Yesterday I bought a copy of "HOT ROD Deluxe" (May 2011) and on page 64 ........ the classic view of a teapot carb. A shot taken by Eric Rickman in 1958.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

How about  posting it Steve?Picture is worth 1000 words.

  

Sorry Mark - no scanner here, I'm over at my dad's place in Mizzery.

 
 Steve Metzger       Tucson, Arizona

Fire!!!!   

While the Holley 4000 "Teapots" weren't the finest carbs, someone on here way back pointed out that usually the initial backfire wasn't caused by the carb itself. They tended to catch fire in those cases because the float bowl was up top. I seem to recall that John F had experience with that problem. Maybe he will comment?...

Paul

Paul:

My problem years ago wasn't really the carb, it was the wife.  She insisted on starting the dual quad Bird with the accelerator pressed about halfway down.  That caused the backfire that ignited the fumes in the air filter and got the inferno started.  She did it twice, then insisted I take the quads off.  I never had a backfire, just pumped the pedal once and let off the pedal, started right up.  Last year the wife decided she could not drive the Bird anymore with her new hip and knee joints, so I put the quads back on.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I've seen it suggested that when teapots do catch fire (backfire due to overly retarded timing), all that is needed is to floor the accelerator, and the inrush of air will snuff out the flames. Can anyone out there verify having had the presence of mind to successfully accomplish that? Does it work with dual quads also I wonder, since the air intake volume is split?

6 VOLTS/POS. GRD. NW INDIANA

Mine did it once, burned up a paper filter and scorched the paint on my F code aircleaner. Flooring it did not work, wouldn't start. 

Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart)