Autolite 4100 carb replacement for 64 galaxie

I'm looking to replace my Autolite 4100 carb for a carb that I can simply plug and play. Are there any suggestions out there? It's a 600 cfm 1.12 Venturi comming off of a 390fe big block. Maybe a Holley or Edelbrock or should I just get my Autolite rebuilt...it's going to cost around the same amount to buy a new one. What to do...what to do.

 

An aftermarket 600 CFM HOLLEY LIST #1850 will work well.

 

Hi...thanks for the response. Could I use my existing original linkage set-up on that Holley?

 

What Frenchtown said, and make sure the carb has a "kick down lever" if your car has an automatic. I may be interested in the autolite, if you want to sell it. Regards, Tom.

 

Yeah, it's an automatic. Not sure about selling the Autolite...I'm just getting my feelers out there getting prices and such. It seems like getting the car b rebuilt is going to cost around 300 dollars to do a complete rebuild. From what I hear on this forum is that this carb is really easy to rebuild. I'm not that mechanically inclined.

 

The 4100 carb is one of the best carbs ever built by anyone. They are very simple to rebuild, but make sure to get a quality kit by Motorcraft or Tomco.

 

I bought one from napa....think that'll work?

 

NAPA rebuild kit should be good. Be sure & turn the carb upside down and apply solvent/carb cleaner to the transition slots. They usually collect trash and really screw up the idle mixture.

 

I rebuilt carbs for living in the 70s. That is very good carb. If you build it youself be sure to take the accelerator pump housing and sand the mounting surface on a flat surface. They warp over time from over tightning and heat. Be careful with the plastic lever on the chake ,they broke easy 30 years ago. It's probably the least complicated carb to put a kit into.

 

I had a 65 Galaxie with a 390 and a 4100 in the 80's. At the time, I managed an auto parts store. My carb had a stripped screw hole in it, so I replaced it with a Holley II, rebuilt 4100. Actually, I replaced it about 5 or 6 times because all of them ****ed air around the throttle shaft.
Finally, I found one that worked great! I was setting the mixture when the engine started ticking, then clacking, then a gallon of coolant poured out of the right tailpipe. Removing the right head, I found the 59 cent hose clamp I thought I had lost. It was sitting on top of a piston.
The whole side of the block around that piston was gone.

Oops.

 

People aren't kidding when they say that the 4100 is one of the best 4 barrels ever designed, engineered or built by anyone anywhere.

It will run circles around a similar Holley and will be far more reliable with less maintenance for a longer period of time.

Any and every Autolite 4100 is both a keeper and a collector piece.


check this link and scroll down the page....

http://www.ponycarburetors.com/default.asp?page=carburetors#tripower

Pony carbs sells nice rebuilds for twice the price of a new holley 600/650.

Diagram:
http://www.ponycarburetors.com/images/pdfs/4100.pdf


jmho


.

 

With the exception of "custom" carburetor kits done by hobby enthusiasts, ALL carb kits (including ALL parts house kits) are produced by either Weithington or Walker and then reboxed.

Jon.

 

The last one I did I used a Borg-Warner kit and it came out good. I took the whole thing apart, dropped off the big pieces at a local speed shop to have them cleaned. The rest was a piece of cake.

I had an issue at a local race track with a stock car, got busted for running a Holley, no fine or anything but they said to change it. Went to an Autolite for the next week and it was just as fast as it was with the Holley.

Bob

 

From ponycarbs website

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Frequently Asked Questions
[/FONT] ​

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Why is the Autolite 4100/2100 the best carburetor ever built?[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]

Keep in mind that the Autolite/Motorcraft 2100 is the front half of the 4100 and basically everything (except secondary items) applies.
Why the 4100? For years we have been touting the Autolite 4100 as the finest 4 barrel ever built. This is for 2 reasons:
1. The engineering involved in the design is tremendous - specifically the “Annular Fuel Discharge”. This technique of metering/distributing/mixing fuel into the air stream atomizes fuel closer to the vapor state than any other carburetor ever manufactured. As you probably know - it’s vapor that burns - not liquid. Because of the Annular Fuel Discharge principle - fuel economy is superior, throttle response increased, and overall performance is enhanced. While state of the art today - this is not new technology - Ford patented this in 1957.
2. The carburetor will run virtually forever until dirt enters it. Due to its’ one piece base, there are no gaskets to dry out, move and later weep or leak.
If you do not have the 4100 on your engine, (at least 641/2- 66 289) you have not experienced what performance and trouble free driving can be.
For your engine to run properly - the carburetor must be of the correct size and if ultimate performance is desired - the exact engineering number/calibration must be installed. Ford manufactured 3 sizes of the 4100 and 8 of the 2100. All were suited to the particular engine size and performance requirements. All Ford 2V and 4V carburetor (mfg. since 1960) have 2 markings to easily determine what they are. On the drivers side of the carburetor - right behind the accelerator pump rod - you will find what appears to be a “clockface”. Inside the “clockface” in raised characters 4100’s will read 1.08 or 1.12*. Approximately one inch directly below the “clockface”, on the mounting flange (or toe) of the carburetor, there will be stamped on engineering number. The numerals in the “clockface” refer to the primary venturi diameter in inches. The “1.08” is a 480 CFM carburetor - while the “1.12” is a hefty 600 CFM. (In 1958 only Ford made a 1.19” venturi (670 CFM) you’ll probably never see one of these)[/FONT]



.

 

Thanks for the replies gents! I think (I know) after reading your responses, I will keep the Autolite carb on the car and just either have someone rebuild it or attempt to rebud it myself. Speaking of that, does anyone know how to safely pop the top of one of these? From what I understand it's difficult. I don't want to warp the top from any pulling or tugging. Also, what is the best test to see if the floats have holes or leaks?

 

If you can unbolt the carb from the intake you can OH the thing. Very simple system of gas metering.

 

Ray With, thanks for the reply. So, what do you mean by "OH the thing"? I'm quite the newbe so excuse my lack of terminology!

 

OH = overhaul.

x10000 on the Autolite...they are just nice carburetors. Keep in mind that if you switch to anything else, you will need to tune it; correct jetting, metering rods, accelerator pump squirters, etc....or, at least, you should tune it. There are no real "plug and play" carburetors out there, in spite of the advertising. The Street Avenger Holleys are probably as close as anything, if the correct one is chosen to begin with.

If all this doesn't sound like your cup of java, try sending the 4100 to carbking or Pony- it will cost some $$$, but all you need to do is open the box and put it back on....maybe adjust the idle mixture & idle speed...and enjoy.

 

Like others have said, It's the best carb you can get for your daily driver. Yes you can rebuild it yourself. I did my 1st one when I was about 12. Of course my old man was watching me, but I did it. Take pictures while your taking it apart will help. Clean and blow out everything like the others have mentioned. It's so easy a caveman could do it.

 

DITTO it a bolt on. If you got an automajic get it with the ford kickdown linkage.

 

Pony Carbs are a joke, I can tell you some horror stories about them, they are over priced junk.

 

Interesting...I know several people that have used them with good results. Seems like just about everyone in the carb business has their share of pros & cons these days. I'm glad I do my own stuff, that way I have to slap my own self around.

 

You can rebuild it yourself for the price of a kit and a little time.

try the Ford 4100 Form. http://www.network54.com/Forum/88781/

Tons of info, tons of expertise, all the information you'll need. and some experts' views on Pony.

 

Thanks for the replies gents! I think (I know) after reading your responses, I will keep the Autolite carb on the car and just either have someone rebuild it or attempt to rebud it myself. Speaking of that, does anyone know how to safely pop the top of one of these? From what I understand it's difficult. I don't want to warp the top from any pulling or tugging. Also, what is the best test to see if the floats have holes or leaks?

 

Just to add another option....Summit sells Summit brand carbs. Copied from the Autolite. It uses all Holley parts except for the castings. Questionable ***embly quality but it's an excellent and cheap carb. The one I got had 2 crossthreaded screws in the power valve, chased the threads and was fine. I put one on my 63 T-Bird 390 when I put the Edelbrock intake on it. Edelbrocks skinny carb flange caused bad vacuum leaks with the Autolite. I am happy with either.

 

OK over haul the thing--(Carb)

 

Ray With, You're from Montgomery as well?? So am I!! Cool!!

 

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a 4100 on my 63 Galaxie with a 390. I had it rebuilt about 2 months ago, but ever since I got it back it stalls like crazy every time I give it gas from a stop. I have to keep tapping the pedal at take off to keep it from dying. As soon as I'm driving it's fine. I have been doing research and was thinking of just putting an Edelbrock on it. Seems like people tend to have less problems with those vs. Holley's. My 4100 also has to warm up for at least 10 minutes or I can't put the car into gear without it dying. I would love to fix the 4100 as everyone says they are great carbs, but I've had 2 shops look at mine and both have just said to put a new carb on it.

 

Personally, I think that you should stick with the Autolite. From the reading of this forum; the carb is one of the best ones on the market. I'm either having mine rebuilt or rebuilding it myself. Sweet rebuilt engine by the way. Looking to get mine rebuilt one day. About how much did you spend to have it done?

 

...how much do you want for your old Autolite?