VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1937-1945 Correct Cabruator for 1941

How do I tell if the carburetor on my 41 is correct?

It has the round pump rod and the 45 degree angle fixture in the throat.

Now how about the following:

a. How do I tell if I have the right housing, etc. Several have the patent dates on the side.

b. What about the little tag. I reviewed the thread on them for 1941 but I'm still confused. What number would be correct for 1941?

c. Does it matter when the car was built during the model year run?

I want the carburetor to be correct if inspected or judged with no hiccups. I want no wishy-washiness on this item.

Thanks and your sound advice will be greatly appreciated.

Best,

Charlie

The little brass tag should read 839500 for a 1941 I find no evidance of an early or late.
Patent dates mean nothing.

What do the judging folks do when there is a correct Rochester replacement?

If they catch it deduct points.
As long as it is a Carter W-1 there is nothing to worry about. Judges seldom either have enough time for small details or would not have refference available.

Thanks, Gene,

I just took a tag off an old Carter W-1 before coming in the house.

It reads, 839987.

Wonder what that tag meant.

Thanks again,

Charlie

Charlie I am sure Gene will have an answer but you can also get lots of info at http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/CarterChevroletW1.htm i am guessing your carb is a 1946 W-1 and you will want a 483S # 839500 stamp #421 which I got from the site mentioned.

You would need to remove the carburetor to see the 421 stamp. There are no external changes in the 1941-1948 W-'s so thee tag would be sufficent.

Let's see if I've got it.

I need a tag number 483S. Is that a tag?

I need a tag with 839500 on it. Is that a tag also or is it on the 483S tag?

I need a 421 stamp. Where is the 421 stamp located?

Thenks Steve D and Gene,

Bear with me, please, I just want to get this sucker nailed down.

Best,

Charlie

Please refer to the above post with link to the carb shop. Even has a photo. The 421 is stamped into the bottom of the mounting flange so will need to be off the car to see. The tag should have the 839500 on it if ORIGINAL however very few remain on the carb as most are removed when rebuilt. Not sure if the 483S will be anywhere on the carb. I am correcting the above link-stay-tuned. Fixed.

Update,

Went back out to the garage and found one with a tag, 839500.

Didn't see no 421 or 483S. So to continue, where would those two numbers be?

Thanks,

Charlie

Under the flange that mounts to the manifold. It should be stamped in unless someone removed it but not sure all were stamped. I would not worry about having the 421 stamp as the only way to see it would be to remove it from the car .

Steve D,

All the carburetors are off and not attached to anything. So far I have seen nothing on the underside (manifold side) that has a number stamped on it.

This lack of the 421 worries me. If a judge were to say that the carburetor was not correct owing to it not having the 421 on the bottom side of it, I would want to be able to take it off and show him the stinkin' number. And say. "Gottcha. It does too!"

Now what about that 483S?

Thanks for the help. It appears we're getting close to solving this here little problem.

Charlie

BTW: The carburetor the 839500 tag came from had no 483S or 421 on it. Not that I can find.

Not all had the 421. Not All were made by Carter.
The 483S was a 1941-1948. The 839500 was stamped on the tag. The Carter number was not on the carburetor.

I have a bunch of carbs and only a couple have numbers stamped into the bottom so don't panic as long at the external visible parts of the carb look correct for your 41..

Is the tag removed from the carb? It's possible the carb the tag came from (or is on) it is not correct and only by identifying the individual parts can you be sure of what you have. To do that it is best to have a parts breakdown and I do not have one. If it looks like the one in the link provided above and has the 839500 tag on it and a judge wants to see the bottom (carb removed) then ask him for his reference that states the carb MUST be stamped. All the reference material I have collected from G&D articles clearly states that not all carbs were stamped. Of course you could just have the carb stamped yourself AFTER you verify that the visible or marked parts are correct. Carter did put numbers on a lot of the parts.

Okay, I give up.

I'm going to go with the 839500 tag and place it on one of the resivour lid bolts as it was when I took it off.

I'll just roll the dice on whether the rest of it is correct. The ones I've had professionally rebuilt are just like the one the proper tag was on.

After all this, I am still comfused about the 483S number. I don't know where to look for that and whether it's on the carburator or on a tag.

Thanks for all the help.

I'll try to post a picture of what I'm going to install on the grey 41 instead of the Rochester that is on it now and obviously incorrect.

Best,

Charlie

Charlie,

I've attached two pictures.. The first is a picture of the 421 stamp location on the base of the carb that is only visible with the carb off the engine. As mentioned by others, this stamp is often missing.

The second picture is a 421 body with the 421 imprint in a the side of the casting that is visible when on the car. The 421 body was used for several carbs and the one in this picture is a service carb (#569s). Most that I have seen do not have a visible number so perhaps this was only offered on service carbs. Hope this helps.

Tom

The 483S is a model or type or design designation. Just as your car is a "convertible " but does not have convertible written on it. The physical design is what determines how you can tell what it is. In short the 483S is not on the carb and not on a tag.

Okay, I think I understand. As hardheaded as I am, that saying a lot.

I appreciate everyone bearing with me on this.

Your imput is much obliged.

Best to all,

Charlie

Charlie - the number on the brass tag (if present) could be EITHER 839500 (made by Chevrolet in Bay City) OR 483s (made by Carter in St. Louis).

The 421 would be on the underside of the carburetor stamped into the mounting flange. The carburetor MUST be off to see this number (unless you have X-Ray vision, and wear a cape ) As Tom mentioned, it could also be on the end, as a 0-421. Be very careful when trying to use any number preceded by a 0, as this denoted a "blank" casting (prior to machining). The casting numbers were for internal (Carter) use only, and generally not published. Carter published a list of the mounting stamp numbers of "current" carburetors ever few years. I have combined all of the pre-1955 lists and have published (with authority from Carter) this list on a couple of internet forums. I guess if anyone is interested, I could put it on my website.

The problem with locating the flange mounting numbers were the commercial carburetor rebuilders. To verify that the throttle body was flat (I have yet to see a warped W-1) the mounting flange was violated with a surfacing machine, often removing the flange stamp.

And that "shade tree" is mighty cold this evening

Jon.

Jon,

I have found a used carburetor with the 421 under the base and I have the 839500 tag.

I will get this carburetor rebuilt and use for show only.

"There will be a large sign attached to the carburetor with the words: This here right here is a 1941 Carter Carburetor and has the proper tag on top and the proper 421 on the bottom. The "421" may be exposed by taking the carburetor off. I will do so if all the other 41s in competition claim that their carburetors are 421s. I will bill the VCCA and any region for the labor at $100.00 per hour. A minimum of 1 hour will be charged. If my carburetor does not have the proper and correct "421" on the base, there will be no charge. The time for taking the carburetor off and putting it back on, may be lengthened owing to any difficulty in performing the operation. Your call."

Now I don't see why the above notice should not suffice. Any 41 owner who has his car up for judging should be willing to remove it to show that it is truly a "421" or automatically expect and accept points off.

How is that?

Thanks,

Charlie

Charlie - you can only use the 839500 tag if the carburetor has the big "C" on the casting.

Carter W-1 built in Bay City plant




Jon

I think this thread and Jon's information has given all some valuable information. It may also be of interest to anyone involved in judging .

Jon,

Dadgumit! I might have known there was yet another mystery to this stinkin puzzle.

OK, big C it is. I'll check it out.

This is about as hard as identifying a proper jack for 41. Is too!

Best,

Charlie

Jon,

I've been a-thinking.

Are you putting me leg about that big "C" thing?

If you are and I go on a extensive search for one and come up empty handed, I may have to call on some of my friends from Jersey. Check with John. He knows of whom I speak. Does too!

Charlie :

BTW: Youse had bedda come clean afor too late. I'm tinkin . I'm already doing due dilegence on a suitable contract. have too!dance:

BTW2: I tink I detect some snickering at my expense out there amongst buddies here on Chatter. Such disrespect just can't go on. Youse may want to install a peep hole in youse fromt door.

BTW3: If I don't soon get colabratiing evidence from some reliable sources here on the Chat about the big "C:' din youse may expect a knock on your door aroung 3:00 a.m. No need to be packing, Dese guys are pros. They're in the insurance and garbage businesses. Just saying.

BTW4: No need to sent youse loved ones out of town. They will not be harmed.