Who's running a 1904 Holley on their I6?

Discussion in 'Technical' started by ratio411, Nov 27, 2007.

  1. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    This carb is from the 50s and 60s on many, many 6 cyl vehicles from Jeep to Edsel... and of course Fords.

    It appears to be SUPER simple to work with, which I love in a carb.

    Anyone running this on their 200?

    What is the bolt pattern on the 200 intake?
    The 1904 is 2 3/4" pattern.

    I am interested in using one on a 200 if it will fit.
    So I was hoping someone here has used one.
    Otherwise I guess I'll get off my butt and measure the carb on the 200 and find an old 1904 to compare. (I'd rather not though :rofl: J/K)
     
  2. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

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    Ironic you should post this, I was just looking at a Holley 1904 the other day at a junkyard and was impressed with the simplicity of it's design. It was on a flathead straight 8 in a '51 Packard. I thought about buying it and trying it on the Maverick, but the venturi looked kind of restrictive compared to a Carter RBS, so I passed on it. I am about 95% sure it would bolt on a 200, depending on which carb spacer is on your engine. Alot of the 200's had a carb spacer to fit a carb with a smaller foot print (no idea why). The good news is that if your car has the smaller one, you can get a carb spacer off a 250 and it will bolt right on the 200 allowing to use a carb with a larger foot print.

    I came across this site on Google while searching for info about the carb: http://www.tocmp.com/manuals/Carbs/Holley/H1904-IHC-1953/MCarbHollIHC53E322B/MCarbHoll_IHC_53B.html

    From what I have found, they appear to be an excellent carb for gas mileage. I've read a few guys on Ford Six running the carb on early Falcons and they are claiming anywhere from 25-33 mpg with it. I may go back and snag that one off that Packard just to play around with and see what kind of gas mileage I can get with it.
     
    Last edited: Nov 27, 2007
  3. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    That was a good read!
    Thanks!

    I have done some checking and this carb shows to be used by Ford into the 60s, including on 170 Falcons... very early on.

    The biggest surprise about this carb is that it is obviously the inspiration for the Holley carbs we have now in the 4150/4160s!
    If you look at this thing, it is almost literally 1/4 of a 4150/4160 carb!

    Everything from the needle/seat/float, to the PV, and the accel pump with removeable squirter is all there. Even the forward float bowl ala Holley 4v.

    Maybe that is why I took an instant liking to this carb. Pure simplicity and tunability.
    [​IMG]
     
  4. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    Oh, I should mention it was also used on larger Ford/Merc/Edsel 223 I6 engines to around 60-61. As well as on IHC trucks, Ford F100s, and Jeeps to name just a few.
    Point being that not only are they simple and tough, but they have been used in larger vehicles and on larger engines. So they are not just little wimpy 170 Falcon carbs that won't feed a 200.
     
  5. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

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    You are echoing my thoughts exactly when I first saw it.

    What's really neat, is if you do a bit of hunting you can find glass float bowls for these carbs. I'm going to go back tomorrow and get that carb if it's still there. I can get it for 15 bucks.

    What car do you have that has a I6? I thought your Sprint had a 302?
     
  6. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    Be careful now, the 1904 has a fuel bowl but it is not interchangeable with the two and four barrel carbs. It is a great carb for the small sixes but I never got more than 27 MPG with a 1962 Falcon and 200 cu inch six and a C4.
     
  7. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

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    I don't see where anyone said it was. :huh: I'm currently getting about 25 highway with a Carter RBS.
     
  8. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    This was what I was refering to. He didn't say it was interchangeable but you never know what someone might try when they read something like the highlighted part of the quote.
     
  9. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    Paul, I meant that the bowl design was classic Holley and a sign of things to come for their most famous 2 and 4 barrel designs.

    Jamie, my son has a Fox body Fairmont with a 200/c4.
    I don't mention the 'Fairmont' part so that I can post my 200 cid questions/discussions in the Maverick forums.
    Shhhh... don't tell anyone though... ;)
     
  10. Slantsickness

    Slantsickness Member

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    It's a OK carb. Mopar used them on slant sixes until about '73, so thats another source if your looking for one. I think they are too tall to fit on 250's though.
     
  11. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

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    I don't think so. Dosen't look any taller then a Carter YF to me.
     
  12. newtoford

    newtoford Member

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    you also have to kep in mind that early i6 have a smaller opening for the carb and diffrent spacing on the bolts then the later heads that flow a little better. i think 69 or 70 was the year they changed to the larger size. so a carb that bolts to a 1968 200 wont bolt up to a 1978 200. i dont know if that makes a diffrence with this carb but it sounds like this carbs only going to work on the early 6's, not one you will find under the hood of a maverick or fairmount
     
  13. Slantsickness

    Slantsickness Member

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    Thats why ford used the carter RBS on 250s
     
  14. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    The 1904 has a 2 3/4" bolt spacing.
    What does the later 200 have for spacing?
     
  15. ratio411

    ratio411 Member

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    Is that a decent carb?
    My uncle has a 71 250 from a Maverick sitting on the floor.
    It has a very large 1 bbl carb... Not tall, just big and fat.
    I assume this is the RBS???

    Will it fit a 200?
    It doesn't look simple... anyone have a comment on them?
     

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