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Carburetor Identification Service
Carter, Holley, Marvel,
Marvel/Schebler, Rochester,
Schebler, Stromberg, Zenith
Brass Series (A,C,G,H) (1909 1922) 1 barrel updraft (have no information to further identify these units)
W Series (W-0, W-1, WA-1, WE, W-2) - (1932 1949)(1 barrel) triangular brass tag; also, code number stamped under base
W Series (WCD, WD0,WGD) (2 barrel) (1936 1967) metal tag; also code number stamped under base
W Series (WCFB) (4 barrel) (1952 1965) metal tag; also code number stamped under base
AS Series (1 barrel) (1956 1963) metal tag
RBS Series (1barrel) (1963 1974) metal tag; also some (not all) stamped id number on edge of flange
AFB Series (4 barrel) (1957 2001) metal tag: also some units stamped on edge of flange, some units stamped center of bowl in rear, some units stamped along bowl airhorn seam in front, some units NOT stamped (tag only)
BB Updraft Series (1 barrel) (1932 1963) rectangular brass tag
BBR Series (BBR-1, BBR-2) (1 barrel) (1933 1938) rectangular brass tag
BBR Series (BBR-1, BBR-2) (1 barrel) (1939 1960) letter number combination stamped on side of airhorn strengthening vane
BBS Series - (identified by tag only, once the tag is removed, identification is extremely difficult
YF Series (YF, YFA) - most O.E. carbs stamped with the number followed by letter S on center section (bowl)
UT Series identified by tag only, once the tag is removed, identification is extremely difficult
N Series (N, ND, NRD) some stamped on edge of flange, others tagged
Carter numbering systems. Three different types of numbering systems are found on Carter produced carburetors.
(1) On carburetors built for Chrysler Corporation, a series of 3, 4, or 5 letters and numbers; i.e. EV1 or D6H2.
(2) On carburetors built for Ford Motor Company, the Ford numbering system which is lnll l(l)(l) or letter, number, letter, letter dash letter (possible letter) (possible letter) i.e C5VF-A. This system is codified in that the first letter is the decade (B=1950s, C=1960s, etc.); the number is the last digit in the year; the 3rd and 4th letters (before the dash) represent the vehicle model (VF=Lincoln); and the letter or letters after the dash are a modifier which distinguishes the exact application. Thus in the example C5VF-A, the carburetor would have been the first application for Lincoln in the year 1965.
(3) The traditional Carter numbering system which consisted of 1, 2, 3, or 4 digits; followed by the letter S, possibly followed by another letter. It is extremely doubtful that any of the single, double, or early triple digit tags will appear; as they were produced before 1930 and were constructed of red cardboard. The metal tag appeared about 1930 with tag numbers of about 300s. The 4 digit tag appeared in 1952, and was continued on until the end. The letter S and following letters, when present, have caused much speculation (mostly incorrect). In Carters terminology, an individual part such as an idle mixture screw was a single part; whereas two or more individual parts sold together such as a needle, seat, and gasket were sold as an assembly. Carter used the suffix letter S to denote assembly. Since all carburetors are composed of multiple parts, the letter S was appended to all carburetors using the traditional numbering system i.e. 938s. If a significant engineering change was made to the carburetor, the letter A would be appended to the S (i.e. 938sa). A second change would have the letter A replaced by the letter B (i.,e. 938sb). The highest engineering change of which I am aware is 4 i.e.938sd. Contrary to popular belief, the S DID NOT mean standard transmission, nor the SA automatic transmission.
Updraft brass bowl must be identified from pictures of actual linkage and internal specifications (no identification numbers)
Updraft diecast bowl an identification number is stamped in tiny numbers on the underside of the bowl, or on the edge of the carburetor mounting flange. The number will be in the format 10-nnnn, where nnnn is some number generally LARGER than 500. Some Pontiac and Oakland units have a stamped O or P preceding the 10.
Downdraft an identification number will be stamped SOMEWHERE on the outside surface of the carburetor in tiny numbers. Areas to look: the bowl cover, above the float; the edge of the flange of the bowl where it fits to the throttle body, on the throttle body itself. Downdraft Marvel models were B, BD, and CD. The D in the BD and CD meant duplex or two-barrel.
Additional information with Marvel casting numbers: MARVEL CASTING NUMBERS
Please see the history blurb under Schebler. Some of the Marvel models, and Schebler models were continued as Marvel/Schebler models. The identification on Marvel/Schebler is difficult to pigeon-hole, as different forms were used for the same model in different years. GENERALLY, Marvel/Schebler identification numbers would be in the same format as Schebler numbers (please see the Schebler section) BUT NOT ALWAYS. Example: the letter X was not used on models such as the TSV, VD, VH which were mostly small engine. Marvel/Schebler numbers could have been STAMPED into the casting; stamped into a riveted rectangular tag; stamped into a riveted teardrop shaped tag, and some of the late small engine carbs had the number stamped on a round tag. A quirk of the identification system which really is confusing until you know about it, especially on the TS series tractor carburetors, is as follows:
The information stamped into the tag might read:
TSX
6 51
241B
This is one of the more common carburetors. This is a TSX-241B produced the 6th month of 1951. It is NOT a TSX-651. The center line is a date code!
Marvel/Schebler models are as follows:
DLT
GLE
SL
TC
TR
TSV
TS
TT
US
VD
VH
As my Marvel/Schebler information gets very sketchy in the 1960s, I am unable to give a year range for these models.
AA Series (1949, 1950) (2 barrel) triangular metal tag
B Series (B, BC, BV) (1949 - 1967) (1 barrel) triangular metal tag.
2G Series (2G, 2GC, 2GV) (1955 - 1967) (2 barrel) triangular metal tag
2G Series (2G, 2GC, 2GV) (1968 up) (2 barrel) roll stamp on side of bowl
4G Series (4G, 4GC) (1952 1967) (4 barrel) triangular metal tag
H Series (H, HV) (1960 1967) (1 barrel) triangular metal tag
H Series (H, HV) - (1968, 1969) (1 barrel) roll stamp on side of bowl
Monojet (1968 - up) (1 barrel) roll stamp on side of bowl
Quadrajet (1965 1967, some early 1968) (4 barrel) round metal tag pressed into side of bowl
Quadrajet (1968 up) (4 barrel) vertical roll stamp on side of bowl
R Series (R, RC) (1962, 1963) (1 barrel) triangular metal tag
Tags: Tags beginning in 1949 were brass. The metal was changed to aluminum approximately 1956. There appears to be some time overlap in the different series. The aluminum tags were color anodized on the top side. The color used was a code to help identify the carburetors. A few times in carburetor cleaner, and the color disappeared to a natural aluminum finish. The triangular tags were located under one of the screws holding the air horn to the bowl. The round tags (1965 1967 quadrajets) were pressed into an indent in the side of the bowl directly behind the primary throttle arm.
Roll stamps: Beginning in 1968, all Rochester carburetors were "roll stamped" with the identification number on the side of the bowl. These are "stamped" or "recessed" numbers, not "raised" as discussed below.
Other identification numbers: A very few 4G Series carburetors in 1957 only were stamped with the last 4 digits of the identification number on top of the air horn. Very early B series have the last 2 digits of the identification number stamped on the airhorn.
Casting (raised) numbers: Raised numbers appearing on various castings are so-called "casting" numbers. These numbers were used by Rochester to identify a casting "blank" PRIOR to machining. A casting could be machined into different parts. As an example; consider the throttle body of the 1957 Pontiac tripower: the front carburetor has no idle screws in front, and an 1/8 inch pipe tap in the rear; the center carburetor has idle screws in front, and an 1/8 inch pipe tap in the rear; the rear carburetor has neither idle screws nor pipe tap. ALL have the same casting number. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY ROCHESTER CARBURETORS FROM CASTING NUMBERS ALONE!
Carter built quadrajets: Carter Carburetor Company of St. Louis produced millions of quadrajets under license from GM from 1966 through 1979. These carburetors carry the exact same identification as their Rochester counterparts, and parts are directly interchangeable. Carter also produced "aftermarket" replacement quadrajets, which will be identified by the traditional Carter part number (4 digits, followed by the letter "S"). An example of this numbering system would be 4675S, which is identical except for the number to 7028262.
Rochester part numbers and application: Virtually all Rochester carburetor numbers produced from 1949 through 1974 are included in the application listings on this website.
The Schebler Carburetor Company started producing carburetors about 1902. The Schebler Carburetor Company was purchased by Borg/Warner about 1930, along with a number of other carburetor companies including Marvel. Borg/Warner combined the Marvel and Schebler brands and came up with Marvel/Schebler. SOME of the Schebler models were held over and were then produced by Marvel/Schebler. The Schebler models (also known as Wheeler Schebler in the early days) would have STAMPED identification numbers. These numbers are in the format: model X number and should be referred to as model model assembly number number. Example: DX-320. The model is D and the number is 320. This should be read as model D assembly number 320 OR DX-320 for short. Application information on most Schebler carburetors is difficult to find. Also, Schebler made replacement carburetors in the same models as original equipment carburetors. While we have very good information on the Schebler models DL, DLT, H, S, T, and U; we would appreciate ANY OTHER ORIGINAL Schebler application information from possibly an owners manual, shop manual, etc. We do have Schebler information on quite a few models L and R, but unable to determine if these were used as original equipment or aftermarket. Listed below are Schebler models of which I am aware, and year ranges these were produced.
A (1913-1936)
AH (1915-1922)
AL (1918-1921)
AM (???)
AT (1911-1933)
B (1916)
D (1903-1938)
DL (1915-1940)
DLT (1926-1930)
E (1906-1911)
FA (1912-1926)
G (1926-1934)
H (1907-1926)
HD (1927-1934)
L (1908-1925)
R (1914-1921)
S (1920-1933)
T (1930-1933)
U (1927-1932)
The following applies to Stromberg-USA carburetors, and does not apply to Stromberg carburetors produced elsewhere:
Stromberg began stamping
a code number on virtually all O.E. (original equipment) carburetors
beginning in 1935 up through the end of production in 1974. Most of the
carburetors produced in the late 1930s were stamped on the throttle body.
Others were stamped on the airhorn. After 1940 this trend was reversed, and
most carburetors were stamped on the top surface of the airhorn along one of
the edges. Replacement carburetors produced during this period were generally
identified by tag only (although a few replacements were stamped). The stamped
code is in the format ccc-nnne where ccc is a one, two, or three digit code
representing the company for which the carburetor was produced (ie 2=Ford,
4=Chrysler, 7=Buick, etc.); nnn is a one, two, or three digit number
representing the next sequential number of carburetor sold to the company in
ccc; and e is a letter (if present) representing the engineering change
status of the carburetor. An example would be 7-69A which is decoded as 7
(Buick); 69 (the sixty-ninth type of carburetor sold to Buick this one fits a
40 series in 1949); and A meaning one engineering change to the original
specifications. A second change would be 7-69B. Stromberg used both rectangular
(held in place by a screw) and round (riveted in place) tags during this
period, on those units which were tagged.
Stromberg carburetors
produced prior to 1935 can easily be identified as to type, as it is cast onto
the carburetor; however complete identification is impossible unless one has
prior knowledge of the carburetor being identified; and can be quite difficult
and time consuming for even someone with the original prints.
The following applies to Zenith-USA carburetors, and does not apply to Zenith carburetors produced in elsewhere:
Zenith carburetors produced from about 1932 to 1980 have a round tag, approximately the size of a US dime, riveted to the body of the carburetor. Original equipment carburetors will have two numbers stamped on this tag. The outer circle will be the O.E. part number (ie Allis Chalmers, GMC, IHC, etc.). The inner circle will be the Zenith number. Aftermarket carburetors made during this period will have the Zenith part number only on the tag.
Zenith carburetor produced after about 1980 will not have the round tag, but will have a tiny number stamped (never raised) in a semi-circle on the body of the carburetor.
Some Zenith carburetors produced in the 1920s up to about 1935 have a long thin rectangular tag with the Zenith number stamped.
Identification of Zeniths other than above is difficult.
The following chart has been copied (with permission) from a factory Zenith publication, and will help the hobbyist understand the meaning of the Zenith models. This does NOT identify individual carburetors, only the identification number can be used for positive identification:
A designates a carburetor where the throttle shaft is parallel to the air shutter shaft (with normal air intake).
B designates a carburetor where the throttle shaft is at right angles to the air shutter shaft (with normal air intake).
BB same as above but with fly opening opposite of above (B).
C vacuum pump, NO power jet.
DA duplex carburetor with one throttle shaft.
DB duplex carburetor with two parallel throttle shafts.
E elbow air intake ( for downdraft, horizontal and updraft carburetors, when the angle of the air intake differs from that of the standard of the series)
F governor connection, opposite side from bowl or on left side.
G a carburetor using natural gas or a combination of gasoline and natural gas for fuel
GM special 30 series to General Motors
I special for International Harvester, Inc.
J back-suction economizer
L large bowl ( model 267 carburetors)
LP liquid petroleum gas carburetor
M2 - marine carburetor with screws, brackets, levers, and shafts in brass.
M3 marine carburetor with brass bowl and iron barrel
M4 marine carburetor, all brass
N special for Novi governors
O offset throttle shaft (only in case it differs from the standard).
P pump (14 and 16 models)
R governor connections, same side as bowl or on right side
S straight thru for updraft carburetors
T balanced or sealed bowl vent
U universal replacement carburetor special flange c.c
V vacuum operated power jet if the standard of the series has mechanical pump or no pump
W vacuum pump AND power jet
X oversize flange and/or bolt location
Y undersize flange and/or bolt location
The following for letters FOLLOWING the carburetor size:
C automatic choke
G gas valve attachment for LPG
R Facet regulator or governor
RP Pierce governor
RZ Mechanovac governor
S special flange
SD LP starting device
IF You Have Carburetors to Identify
We offer a carburetor identification service. If the carburetor can be readily identified (tag, or stamped identification number) there is a $20. charge per carburetor.
Some carburetors can be identified by casting number (most cannot). Again, this would result in a $20. per carburetor charge.
Many older (especially brass) carburetors can be identified easily only into a group of applications (example: a Zenith O-4). These carburetors have different internal venturi, different calibrations, and different throttle and choke hook-ups. Absolute identification, while possible, normally would exceed the value of the carburetor! There is a $40. charge for a print-out of the various applications for a carburetor such as this.
Some carburetors in this group are worth the absolute identification. An example of this would be the Stromberg EE-3. These were used on Duesenbergs, Chrysler Imperials, Pierce-Arrows, Delahayes, Deloges, etc. To positively identify one of these, we generally need to inspect the carburetor in person. Cost will vary with the amount of time necessary. Occasionally, one of these can be done via telephone (we would tell you what to look for). An example of this is the Duesenberg EE-3 is the only one to use 1 3/8 venturi. This number is cast on the outside of the bowl.
Many carburetors are simply not worth the time to positively identify. Examples of these would be Rochester 1 barrel units used on primarily Chevrolet 6 cylinders of the 1950s and 1960s. These were identified by a tag. Once the tag is removed, identification is extremely difficult.
If you wish carburetors identified, the best method is to send us a list by manufacturer, type, and identification number (if present). We can then tell you what we can identify, and the costs. Pictures may, or may not be sufficient for identification.