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By Florida_Phil - 6 Years Ago
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I'm pretty sure this topic has been discussed before. Is it possible to use a duel quad manifold on a street Y block with modern carbs? Will it fit under the hood of a 1955 Thunderbird? I realize the carbs would have to be small and they won't be all that efficient, but they sure would look great on cruise night. A friend did this back in the day with WCFB carbs. I imagine I would have to build adapters. Anyone ever tried this? How drive able is it?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 6 Years Ago
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Phil, I'm running dual four factory setup on my '56 Bird. I'm using the factory teapots and oval factory air cleaner, and it barely clears the hood. WCFBs probably would clear with appropriate small air filters. Adaptors plus later carbs may cause clearance problems, I've never tried them. I have no driveability problems.
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By Florida_Phil - 6 Years Ago
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I hate T Pots and WCFBs are so expensive these days. Any other alternatives? I suppose I could use two small Holly 4 barrel carbs with an Edelbrock manifold. Don't they mount sideways?
I found a thread from 6 years ago with some photos of these setups. Looks like anything will work with some fabrication. I wonder how they perform on a street car?
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By Hoosier Hurricane - 6 Years Ago
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Phil, there were some Rochester carbs with the small bolt pattern used on some '50s and -60s GM cars. I am not sure of any of the numbers on them, and they may be scarce. I think Cad, Olds, Buick, Pontiac had them on some engines. I don't know about scrub. Also, the Edelbrock versions of the old Carter AFB may have a small enough footprint to fit the engine and not be too tall with adaptor plates under them. Maybe some old AFBs would work for you.
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By Florida_Phil - 6 Years Ago
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Thanks. I built a 312 once with three little two barrels. I think they are carters. I thought it made the engine look like a flat head. It ran pretty good. I would run two teapots if they weren't so ugly and troublesome. The Y block is such a pretty engine. I'm looking for an impressive looking multiple carb setup where I can use new off the shelf carbs. It looks like adapters are the way to go.
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By paul2748 - 6 Years Ago
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Teapots work really good if redone by some one who knows these what they are doing. Unfortunately, one of the best passed recently but I have heard good info about Hill's Restorations. There is a guy on Ford Barn who says he knows these carbs.
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By Rono - 6 Years Ago
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Phil;
You posted a picture of my motor in your post. The two Edlebrock carbs I'm using are #1404 mechanical choke (both wired open) and they are sitting on top of "Trans-Dapt" adapters that I port matched to the Edlebrock #257 intake. I did have the motor set-up on a dyno by a guy that used to work for Edlebrock and he figured out the jet sizes.
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By Florida_Phil - 6 Years Ago
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Nice looking motor. How do the two Edelbrocks work on a street car? I assume you have a standard transmission. Do you have a lot of hesitation or flat spots? Did it take a bunch of tuning. Thanks!
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By scicala - 6 Years Ago
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paul2748 (8/13/2018)
Teapots work really good if redone by some one who knows these what they are doing. Unfortunately, one of the best passed recently but I have heard good info about Hill's Restorations. There is a guy on Ford Barn who says he knows these carbs.
I think I'm the guy from Ford Barn (scicala) your talking about that does Teapot Holley four barrel carbs. Been doing them a long time and guarantee all work. I agree that they do work well when done correctly. To fit under the hood of a T-Bird, besides the Teapot, you would need a carb that will bolt on the same pattern without using an adapter. The adapter adds height, and you don't have much room on a '55 - '57 Bird. You can use a Rochester 4GC or Carter WCFB from the early 50's Buick, Olds, Cadillac. They had the small bolt pattern.
Sal
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By DryLakesRacer - 6 Years Ago
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Been running mine for over 4 years without any adjustments since using the unisyn. Bought my manifold with older adapters for AFB's but didn't use them as I found 2 matching number WCFB's at different times. They allow the 57-up distributor with ease. The Edelbrock manifold will allow you to run progressive linkage. I used some parts off a dual quad FE and made some. When cold I need to apply full throttle to squirt fuel in the front but that's it. Lost about 1 mpg. WCFB small base were used on Cad, Olds, Dodge, Ply, Packard, Buick, Merc, Lincoln. Mercs could stand some work because they were for Loadmatic distributors, but I don't know how. Ted did the Teapots for 57-up dists. I have a stock choke on the rear carb only. I made my own coil mount too.
There is a youtube I made 3 yrs ago running the system. If you buy new carbs WCFB's don't look that bad.
You are right about the visual.....everything looks good with multiple carbs on 50's engines and for me dual quads are the best
  
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By Florida_Phil - 6 Years Ago
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The WCFBs look good on the Y Block. A very fifties hot rod look. I assume two of these will fit under the hood of my 55 TBird?
A few questions please. What is the best source of these carbs? Can they be rebuilt easily or will I need to send them off? Are they available rebuilt? Do I need matching carbs? What needs to match?
Thanks!
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By Vic Correnti - 6 Years Ago
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Phil, here is a picture 2 Edelbrock's on my 55 Bird on a 257 intake with adapters from speedway motors. The air cleaner was a challenge since the motor is not centered in the car and it fits up in the hood scoop. The car is a four speed and I have no issues driving it on the street.I do like the simplicity of the Edelbrock's and Carter's and once set up I never have to mess with them again. I will say that it fit the hood better when they were on my 255 intake.
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By DryLakesRacer - 6 Years Ago
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Phil, I found most of my WCFB's on E-Bay and then on a Craiglist ad near me. I started with a 53 Cadillac because it was from a 331" I was sure it would work. It did fine with just a small bracket I made for the stock linkage to work on my "A" intake. Over a few yrs I collected a few and some Rochester 4GC's small base also. ( I spent a lot of$$ on the Rochesters and never had one run good as a single).
After I bought my dual quad manifold I started looking for the 53 Olds WCFB's they were for 303 inch so I thought they would be better and the linkage was the same as the Cad. I found a restored one for $300 bought it and used the Olds on the front and Cad on the back. Different fuel inlets but worked good. I found what appeared to be a take off 53 Olds in a box from 1953 for $150. Bought it, cleaned it up, painted the base black and put it on the back where Cad one was and it Didn't run or idle very good. Swapped them and never looked back. I use a 1/4" phoenolic plate under each one.
There are kits available and I found later kits for big base work fine and actually have a small base base gasket in them too.
I have way under $1000.00 in all of it plus some Lincoln and Merc WCFB's which are for loadmatics. I also bought what appeared to be "junk" carbs at a swap meet cheap for parts. I only had one carb rebuilt professionally and was done in Az. And I could never make it run as well as I liked. Good luck.
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By Florida_Phil - 6 Years Ago
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Thanks for the info. Being a long time Ford guy I am not familiar with WCFBs. I have worked with AFBs is the past. Sounds like an interesting project. Right now I'm running a Holley 4V on a stock iron Intake. Just beginning to look into the dual quad YBlock options. Hood clearance is my biggest worry.
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