Technical Stromberg 97 on a 53 Ford Inline 6

After several rebuilds, my old 1904 Holley gl*** bowl is getting tired. Have the opportunity to pick up a cherry Stromberg 97 and need some input. Does anyone make an adapter plate to put that carb on a 215-223 Inline 6 manifold? Also, I'm still running the Load-O-Matic vacuum advance distributor, and the Stromberg will not have the vacuum port of the 1904. Will need to changeover to a mechanical advance distributor. Which ones will work on the 53 215? Any input/advice is appreciated!

 

Speedway offers some adapters as well as Vintage Speed. Might check that out

 

From another HAMB thread. whiteowlspeed.com look under products adapters.
Fords of the 50’s thru 56 using 2 barrels had loadmatic ignitions.

 

Thanks guys. Looked thru the sites but no matches. Looks like I’ll have to machine my own adapter plate. Wondering if a mechanical 6 cyl distributor from an early 60s Ford can be made to work. Or will the advance work off of manifold vacuum?

 

I hate to be one, but if it is really a "cherry 97", do yourself and the rest of us favor and sell it to someone who can use it in the proper application. Carburetor adapters are always a detriment, and the Load-a-Matic" needs the specific vacuum signal provided by the stock carburetors to run right. Manifold vacuum actually works almost the opposite of the stock signal. Sure, it will start and run, but not very well. In my opinion, some of the bad reputaion the Load-a-Matic systems have is folks trying to use them with with the wrong carburetor.

I don't know if a later 6 cylinder distributor will fit (I know some V8's interchange), but you'll stll have interuption in airflow inherent to all adapters.

 

If you connect the venturi diaphragm to manifold vacuum, you would get advance at idle and advance would move back and forth as manifold vacuum changes with load; not what you want. You want the venturi signal to advance the timing as engine speed increases. I would take a look at the old carb and see where they were picking up the venturi signal. You might be able to drill a hole in the new carb at a similar point and connect the advance diaphragm to your new port. It should work, but if it doesn't you just plug the new port.

 

For the distributor you can use the Cardone 84-2610. This is the later Ford I-6 and has a regular vacuum advance and I believe mechanical advance too. You would have to swap in the gear from the 223, there are lots of articles on this. As for the carburetor I would get another 1904 as I believe the stromberg is taller, and would now be sitting on top of the adapter. Used 1904s are cheap and readily available, brand new ones are also available.

 

1952-54 Ford sixes used a distributor with a flat blade style oil pump drive; '55 and later went to a hex drive.