Restoring an E-model Fairlane and ran into mixed information on vacuum line hardware for the power brakes. Anybody have pictures or know somebody that has a real one? preferably not restored. I'm looking for the fitting out the back of the rear carb that goes to the brake vacuum canister. Should be a rectangle block with two threaded female outlets. According to old Ford parts books, the line for the brakes is supposed to be 13" of 3/8" copper line from the block, then a rubber hose. I'd think "original" would be a steel line. What plugs into the block besides the brakes? Also where does the vacuum advance line form the distributor attach to? (on the front of the carb like a single 4bbl? or into the 2nd hole in the block for the brakes) Does that distributor line have the big vertical loop outside of the air cleaner like non-E code V8 cars? Here's the back of the rear carb now. Upper line is fuel supply and is correct. Lower line is brakes. See the vacuum line to distributor with the vertical loop. Bought the reproduction lines from a reputable dealer but when I called him yesterday he was more interested in the research done on my end than saying what he's selling is correct. The original paint car before restoration. Off to the paint shop. reassembly Has factory A/C, 3 speed O/D, skirts, dual spots, T-Bird wheel covers and valve covers, bumper guard, power windows, seat, steering and brakes. Many NOS parts including the mufflers and resonators.
No expert, but a few observations.... One, were these actually factory-installed or were these a dealer-installed option? Ford was known for doing that; order a multi-carb setup, and it was in the trunk for installation by the dealer. Given the rarity of the option (particularly in combo with power brakes), having some 'generic' hardware come with it wouldn't be surprising. Two, the teapot 4-barrel was making it's very last appearance with this option and I'd be suspicious of connecting the vacuum advance to the carb. These carbs were designed for the 'Load-a-matic' dual-diaphragm distributor which your car shouldn't have as those went away in '56 (unless of course, it was included with this option). There probably was a factory 'supplement' or 'service bulletin' that covered this, that's what I'd look for...
No help here, but I LOVE those bug-eyes!! Never seen any like that before, hope you will be running them.
Teapot carbs! AKA "towering Inferno's"! Only thing wore than one of those things is TWO of 'em. If I were you, I'd take lots of pictures of that setup, then find some "real" carbs to install before I drove it. Hate to see that beautiful ragtop all crispy fried.
LowKat I may have the fitting. I remember seeing one in my extra parts, but I'll have to take a look. The distributor advance port on the '57 E-code carbs was drilled completely different internally from previous years (including the Hi-Po kit from '56). It pulls vacuum from below the throttle plates for the vacuum advance. It does not have the vacuum valve on the side, but the casting boss for it is there. I'm not sure why the loop is there. ?? Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
The main problem with the teapot is that brass screw plug into the float bowl above the secondarys. The damn thing can come loose, dumping fuel into the secondarys and onto the manifold. You can't get these too tight; I ended up using a large, square-shank screwdriver that fits the slot tight (I can't stress how important this is), then using a wrench on the shank to get that 'last little bit' of tightening that makes the difference from being a leaker to being reliable. If the slot on the plug is boogered up, replace the plug or you won't get it tight enough. AMHIK....
If you don't get an answer here, go over to yblocksforever. Several members with E codes, including the carb numbers and set up.
Oldmics - That's the fitting I was looking for earlier this evening, but was unsucccessful in finding it. LowKat - I thought it was on one of the parts carbs. It must be in the deep, dark abyss of parts bins! I'll look for it this weekend. Crazy Steve - There's a special socket that fits that plug fitting. It's a 3/8 drive, so you can really torque down the fitting without*****ing up the slot. Most of the teapots I have seen have "big screwdriver" scars on the fitting from home rebuild jobs!
Oldmics, looks like what I've heard about. Are the side by side outlets the same thread size and fitting style or different from each other?
Different sizes and styles of interface. I"ll have to get actual sizes later and let you know. The larger one (shown in the picture on the right side) has a fluid style male protrusion - such as a brake line connection would have. The smaller orifice is the same size and thread as your vaccum advance metal line. This block is from a 56 model year teapot carb. One of the lines did go to the 1956 Load "O" Matic distributor (remember the Load "O" Matic used two vaccum lines at the distributor) and the other to the vaccum cannister brake reserve. I think this was a holdover part that was used on the "E" code 57 power brake units. Remember DST installed ALL of the "E" code setups at there facility and I believe they just used these ready availiable blocks. It had to go from a pipe thread in the carb to an interface that would allow vaccum attachments I have come across these blocks on original "E" code carburators with the smaller distributor port blocked off with a plug. So,I believe that the one port is blocked (distributor) and the other larger port goes to the vaccum cannister. Oldmics
The Jalopy Journal
