Hello all:

Has anyone experience with 56 ford 4 barrel carbs? Mine is driving me crazy with the way it runs so poor when hot. It's just

like some kind of vapour lock problem . I've completely overhauled the carb and I've also installed a 64 distributor and fitted

it with Duraspark ignition all to no avail Help anyone?

Thanks John

Well the first problem I see is that the 56 carburetor was designed to work with the Load-o-matic distributor. The vacuum ports are in the wrong place for the later distributor vacuum advance to work properly.

I believe Ted has an article on his Web Site explaining how to modify the "teapot" to provide the correct vacuum signal for the later distributor.

"The Master Cylinder"

Enjoying life at the beach in SOCAL

John: For clarification, since you're new here, ( I'm the person that gave you this site address) go back to this sites opening page & to "links, then scroll down to Ted Eaton Balancing. While I'll assume you don't have a subsription to Y-Block Magazine, for those that do, or have access to issue #114, Jan-Feb 2013, the article also appears there.

Paul

John : Do yourself a big favor and replace the "teapot" with a Holley 390 CFM 4V. You will need an adaptor for the '56 intake, or get a '57 intake, but the change will make it seem like you just installed a new motor. Bruce

I've heard this carb called a "Christmass Tree", "Haystack", "Teapot", and now "Coffeepot" carburetor.

My 56 Victoria Fairlane had a 2 barrel on it when I got it and some years ago I put a "Coffeepot" 4 barrel carb on it - just because that's what it was supposed to have. I bought several carb kits and carburetors on ebay and assembled what looked like the best parts into one carburetor. I had a lot of trouble getting one to work right. Turns out that two of the three top caps I had were porous! I have heard also that these caps can be warped. After I found the non-porous cap and installed it, I couldn't ask for a better running engine. Good idle, good at intermediate speed & load, good at full load. I'm sure I could realize more power by going to a different carburetor and a vacuum/centrifugal advance system instead of the Loadamatic, but it's got enough power for me.

Those old "Teapot" four barrells were actually a rather good carbuerator and my Dad was a mechanic but never had a bad thing to say about a "Teapot" and it sounds like you are a man that just gets to the bottom of things rather then just say a certain part is for crap. Keep up the good work as you sound like a real "FORDMAN" and not a give up artist like those Chebby guys.

312T85Bird

What?

Just one suggestion.If you used the new Carb Kit and it had the inlet fuel needle with the soft tip they can stick closed because the "new" fuels soften the material.Also was the clip that hooks onto the float and the inlet needle still in the carb and did you re-use it?That clip keeps the float and needle working together so that the needle opens as the float drops.It seems that the clip is thrown away when the Carb is overhauled by many rebuilders.I tried a pro rebuild on my Teapot and was still unhappy with the results.I changed to a 390 Holley with the 57 intake and the late dual advance distributor.Like night and day the difference in the way it runs.Unless you are restoring a 100 point Car I would suggest changing the setup.Much more reliable and its fun to drive.Mine is stock so I was not looking for performance.Just reliability and ease of maintenance.I just re-read your post and note that you have added the later distributor and thats a good start.

  

I have a 56 TBird with the stock carb (also called towering inferno's). I drove the car from NJ to CA via Portland and return and it ran very well.

There is a guy in PA that rebuilds these and knows them in and out - including everything that can go wrong with them. And he is not that expensive (no- where near the cost of the now defunct Pony Carbs). He actually runs them in prior to returning them to make sure they are right.

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

Hello :

What do you mean by a top cap? My carburetor has open holes in the centre of the carb where the air cleaner fastening stud is

screwed in . Do I have some sort of a cap missing? Please let me know.

Thanks, John

How about a picture of the top of your carb. That would help. Chuck

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
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