Carburetor for LaSalle '40 series 50?

[Andrew Pullin]

A carburetor is one of the few whole items that I am missing from my pile of junk (which can supposedly be assembled into a car).

There's a number of Carter WD-0's on ebay, and floating around other places, but how do I figure out which one will work?
As I understand it, that's also a casting number, or second model number on the Carter carbs?
A ballpark estimate of what I should expect to pay would be helpful, since I haven't dealt with antique carbs before...

This isn't a "heritage" restoration, I just want something that'll work. Should I just build/make an adapter plate and use something easier or cheaper to find or work with? I do have a CNC here I can make adapter plates with....

Thanks!

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Generally, most cadillac Carter 2 barrels will fit on your 40 LaSalle, from the 40's to 1951.

The most original Carter WD0 is the model 460S. One can check the flange face (the bottom of the carburetor where the gasket would fit) and try to find the number 277. If the 277 is there then you can be somewhat sure you have an original Carter Carb for the 40 LaSalle (unless someone mixed and matched parts).

Good Luck

John W

[jim thomas CLC#15000]

PULLIN,
         JOHN W. IS RIGHT IN WHAT HE SAYS. HUMM SO EVER,  IF YOU WANT TO VERIFY WHAT HE SAYS, GO TO   "THE  CARBUATOR SHOP" on the web .jim

[Otto Skorzeny]

Here's a link to the company jim mentioned.

I think I'll have to add it to the Huge List.

http://www.thecarburetorshop.com/History.htm

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Otto,

Only place I will buy rebuild kits from. The best.

John W.

[Otto Skorzeny]

I read two conflicting things on the site. One said they do complete restorations of carburetors. On another page it said they only sell kits.

Do you know what's what, John?

[Andrew Pullin]

I've fired off an email to them; I guess they really are only open Monday-Wednesday.
Actually, suprisingly, it looks like there are some Carter rebuild kits out there at reasonable prices (<$100), and a fair number of "rectangular flanged" Carter carbs on ebay.

Is it worth considering some other carburetor, just for a little more power or broader torque peak?
I only ask about this because I would like to be able to drive this car on the dangerous roads of California, so I might need it just to keep up.

[buicksplus]

I have used both a Carter from a '51 Cadillac and a stromberg on my 40 LaSalle.  Performance is similar for both units.  The particular Carter I had a sticky throttle bushing that led me to switch to the Stormberg.

These carbs can usually be found for reasonable prices on eBay or swap meets, take your time.  Decent rebuild kits are readiily available from several sources.  Terrill Machine comes to mind.  They are easy to rebuild.

If you have one that actually came off a Cad flathead, chances are the jets will be OK. 

I would certainly try to find either a Carter or Stromberg 2bbl that fits on the manifold before I started building adapter plates. Make sure you put a thick gasket under it, even with that it will still be hard to start when hot.  If it does that, you'll know you have a genuine cadillac carburetor!

Bill.

[Otto Skorzeny]

Pullin,

You can also get information and kits and even complete rebuilds from Daytona Parts Co and the Carburetor Doctor.

Their information can be found on the link in my signature.

The guys at Daytona can probablyt help you with advice. Ron and Tim are extremely knowlegable and know Carters like no one else. Give them a call.

They do first rate rebuilding as well.

[Mark Lowery]

Pullin,
I may have the carb you need, but my usual excuse; it is up in Chico and I'm in Walnut Creek.  Anyhow, when I go up there again in a few weeks, I'll grab the carb and get the numbers off of it.  I know it works (worked) just fine as it was the carb on my 37 LaSalle when it was last used as a driver.  I discovered it was a later carb when I rebuilt it years ago.  It fits the intake manifold w/o an adaptor but I don't know exactly what year it was intended for, just that it was newer than the car. 

I recently acquired the proper carb for the 37 and will rebuild that one and use it on the engine when I get everything together.  From your Email address, it appears that you either attend UC, work at UC and/or live in Berkeley.  I'm just over the hill in Walnut Creek, so once I fetch the carb, you could actually check it out and of course there would be no shipping.  The body of my 37 LaSalle is actually undergoing restoration in Oakland so I often pop through the Caldecottt to visit it so I could also bring it by for your perusal.

Go Bears,
Mark Lowery, CLC #25216