1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

[Michael M.]

Correct finish question!new carb.jpgnew carb 2.jpgIMG_1400.jpgDSC00065.jpg

Had my Holley carb rebuilt/restored by manufacturer several years ago (3rd photo). Just never seemed right from a performance perspective.

Recently sent to well known custom shop in NJ to be restored again. Received the carb yesterday and that started the debate.
The restored carb has the correct finish on the body etc. I questioned the finish/color of the fuel inlet fitting (2nd photo) and vent lever arm (top front bowl) (1st photo) they have a black anodized appearance, not the same finish as the rest of the carb.

The custom carb shop owner says that it is the correct original finish on that carb and he has that finish applied to those parts to be correct for NCRS purposes. I have used this shop in the past and have always received a great service/restoration.

I am questioning this finish based upon prior to any restoration of the car (4th photo) I took hundreds of photos and they support my thoughts.

He offered to send be the parts with the same finish as the body, but swears it would be incorrect.

Need some help on the debate. Just want it to be right.
Looked at other post and appears others have the black finish!

This is an early car #376

Thanks in advance
Michael

[Robert D.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Mike,
mine were recently restored and plated and came back cad yellowish coated i have never seen a holley with black anodized fuel inlet i am by far no expert but i believe it should be yellowish cad. there are definately variations in those colors depending on the prep the condition of the metal temp of the plating solutions and how fresh the solutions are. hopefully others will chime in and give us a more definitive answer
Bob

[Gene M.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Michael.
You have no photos of what you have so it is impossible to say what you have is correct or not. I can say most restored cars on the show field display "GOLD" finish on a Holley. My experience is the finish s/b more greenish in hue not gold. Keep in mind the original Holleys did not sit in the chromate tanks to "look pretty". It was a finish so it would not corrode prior to install.

[Michael M.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Just added photos

[Michael M.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Just added photos
Confusing par,t when I look at older post with same question the photos that are posted show the black finish

[Gene M.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

I think the current Holley replacement fitting is black.

[Daniel Y.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

I don't recall seeing a black finish on the 1" fitting on any of the Bowtie cars I've judged. However, Phill @ Middlesex has seen a lot of them but what distorts his assessment is he is rebuilding carbs that have already been restored also. who's to say the previous restorer has not but the right finish on them. Having said that he has done several carbs for me and ALL of them were the gold color.

[Bob K.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Michael, After nearly 40 years of restoring these carbs,I have yet to see anyone that can duplicate all of the finishes that Holley has used over the years. The carbs for the 64-65 years have different finishes on each part than a 66, or 67, or 68-69, or 70-73. I do not know why other than identification at time of assembly. I can tell you that all banjo fittings were Bright Yellow Zinc. The 5/16 inlet fittings were a Black Silver Nitrite finish. All 3/8 were Bright yellow Zinc. Bowl vent rods, Pump operating levers could be the Black or Yellow Zinc. Secondary links and choke rods the same way. As far as the Dichromate finishes on the cast zinc parts. That will always vary depending how strong the plating bath is along with how the parts have been prepped. Another thing would be that all of the parts on your carbs all come from different places, hence they will never be all the same color. Hope I added a little more to talk about. Bob K

[Terry M.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Michael, After nearly 40 years of restoring these carbs,I have yet to see anyone that can duplicate all of the finishes that Holley has used over the years. The carbs for the 64-65 years have different finishes on each part than a 66, or 67, or 68-69, or 70-73. I do not know why other than identification at time of assembly. I can tell you that all banjo fittings were Bright Yellow Zinc. The 5/16 inlet fittings were a Black Silver Nitrite finish. All 3/8 were Bright yellow Zinc. Bowl vent rods, Pump operating levers could be the Black or Yellow Zinc. Secondary links and choke rods the same way. As far as the Dichromate finishes on the cast zinc parts. That will always vary depending how strong the plating bath is along with how the parts have been prepped. Another thing would be that all of the parts on your carbs all come from different places, hence they will never be all the same color. Hope I added a little more to talk about. Bob K

Bob

I am glad to see you state the need for different colors. It just looks weird to see all the yellow the same shade on "restored" carbs.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Mike,

Bob is correct depending on how fresh the dichromate is it will give you different hues/shades in the finish, also with time the dichromate will age due to moisture and temp.

Mike

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

All-------


Here are some photos of an NOS Holley 3130, GM #3869933-EF carburetor (1965 L-78 passenger car) [not for sale]. This carburetor was manufactured in June, 1968. It's never been mounted on an engine and it's been in its original box since it was manufactured. I've had it for over 20 years. As far as I know, this carburetor was never reproduced by Holley. Note that the choke assembly was not attached to the carb and was packaged separately in the box with the carburetor.

DSCN3287.jpgDSCN3289.jpgDSCN3288.jpgDSCN3290.jpgDSCN3291.jpgDSCN3292.jpgDSCN3293.jpgDSCN3294.jpgDSCN3295.jpgDSCN3296.jpgDSCN3297.jpgDSCN3298.jpgDSCN3299.jpgDSCN3300.jpg

[Bob K.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Joe, I have not seen this carb packaged like this before, with a manual choke and hot air choke assy in box. The 3130 was original on the 65 396 425 hp pass car. It would have had the Peanut Bowls. re3124) Corvette carb. Your choke fast idle cam is the service red. The 3124 and 3130 had the white one. Goes to show that Holley was not always consistent when they made carbs for service. Note the black finish on the pump operating lever and choke rod. correct on 3124, 3130, and 3310. Also the accelerator pump housing with the clutch head screws.Vent tubes are straight, not baloney sliced. Also note the 5/16 gas fittings are black. 3/8 line fittings are always Bright Yellow Zinc. Interesting carb made for service. Holley eventually made about a gazillian 3310's (780 cfm). Original Chevelle Z-16.

[Joe L.]

Re: 1967 Holley Carb Finishes Question 327/350HP

Joe, I have not seen this carb packaged like this before, with a manual choke and hot air choke assy in box. The 3130 was original on the 65 396 425 hp pass car. It would have had the Peanut Bowls. re3124) Corvette carb. Your choke fast idle cam is the service red. The 3124 and 3130 had the white one. Goes to show that Holley was not always consistent when they made carbs for service. Note the black finish on the pump operating lever and choke rod. correct on 3124, 3130, and 3310. Also the accelerator pump housing with the clutch head screws.Vent tubes are straight, not baloney sliced. Also note the 5/16 gas fittings are black. 3/8 line fittings are always Bright Yellow Zinc. Interesting carb made for service. Holley eventually made about a gazillian 3310's (780 cfm). Original Chevelle Z-16.

Bob------


Yes, I believe that original PRODUCTION-utilized versions of this carb would have had the "peanut" fuel bowls. SERVICE carbs manufactured at that time almost certainly would have, too. However, I believe Holley regarded the newer-design fuel bowls as an improvement and used them for most, if not all, 1966 and later 4150 series carbs, including SERVICE carbs for 1965 applications.

As a matter of fact, the 1965 "peanut" fuel bowls were as follows:

GM #3877169, aka Holley 34R-4460A---primary

GM #3881427, aka Holley 34R-4419---secondary

The GM #3877169 was discontinued from SERVICE in April, 1967 and replaced by GM #3898992. The GM #3881427 was discontinued from SERVICE in November, 1966 and replaced by GM #3889781. I'm very confident that SERVICE 3124 and 3130 carbs manufactured even well before the discontinuation date of the "peanut" bowls were equipped with the later style fuel bowls.

The fast idle cam was GM #3869147. It was discontinued without supersession in May, 1972. However, at some point the material was likely changed and I expect that's the reason for the color difference.