Holley Carb series 4160 #3370

[Bill Knapp]

Folks,

Does anyone know where I could find a front fuel bowl for a 1966 Corvette 427/390HP? The fuel inlet threads are stripped. I tried Holley with no luck. Thanks in advance..

Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: Holley Carb series 4160 #3370

Bill-----

The threads are stripped because of the once-upon-a-time years of exposure to leaded gasoline. These can be repaired, though. Special Heli-Coil kits are available for most of these inlet fittings, although I'm not certain about the one on your carb. I'd check with a carb rebuilder like Jerry Luck or others. These large size Heli-Coil kits are expensive, so you won't want to buy one yourself for a one-time-only use. Plus, it's better to let someone do it that's done it before due to the thinwall casting; you have to get the drilling just right. However, once the threads are repaired with the Heli-Coil, the bowl will be better than new. The threads will be FAR more durable than the originals; virtually "immortal".

[Bill Knapp]

Re: Holley Carb series 4160 #3370

Joe,

Thank you for the great advise. Do you have any contact information for Jerry.

Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: Holley Carb series 4160 #3370

Bill-----

The number that I have for him is 314-895-1551.

Another one to try if Jerry can't help is the Carburetor Shop in Rancho Cucomonga, CA. I don't have their number handy, but I would think that you could get it from information or online yellow pages.

[Bill Knapp]

Re: Holley Carb series 4160 #3370

Joe,

Thank you again, you've been a great help...

Bill

[G B.]

New Holley bowls

Several years ago Al Fierke of Chicago Corvette bought up Holley's old stock of replacement parts that were being "discontinued". He has some new '66-7 Holley primary bowls with the angled, front-facing, threaded inlet. I bought a '67 bowl from him for about $45 last year. A '67 looks like a '66, except it doesn't have an externally adjustable needle valve.

These also come up on eBay regularly in NOS and good used condition. I would search there before trying to get yours re-threaded. I've bought a lot of weird heli-coils, but never one that big with such a fine thread. Such a monster doesn't appear in their catalog. It would take a mamoo of a drill bit too - about 7/8" diameter.

[Bill Knapp]

Re: New Holley bowls

Jerry,

Thank you, I will check..

Bill

[Joe L.]

Re: New Holley bowls

Jerry------

I know, for sure, that there is a HeliCoil repair kit for the inlet fitting of the Rochester Q-Jet. This is also a very large size (larger than the Holley, as I recall) and a very fine, "oddball" thread pitch. The Carburetor Shop in Ontario, CA (now, Rancho Cucomonga, CA) installed one in my original Q-Jet many years ago. This kit is expensive and I don't think that you'll find it in any common HeliCoil catalog. Usually, those only go up to 1/2" in common thread sizes. HeliCoils are available, though, up to about 1-1/2" thread size and in many special applications like those for the carbs. You won't find these in hardware stores or at Sears, though.

I have been told that they are available for the Holley fuel bowl fittings, too. However, I can't confirm that as I never had one of those so-repaired.