I am running a Holley teapot carb on a 56 victoria that I am tinkering with. It is currently just a yard driver. I noticed a gas leak at the rear of the carb and traced it to the large brass screw, the fuel inlet plug at the rear of the main body. I tried to tighten the screw and found that the threads  were stripped . as a temporary fix, I took out the screw and eliminated the gasket and smeared a bit of JB weld on the threads of the brass plug. Eliminating the gasket allowed the plug to catch on some of the deeper threads and it tightened enough to seal and not leak. Good enough for a yard driver for now, but I will need a new main body should I decide to rebuild this carb. I have an extra core from a 55 teapot but not a 56. I have observed that the main body top cover is obviously different when comparing the 55 to 56 teapots and the brass tubes feeding into the top covers are different. However, the main bodies on 55 and 56 models appear identical. I also remember that the 56 models have discharge nozzles and the 55's don't. I remember because I broke the beak off of one of those nozzles trying to pry it out years ago. I hope someone on here might know if the main bodies on these two years are interchangeable.  Thanks

If the 55-56 Tbird Teapots are the same carburetors used on the Vickys, there is a difference between years.The 55 Teapot has a "divorced" choke; it is attached to the intake manifold.The 56 Teapot carburetor has an integral choke, not divorced. Contact Sal Cicala for more detailed/precise information.

Can (or could you have) just drilled and tapped for a larger screw?  I say "could" because I imagine the JB Weld will make removal difficult.  

Sal Cicala and David Arey specialize in teapots.  They may have parts.


54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

I am aware of the choke differences on the 55 and 56 carbs and can see that the throttle bodies are not interchangeable because of this. However. the main body is above the throttle body and appear the same on each year.

Seems ;
The Idle air bleed could be different size
Accelerator pump bore different size
Main Jet but that is easily swapped out
Needle and seat is threaded in and others held in by an extra spring
The "discharge nozzles" also have a cutaway on the back that go part way on early or all the way, there are three designs! so far as I can tell. (There is also a small air bleed that might be different size)

The differences might not make a lot of difference in an occasional driver.
Look at the inside bottom for a cast in part number. They might be the same. If so you could swap top cover and secondary tubes.


1936 Ford 3W Coupe : 56 T-Bird 312, 47 Packard 3 speed, 40 juice brakes.
1968 Merc Cyclone FB GT 390, Getting a better front clip!
1977 Ford F-250 Supercab RWD Explorer Long box.
1976 Chev Camaro RS LT
Future rebuild : 1949 Ford F-1

I did not expect that the 55 model would have a smaller bore on the accelerator pump. I did notice that the 56 models had discharge nozzles whlie the 55's did not.

If you can let me know the list number of your particular carburetor, I may be able to go thru my stash of Holley 4000 parts and find you another fuel bowl.  The list number can be found at the back of the carb near the carb to intake gasket flange.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

I'm spending some time in a nursing home and would like to research the patents for the Holley 4000 carb. I don't have access to my carbs. Could someone please take a picture of the patent numbers cast into the bowl lid, or wherever, and post it. I'll provide a list of any I find interesting.

I'm rebuilding a Holley 4000 and have become interested in the spring loaded float valve seat, vs screw in type. I wonder if the idea could have been to allow the seat to lift, when high speed operation increased fuel pressure. As they were made, would this bypass the inlet needle and the small passage where it seats; allowing fuel to gush into the bowl. This would permit the use of a seat with a very small passage, (better for controlling fuel level in the float bowl). At the same time, when the seat lifted, plenty of fuel would be available for high speed operation.
I realize fuel pressure would have to increase with high speed operation; either through an engine driven pump that produced low pressure at low speeds, fitted with a heavy pressure limiting spring, or a simple vacuum controlled electric pump.