VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 1924 Superior Carb

My 1924 Superior has a Zenith carb which I assume to be the carb that belongs on the car?? I am thinking about getting a replacement or getting someone to rebuild it. I have had it apart and cleaned it once and it solved my problem for several months. Now the problem has returned where you have to pump on the gas pedal to keep the car running. You can accelerate, but when you let your foot off the gas the car will die and it will take a while to get it started again. I believe the problem to be in the carb.

Anyway, any suggestions on where/who to rebuild or get a replacement carb from??

Thanks,

Bruce

There are three carburetor makes used in 1924, Holley, Carter and Zenith. In Canada also Stewart. Actually there are four different Zenith carburetors used in the 1922-24 period. For 1924 most likely the Zenith will be a T4X or T4XF. Replacements are available but repair of yours is most likely the less expensive option. If cleaning got it to run in the past then cleaning may all that is needed. The description would indicate crud in the idle circuit as the problem. I would first suggest using an effective aerosol carburetor cleaner. Try removing the idle adjustment screw and shooting cleaner in the passage several times. I have found only two good cleaners, Berryman's B-12 and Wal-Mart brand. B-12 is the best! Most of the other major brands have proved to be nearly useless with modern gas residue.

If that does not fix your problem then check the "Services Offered by Members" section of the G&D for qualified rebuilder. I caution if you decide to use a generalist for these carbs as they may not have the necessary experience or the correct spare parts if they are needed.

Thanks for the info. It is the T4XF. I do not remember taking the idle adjustment screw off when I cleaned it last time (rookie), I will try the cleaning another time before going to the expense of a "new" carb.

Bruce

Cleaned out the carb real good. No help. Seems possible now that something is going on with the ignition system. Only running three!! Haven't had a chance to do any troubleshooting. All the plugs looked rather nasty, #2 and #4 were pretty wet. Think I'll get some new plugs and try that.

Bruce

It is always best to make sure that the problem with poor running is really the carb before sending for rebuild. Points, condenser, coil, plug wires should all be ruled out first. They are easier and much cheaper to replace than a rebuild on the carb. Then if the problem persists after the carb rebuild then the rebuilder gets a black mark even though he might not deserve it. Been there done that.

Turns out after changing plugs, timing, point gap, my buddy and mechanic realized that the intake was sucking gas straight from the vacuum tank. Proof was in the pudding when we disconnected the line from the intake to the vacuum tank and she began to purr like old times!!

Now, on to working on the vacuum tank. Any suggestions, do's or dont's??

Thanks,

Bruce

Sucking raw gas directly from the vacuum tank to the carb is generally the result of a sunken float in the vacuum tank.

It could also be that the vacuum valve brass seat has come loose from the diecast vacuum tank top,which would also show the same symptoms as a float with hole in it.
If the vacuum valve seat has come adrift,you can easily refit it using a small amount of Loctite 609 or 620.Don't use too much,or the valve will stick.

:)

I assume your vacuum tank is a G&G?

My vacuum tank is a Stewart. Funny they put the model number on a little raised place right below "Model #". Of course, the model number is gone because it was on the raised place!! It has a date of February 11, 1914 on it.

Reading from a search on the forum regarding these tanks, I see there were two types of Stewart Warner Vacuum Tanks. Mine has many screws, I did not go back out to count them, but there are more than four, so I am assuming eight. Thanks.

Gary Wallace also carries vacuum tanks.

Gary Wallace

The 4 screw tank was an earlier version. It's the one I have on my 26. The 8 screw tank came about around 1925-26, I think.

Your car was originally equipped with the G&G. The 8 screw top vacuum tank is a 1925-27 tank. The 1928 is the 4 screw SW.

There are several of us that repair the vacuum tanks.

Mine is a frankenchevy. It has 25-6 fenders and radiator shell with a 27 body and frame and a 28 engine. Something tells me it'll never win any trophies. But thanks for the info. I'll take note of it because I always did wonder.

I've also learned to repair vacuum tanks. (saying that tongue in cheek).

As Antique Mechanic stated, Your car was originally equipped with the G&G. The '23 - '25 Open cars (roadster and touring) used the G&G tank. The closed cars used a Stewert vacuum tank.

The Stewert and G&G tanks have different mounting holes on the firewall. The G&G mounting holes are in a square configuration, and the SW mounting holes are in a rectangular pattern.

I have G&G tanks that look to be cad plated and other tanks that are black.

For funtionallity purposes, it really does matter which tank you have unless you are trying to be correct. Most people don't know that there was a difference between open and closed cars. Both tanks work well, and the Stewert is the more common tank to find. Many car manufacturers used the Stewert tanks through the years.

I don't know much about the '25 and up cars. These other guys know all of that stuff.

I know a little about the 490 series, but I'm not sure which 490's used a vacuum tanks? I have seen a few, but I never spent the time to figure that out. Does anyone know about 490's and vacuum tanks?

I have no vacuum tank on my 1916/490 and I think they came first in 1918. My car is original as far as I know.

:vcca:

Hi
I think Solan is right. According to the "Combined parts list Four Ninety and Superior Models", "Effective on and after February 1st, 1924" (Fourth edition), there were two vacuum tanks available. Stewart-Warner for "All Closed Cars", and G&G for Superior Touring and Roadster (i.e. not 490 Models). According to Floyd Clymers "Early Chevrolet History" the vacuum tank was introduced on the 1918 models of 490: "Closed cars featured a rear mounted gasoline tank, with Stewart vacuum tank." 1918 was the year that the closed models were introduced. I have a 1922 Touring, and I have no vacuum tank, but the gasoline tank mounted under the front seat. The carburetor is a Zenith O4.

Hi,
Interesting what the parts people got up to back then isn't it? Why on earth would open cars be different to closed? Double inventories and parts distribution etc. just to annoy us all.
Here in Oz I can't say I have ever seen a '25 Chev on that has not got a Stewart fitted, and we had almost exclusively Tourers; Sedans being very very few, right up to the Six of '29.
G&G tanks are about but rare to find, and I have no idea what used them. Are they any good? Even price competitive Overlands here were fitted with Stewart.
______________
Geoff.