1965 and 1966 Nailhead AFB Carb plates - Any interest in nice 304 SS ones?

Rhett you could be right about having the order wrong.
I am really good at making mistakes like that!!!!

As I recall, Doc even notes putting a thin paper gasket between the AL carb base and the SS plate, then the typical thicker fiber gasket between the manifold and the SS plate.

What do all you "Carter AFB on a Nailhead" aficionados say? :laugh:

 

The plate goes against the AFB carburetor base and the gasket goes between the plate and the intake manifold.

 

I've heard that too, but it never made sense to me.....I figured the gasket against the actual exhaust would burn away a lot quicker than the steel plate. So that's the reason I set it up in the order that I do.

 

Rhett,
Now that you mention it....upon removing both carb fromthe '65 and '66 401s I have, both the carb gaskets were eroded the worst where it covered that smiley faced shaped exhaust gas channel. Hmmmmmm........... That seams to support your thinking pretty well!

Has anyone else experienced that?????

 

Since I'm the original owner of my '64 Riv. originally the SS plate was between the carb. base & gasket under that. But, it makes sense & i agree it's better against the manifold for reasons mentioned.

 

Here is what they will cost.

Just back from Office Depot (right size envelopes) and USPS (actual shipping cost) and found my costs to be higher than expected.
So I need to price these at $12 each including delivery to the lower 48 US States. The USPS told me the envelope was not flexible enough to get the lower postal rate, so it is considered a parcel. 3-9 days ship time. Delivery elsewhere will need to be quoted ahead of sale.

Send me a PM if you would like some of these plates!

Plate Location at Installation:
Some of you folks have great points of where the plate should be installed relative to the carb and gasket. There are reasonable arguments for each arrangement. My take is AL carb, SS plate, gasket, CI Manifold. Most seasoned folks note the stock set up was that way and I believe the gasket is needed more to seal the plate to that Cast Iron (CI) than the plate to the softer Auminum (AL). I also believe the small gap/overlap that may be present when the gasket compresses might cause some turbulence to mixture flow.

So I called Edelbrock to get their input, after all, they are basically making todays version of the Carter AFB! "Mark" at the tech line explained they recommend putting the plate against the carb and the gasket between the plate and manifold. They have also tested the "one big opening" and "four individual venturi hole" plate styles to find with thicker plates and spacers the gasket will vibrate with a single hole plate causing unwanted drop in performance. (because the gasket is basically unsupported)

So there it is! Hope you enjoyed the ride, I rebuilt my carb correctly, and I get my money out of these plates!!!! As we all know, getting our time out of these Nailheads is a lost cause, but it is nice to "Git 'Em Going Fast"! :laugh:
Untamed Kitty

 

Carter AFB carb plates sized from a 1965 3921S 401 Auto carb are ready. If your carb is different, please check that your base is dimensionally the same as my carb. Edelbrock and Carter carb parts suppliers have confirmed this is a common carb for 401 automatic cars. Here is what they will cost.

Just back from Office Depot (right size envelopes) and USPS (actual shipping cost) and found my costs to be higher than expected.
So I need to price these at $12 each including delivery to the lower 48 US States. The USPS told me the envelope was not flexible enough to get the lower postal rate, so it is considered a parcel. 3-9 days ship time. Delivery elsewhere will need to be quoted ahead of sale.

Here are the benefits:
A) These are Type 304-2b Stainless Steel, 22ga, non-magnetic grade. (other plates I have found are cheap SS, magnetic, and rusted)
B) These are sized to match the holes +/- .005", to above carb venturis and stock 1965-66 Buick Intake mounting holes. (other plates were 1/16"-3/32" oversized diameter which exposed carb porting to intake plenum.)
C) American made material and Wisconsin made precision part. (If you like foreign made stuff, enjoy your taxes, every foreign made item you buy send money out of this country.)
D) These plates cover the entire machined carb base surface so all porting, venting and casting cavities are covered. (if they wanted areas those exposed to the atmosphere, air/fuel mixture, and/or exhaust gases...why was a perimeter cast and machined???)

Send me a PM if you would like some of these plates!

Plate Location at Installation:
Some of you folks have great points of where the plate should be installed relative to the carb and gasket. There are reasonable arguments for each arrangement.
So I called Edelbrock to get their input, after all, they are basically making todays version of the Carter AFB! "Mark" at the tech line explained they recommend putting the plate against the carb and the gasket between the plate and manifold. They have also tested the "one big opening" and "four individual venturi hole" plate styles to find with thicker plates and spacers the gasket will vibrate with a single hole plate causing unwanted drop in performance. (because the gasket is basically unsupported)

So there it is! Hope you enjoyed the ride, hope I rebuilt my carb correctly, and I hope to get my money out of these plates!!!! As we all know, getting our time out of these Nailheads is a lost cause, but it is nice to "Git 'Em Going Fast"!
Untamed Kitty

 

Do you still have some of these available? Sent a PM and have not heard back.

 

FYI for All Buick Folks:

Thought you might like to see how your Parcel Shipments are handled at the USPS - I feel burned, so don't let this happen to you...

Hi Brian,
USPS just schooled me good! Because my package was sent Parcel Post with Tracking, it has no insurance on it. SOOOOOO, they tell me I am SOL on the package value. And they have no responsibility to deliver anything unless insurance is added or included due to package size.

What a sweet deal for them, they get paid up front, don't need to perform, and the customer has no reasonable recourse!

Anyhow, you are at no fault here so the second set went out today, tracking number 9505513466635212004869 with insurance. I hope they lose it so I can get my funds back for all four parts!

​Beware of the USPS Terms and Conditions.:moonu: No wonder UPS and FedEx have grown so big!

 

FYI for All Buick Folks:

Thought you might like to see how your Parcel Shipments are handled at the USPS - I feel burned, so don't let this happen to you...

"Hi Brian,
USPS just schooled me good! Because my package was sent Parcel Post with Tracking, it has no insurance on it. SOOOOOO, they tell me I am SOL on the package value. And they have no responsibility to deliver anything unless insurance is added or included due to package size.

What a sweet deal for them, they get paid up front, don't need to perform, and the customer has no reasonable recourse!

Anyhow, you are at no fault here so the second set went out today, tracking number 9505513466635212004869 with insurance. I hope they lose it so I can get my funds back for all four parts!"

​Beware of the USPS Terms and Conditions.:moonu: No wonder UPS and FedEx have grown so big!

 

Stainless plate goes directly against the carb base because the plate transfers heat around the throttle bores to prevent icing. The fiber gasket should have the smiley face cut into it which prevents direct contact with exhaust gases.
Tom Mooney

 

Hey, I just bought a remanufactured AFB for my 65 Gran Sport from Rock Auto. It came with the asbestos gasket and the stainless steel plate included.
Also, they sent me "Carburetor Bulletin #2", which says: Satisactory performance cannot be obtained from the spreadbore unless the correct gasketing is used between the carburetor and intake manifold. If your manifold has an exhaust crossover slot, prepare for the installation as follows:

1. Install the asbestos gasket supplied with the carburetor.
2. Place the stainless steel plate on top of the asbestos gasket.
3. Mount the carburetor on top of the stainless steel plate with no additional gasket between the plate and the carburetor.

My car is a survivor and it had no plate installed when I took it apart. Exhaust crossover was completely clogged. Choke was jamming, idle was rough, air was blowing OUT of the front vacuum port. Cleaned out crossover, installed new carb according to bulletin, runs great now.

 

Heya Gentlemen,....I'm just making an assumption on that salutation,...:grin: but I'm a greenhorn on this site, so I reckon I'll find out if I've jumped the gun soon enough. I am jazzed to have found this site, and particularly this thread. I have not had the Carter AFB off the 401 in my '66 Wildcat since I bought her and got her running. She ran great at first but her idle characteristic has gone to, well let's just say not so good. Anyway after reading this thread I have a strong suspicion that the plate deal is the source of my problem. Gonna pull the carb asap and find out what's up. I'll letcha know, and most likely b ordring some plates if they are still available.

 

The way we use our vehicles today that plate is NOT needed if you block the holes in the manifold.