mid-year carburetor

[GaryC]

I am in need of a carburetor for my '63 327/300 HP. The original is a 3461S Carter AFB. Short of buying a high $$$ carburetor from one of the catalogs, I thought that maybe I could get a used one off of a different model Chevy from a junkyard and rebuild it. I know that Chevy made the 327/300 HP for their other model cars. Does anyone know if they used the 3461S Carter AFB carburetor for these other models? It appears that this carburetor was made only for 1963 production.

Thanks, Gary

[Jack H.]

Re: mid-year carburetor

AFB's abound at scrap yards specializing in older vehicles. Generic AFB carbs with minor deviations from each other (choke, Etc.) were used on Chevy passenger car, Buick, Cadillac, Etc. Should be no problem to find a core, have it rebuilt and install atop your intake.

But, if you want factory concours correct (numbers matching, tag, and properly detailed in terms of plating), you're pretty much stuck with going to a professional Carter restorer or buying from off-the-shelf Corvette specialty parts house/catalog.

[Duke W.]

Re: mid-year carburetor

The 3461S was used on all 327/300s with manual transmission including those installed on full sized Chevrolets. It was also used on the Corvette only 327/340. Automatic transmission versions of the 327/300 used the 3460S in all models. The 3460/1S evolved into the 3721S/SA/SB, which was used on 327/300s through 1966. One of the primary calibration components in these AFBs are the primary venturi clusters, which include the idle/off idle jets and air bleeds. These are calibrated for the specific engine based on its displacement and manifold vacuum characteristics. The secondary clusters also contain the secondary air bleeds. If you start out with another model and install your original venturi clusters and main and secondary metering jets, you should be pretty close to the original 3461S calibration.

Duke

[Ed Jennings]

Re: mid-year carburetor

Corvette Central sells a replacement AFB for about $280 that is pretty close in appearance. IF you are after a lower cost option, you might look at that.

[GaryC]

Re: mid-year carburetor

Guy's,

Thanks for the responses. I will check out both avenues.

[Duke W.]

One more thing

If you start with another body check that the primary butterflies are similarly machined (typically notches on the bottom side) and the off idle transfer slots are the same or similar. These main body features are important to idle and off idle calibration and operation.

Duke

[Richard Sullivan]

Re: mid-year carburetor

Gary,

I believe I have the carb you are looking for. I took it off of a very early 64 when I converted the engine to a Holly carb. I am in DC this week and next but can be reached at (202) 219-0627.

Richard Sullivan