replaced with a Ford flathead and '39 Ford trans. It ran the hill that year, and was never run again. My boss got the GMC and all the goodies earlier this year.
I agree - a set of SU would be a great choice, just not old school the way we think of it. Advantages: cheap to buy, cheap to rebuild, much tuning info on line, and the SU design matches the port type of the stovebolt, GMC and 292 type motors: each carb serves a pair of adjacent cylinders. The intake sequence (duration in degrees between intake strokes) isn't the same for all pairs, but some small changes fix it, just see the Jaguar jetting. Small/mild engine: H2 (1-1/4" throat) or H4 (1-1/2" throat) Hot/big engine: H6 (1-3/4" throat) They're available with integral bowls, divorced bowls, blah. If you use small carbs, you'll want to increase the vacuum piston spring tension to be sure the carb doesn't open all the way until the engine is nearly turning max.
Bubba Jim, if I didn't love ya I wouldn't correct ya. The Carter YF is a updraft carbie while the ones mentioned are YH's. Now for the rest, in my opinion the YH's were good enough for the '53 Corvette Bluestreak six, hot rod Y block marine engines, as well as Latham blowers back in the 50's, so why not this whimpy little intake for a baby Chevy motor? IMO you can't get much more "traditional" than that, eh?
Could someone post a pic of these Zenith sidedraft carbs??? I have heard the story of this intake before and have yet to ever see one of these carbs. I dont think I'm the only one that would greatly appreciate it. Thanks, PaX
just picked up a nicson 3carb sidedraft setup with zenith carbs on it numbers on it say 8810 on them maybe that number can help u guys out and these only have a 2hole flange and i believe the yhs have 3 mounting holes
First, the YH was first used in 1952, so early '50's. Second, Chevrolet thought enough of the YH to use 3 on the 1953~1954 Corvette 235. Third, GOOD LUCK looking for the Zeniths!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have over 150,000 carbs in inventory, and only two are the type 80BV10 (and they are different). Just for the record, Zenith made 6 different 80BV10 carbs. 7770 - I.H.C. 8108, 8179, 8495, 8496, and 8658 all used on various GMC trucks. Again, good luck on finding a set of three! Jon.
The Zenith 8810 is type 82BV10 (very similiar, yet different) to the 80BV10, and even rarer. We have only one of these in inventory. Jon.
i have three of theose on my intake but well worn dont even think they r restorable but i have the whole set up carbs linkage and nicson sidedraft manifold if anyone interested in it let me know
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