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**IMJ** · 03-02-2010, 05:55 PM

Hello,
I certainly don't have the wisdom but I do know that a friend of mine has an Edelbrock with a Carter AFB top on it. I do not know what model he has. Sorry I can't be more help, I just replied so you know it is possible. He also bought a new reproduction sealed AFB that I think Dave Thibeault assembled that looks almost identical to an original.

regards,
Jay

**PlainBrownR2** · 03-02-2010, 06:04 PM

One of the things that people have to keep in mind is the R2 carbs are sealed, meaning there's no vent holes like that on an ordinary carburetor. I know this can be done with the regular 259/289 carburetors as they vent normally, but I'm wondering if anybody has done these with the R2 carburetors. These carbs vent internally because the blower pressure will spray fuel out of the vent holes on a normal carb. That's not good, particularly on a driver [}

].
Yeah, if necessary I'll get ahold of Thibeault as he does the conversions as well.

[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010531-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010550-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=right]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201964%20Studebaker%20Commander%20R2/P1010168.jpg[/IMG=right]

**IMJ** · 03-02-2010, 06:41 PM

The Edelbrock with the Carter AFB top is being used on an R2 my friend has in his Cruiser. The only problem he had was with the seal at the accelerator pump stem. He replaced it twice and the third time he got a kit for a marine application. The later seal kit also came with a new accelerator pump. The pump stem is plastic but so far seems to be working.
regards,
Jay

**Laemmle** · 03-02-2010, 06:57 PM

Nick Berger in Westminster Ca runs his R2 with a 500cfm Edelbrock!

quote:Originally posted by PlainBrownR2

Hello,

Since the Racing forum is currently indisposed at the moment, I need a little age and wisdom on this subject [

)] [:I]. On the Lark, I have an R2 carburetor, that while replacing some intake manifold gaskets to resolve an idling problem, that I discovered that one of the carburetor's mounting tangs is cracked. Turning up another carburetor for parts has yielded little results, therefore I was wondering:

Can the R2 carburetor be converted to use an Edelbrock base with a Carter top? If not, that nulls out the subsequent set of questions [B)].

What model of Edelbrock can be used for the conversion (1403, 1404, 1406, etc)?

What jets, rods and springs need to be used for the conversion?

Are there any vent holes to seal and redrill in the base?

Any other modifications that need to be done to use the Edelbrock base?

Is there anything different about the Edelbrock base that will not allow this to work? We picked up some regular R1 carbs, but when we flipped them over we found the warming passages were completely different. [8]

[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010531-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010550-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=right]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201964%20Studebaker%20Commander%20R2/P1010168.jpg[/IMG=right]

**silverhawk** · 03-02-2010, 07:08 PM

Could you possibly fix the crack? I've heard of JB weld doing amazing things, maybe it would work to seal a crack.

Dylan Wills
[IMG][/IMG]
'61 lark deluxe 4 door wagon

**PlainBrownR2** · 03-02-2010, 07:22 PM

It was considered, well by me anyway. But, for something like this, in particular if the epoxy doesn't hold, the crack spreads, and suddenly I have a very lean condition, I'd really rather permanently fix, by replacing the broken part, than try to patch something like this. Plus, the crack occurred where the base meets the ear of the mounting tang on the base of the carburetor. It runs around from the bottom of the carb, up the tang, and over to the thermostatic choke housing where it stopped. At this point I'm basically running around with 3 1/4 solid mounting points on the carburetor, so the JB weld would be more like a cosmetic fix than a permanent one.

For me, this really is one of those situations where the adage "Fix it right or fix it twice" very strongly applies.

[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010531-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010550-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/Ex%20Studebaker%20Plant%20Locomotive/P1000578-1.jpg[/IMG=right]
[IMG=right]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/My%201964%20Studebaker%20Commander%20R2/P1010168.jpg[/IMG=right]

**Milaca** · 03-02-2010, 08:00 PM

This won't help you, but your dilemma brings to mind something that recently happened to me. I have a 1965 International pickup with a snow plow and it would only run with the choke halfway closed, so I took the Holley 2-barrel apart and put a new repair kit in it. All was going well until I was torqueing the four mount bolts to the intake manifold when I heard a 'SNAP'. Yep, I broke a mounting ear off of the carburetor base. [B)] This made me very upset and frustrated. But, I decided to try it out anyway and good news! It runs great! This vehicle wont see many hours of use, so proper repair isnt too critical.
As far as using JB Weld or other Epoxy, I have found is a waste of time in such an application. I had a damaged snowmobile carburetor with a broken off mount ear and tried JB Weld to adhere it back together, but it simply broke apart. JB Weld may work fine for patching holes, but I dont think it works well for glueing pieces back together that are subjected to fastening torque.

Autumn at Lake Barget
In the middle of Minnestudea

**Turbopackman** · 03-02-2010, 10:30 PM

FWIW, I used an Edelbrock, un-modified, on my supercharged '56 Packard Patrician with ZERO issues. According to vs57.com, an Edelbrock carb is safe to use up to 8 psi before you have any problems. You can also use a marine accelerator pump, which is sealed, if you're concerned about fuel leaks. I never had any problems, and will use an Edelbrock on my next forced-induction v8....

Eric Boyle
Packard Engineering, LTD.
Wichita, Ks.

<---Posts may contain anywhere from 30-100% sarcasm--->

**jallen** · 03-02-2010, 11:26 PM

Talk to ErnieR, forum name Bige. I know he has experience with
that combination, I think on his R2 Avanti. And he might have
a thread on the process.

**okc63avanti** · 03-03-2010, 03:17 AM

Check out Bob Johnstone's web page on carbs. I believe the correct edelbrock for an R series engine is the 1406. For a supercharger the carb fuel pump needs to be sealed. Not sure of exact procedure but a decent carb shop should know how to do this. If you are not picky about carb finish and you are willing to pay a little more you can order a marine 1406 edelbrock carb as it is already sealed.

http://www.studebaker-info.org/

John

63R-2386 under restoration & modification

**bige** · 03-03-2010, 05:14 AM

Good Morning...

Adapting the Edelbrock using AFB pieces is fairly easy. I've had mine on my car 7 years or so and it's been completely trouble free, gives great throttle response and full throttle performance.

Things you MUST do...use the primary venturi clusters from the AFB. The air vent nozzles on the E Carb are shorter and will be exposed to the air stream. The car will run but wll run very poorly. I also used the secondary venturis from the AFB though I'm not sure if it was necessary. There are subtle differences between the E Carb and AFB secondary clusters and since it's so easy to change them I just did it.

You must seal the center screw hole in the back of the AFB top. There isn't a corresponding threaded hole in the E. I just cut a carb screw down, filed a nut to fit in the opening and used a small 'o' ring as a seal. Looks original, doeasn't leak.

I used a accel pump seal from a carb kit that's a big washer with an 'o' ring. This is where my memory is a little fuzzy because I believe there was some mixing and matching of pumps to get a good seal in the bore, a good seal in the top but also allowing for free movement. If it was real difficult to accomplish I would have a better memeory of the process.

Options...

I wanted the carb to look as original as possible so that only the keen Studebaker eye would notice the change so I removed the large vacuum port in the from of the E carb, tapped it and plugged with a 1/8" pipe plug. The threaded hole in the rear works fine for the PCV valve and contrary to some claims that plugs will foul with the PCV valve back there I haven't experienced anything like that. In fact It's been 3 years since I changed spark plugs. I also bead blastd the E carb to match the natural finish of an AFB.

Another option is to do some grinding on the secondary air valve so that it lays flat like the AFB. I noticed some surging on full throttle high rpm runs and felt that the shape and position of the E carb's valve might cause it to stay closed rather than open at full throttle. If you look at the pictures you can see that the E carb's valve is not fully closed and I thought boosted air might get under the valve through that opening and keep the valve from opening all the way or cause it to flutter.

Another option but one I highly recommend is tack welding the linkage in the spot at the screwdriver tip. The secondaries on both the AFB and the E carb are activated by a spring. The linkage is there to keep them closed until you floor it and do give a positive mechanical return function so your car doesn't take off like a Camry. It has been suggested that even on the AFB boost may actually over power the spring and keep the secondaries from opening or cause a fluttering. Since the E carb was not designed for blown engines I questioned whether the spring tension was different between the AFB and Edelbrock. I can say that this mod made a BIG difference. I noticed on the first test drive that I could feel the secondaries kicking in, not a bog just an extra pull that was never there before.

As far as jetting goes you can use your original jets and rods they will interchange right over to the E carb or experiment. The 1406 that I use ran very well with the installe 98 Primary and 95 Secondary jets. I've sinced changed the combo a little but every engine is different so what works for me may not be best for you.

Some tidbits...I run without a choke. There have been comments that under boost the choke can be forced closed but also that the choke has a positive effect on the air flow straightening the stream under boost. You can adapt the electric choke to the AFB top with linkage mix and match. I've found that my car runs and

**jlmccuan** · 03-03-2010, 10:36 AM

Just a couple pics of the Carter method of sealing the throttle shafts implemented on an Edelbrock base. Quick and clean, but I cheat by using a CNC. You can do the same by hand, though. Pressure from above the throttle plates comes through the secondary airvalve counterweight well to the passages milled in the base and around the throttle shafts. The nice part is the same program works for all the Edelbrocks.

Machined Edelbrock base

Edelbrock on the left, Carter R2 on the right

Jim
Often in error, never in doubt

____1966 Avanti II RQA 0088_______________1963 Avanti R2 63R3152____________Rabid Snail Racing

**PlainBrownR2** · 03-03-2010, 12:28 PM

Beautiful, excellent, thanks guys. The 1406 in particular is of real interest to me because I'll be able to pick up those at a Brand X swapmeet for literally pennies. I will need the electric choke because the Lark is a year round kinda car [

)].

[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010531-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
[IMG=left]http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t102/PlainBrownR2/55%20Studebaker%20Commander%20Streetrod%20Project/P1010550-1.jpg[/IMG=left]
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Announcement

R2 carburetor Edelbrock Conversion

R2 carburetor Edelbrock Conversion

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