Q-Jet with no numbers....

[Greg L.]

I came across a Q-Jet today with no numbers on the vertical pad where they usually are. It doesn't have the round stamped plate on the left side like some of the older ones do but it still has the fuel bowl vent so I'm thinking late 60s to early 70s...

Whats the deal on these carbs with no numbers? Did they miss being stamped for some reason or what?

Just curious.

Greg Linton
#45455

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Q-Jet with no numbers....

At one time you could buy that over the counter through GM. A restampers dream! It was just the main body as you could buy the carburetor in pieces. so I have been told. Joe L will know for sure.

Kelly

[Lyndon S.]

Re: Q-Jet with no numbers....

At one time you could buy that over the counter through GM. A restampers dream! It was just the main body as you could buy the carburetor in pieces. so I have been told. Joe L will know for sure.

Kelly

[Joe L.]

Re: Q-Jet with no numbers....

Greg and Kelly------

Yes, it could be that the fuel bowl was once replaced on the carburetor. SERVICE fuel bowls had no numbers stamped on them. They are, essentially, a "wild card"; assuming they are configured properly for the application, they can be just about whatever one wants them to be.

It's also possible, of course, that the carburetor never stamped, at all, due to an error at the manufacturing plant. These things happen.

[Joe L.]

Re: Q-Jet with no numbers....

Greg and Kelly------

Yes, it could be that the fuel bowl was once replaced on the carburetor. SERVICE fuel bowls had no numbers stamped on them. They are, essentially, a "wild card"; assuming they are configured properly for the application, they can be just about whatever one wants them to be.

It's also possible, of course, that the carburetor never stamped, at all, due to an error at the manufacturing plant. These things happen.

[Chuck S.]

To Clarify Joe's Comments...

"They are, essentially, a 'wild card'; assuming they are configured properly for the application, they can be just about whatever one wants them to be."

Maybe this is obvious, but what Joe means by these comments is that the carb is "functionally" a wild card from the application stand point. He is not saying that such a carb is a 'wild card' for judging purposes. On the judging field, no numbers = wrong numbers, since no service fuel bowls were installed on new cars leaving St. Louis...or, uh, that's at least what I believe.

[Chuck S.]

To Clarify Joe's Comments...

"They are, essentially, a 'wild card'; assuming they are configured properly for the application, they can be just about whatever one wants them to be."

Maybe this is obvious, but what Joe means by these comments is that the carb is "functionally" a wild card from the application stand point. He is not saying that such a carb is a 'wild card' for judging purposes. On the judging field, no numbers = wrong numbers, since no service fuel bowls were installed on new cars leaving St. Louis...or, uh, that's at least what I believe.

[Joe L.]

Re: To Clarify Joe's Comments...

Chuck------

By "wild card" what I meant was that assuming the float bowl is the correct configuration for the application (and, assuming that one had the correctly configured stamping dies), one could stamp the carburetor float bowl for whatever carb number and date that one desired. In that sense, it can be "anything that one wants it to be". The exact same thing is true for other components like engine blocks and alternator cases. It's not true for starters, though. That's because starter frames (the part with the stamped number on starter assemblies) were never sold as a separate part.

[Joe L.]

Re: To Clarify Joe's Comments...

Chuck------

By "wild card" what I meant was that assuming the float bowl is the correct configuration for the application (and, assuming that one had the correctly configured stamping dies), one could stamp the carburetor float bowl for whatever carb number and date that one desired. In that sense, it can be "anything that one wants it to be". The exact same thing is true for other components like engine blocks and alternator cases. It's not true for starters, though. That's because starter frames (the part with the stamped number on starter assemblies) were never sold as a separate part.

[Chuck S.]

Re: To Clarify Joe's Comments...

Sorry for misinterpreting your words, Joe; maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought. Thanks for the explanation.

[Chuck S.]

Re: To Clarify Joe's Comments...

Sorry for misinterpreting your words, Joe; maybe it wasn't as obvious as I thought. Thanks for the explanation.