Carter AFB vs Holley

[Jim D.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

Mark, I have to agree. A properly set up Q-Jet is one of the best street carbs. around.

[Frank D.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

Mark, I have to agree. A properly set up Q-Jet is one of the best street carbs. around.

Yes, they are.
But - that wasn't the original question....

[Michael J.]

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/08/26/demolition-of-carter-carburetor-factory-in-st-louis-begins/?refer=news

[Mark E.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

Yes, they are.
But - that wasn't the original question....

You're right. But sometimes it's just fun to bloviate.

[Frank D.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

As long as it isn't bumptious bloviation !

[Steven B.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

I think it all comes down to the point about originality. As has been mentioned and championed by others, and although some have favorites, when working properly, all of the carburetors mentioned will do the job for which they were intended. I wouldn't hesitate to use any of the carbs discussed, and would be especially keen on using a particular carb if it were original to the car, but that's just me. That said, I think it is a matter of how important it is to maintain or return to original condition.

[Joe R.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

For all you Carter carb lovers, a sad story………..
http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...ns/?refer=news

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the article! I was quite intrigued by it!!! I've lived in St. Louis since 1988, but had no idea the Carter factory was here. It won't be here much longer!!! I think I will use that article in our next NCRS STL chapter newsletter (I'm the editor). Can you or someone else tell me which Corvette years used Carter carburetors?

Joe

[Peter J.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the article! I was quite intrigued by it!!! I've lived in St. Louis since 1988, but had no idea the Carter factory was here. It won't be here much longer!!! I think I will use that article in our next NCRS STL chapter newsletter (I'm the editor). Can you or someone else tell me which Corvette years used Carter carburetors?

Joe

1955-65 Corvettes used carter carbs, in 1966 it became all holley although higher hp engines were using holleys in 1965

[Michael J.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

I see references that say the '53-'54 Blue Flame triples were Carter YH side-drafts.

Here's one that just appeared:
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...-after-rebuild

[Michael J.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

1955-65 Corvettes used carter carbs, in 1966 it became all holley although higher hp engines were using holleys in 1965

Actually in '64, my L76 has a Holley as original, that was the first Holley use IIRC.

[Jim D.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

1955-65 Corvettes used carter carbs, in 1966 it became all holley although higher hp engines were using holleys in 1965

Nope. As posted above, the 53-54's used Carters as well as some of the C-3's with Q-Jets.

[Michael J.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

Nope. As posted above, the 53-54's used Carters as well as some of the C-3's with Q-Jets.

That's news to me, I had always thought Rochester made the Quadra-Jet.

[Jim D.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

That's news to me, I had always thought Rochester made the Quadra-Jet.

Carter made millions of Q-Jets under the GM license. They are identical to the Rochester Q-Jets except it says Carter on the side. I've rebuilt many of them. I've heard two stories as to why Carter made them. One was because Rochester couldn't keep up with the demand and another was that there was a fire at the Rochester plant (which could explain the first story).

[John H.]

Re: Carter AFB vs Holley

Carter made millions of Q-Jets under the GM license. They are identical to the Rochester Q-Jets except it says Carter on the side. I've rebuilt many of them. I've heard two stories as to why Carter made them. One was because Rochester couldn't keep up with the demand and another was that there was a fire at the Rochester plant (which could explain the first story).

Jim -

It was a demand issue - in the late 60's-early 70's, just Chevrolet Impala/Caprice volume was 6,000 per day (373 per hour), plus Chevelle, Camaro, plus Olds, Buick, Pontiac, Cadillac, plus Chevy and GMC trucks - that was a LOT of Q-Jet carburetors! There was no way in the world that Rochester could support that kind of volume, so Carter was licensed to build Q-Jets to cover the excess volume.

[Michael J.]