305A carburetor
 

Is there a good alternative to the Holley 1904 on the 1960 305A or is there a source for rebuilt units or a reputable rebuilder someone has used ? I can find 1904's but the throttle body on the units for the 305 A is different. Thanks

Re: 305A carburetor
 

I bought a kit to rebuild my Stromberg from Mike's Carb Parts and it had everything I needed. I have not had any carbs rebuilt by him so I can't speak to that.

I see he lists a universal replacement carb for a 1904 Holley. It is pricey ($399 on sale), and he also sells kits if you wish to rebuild your own, or he can do it for you.

*There is a section on his webpage that states that there are some items for the carb he does not carry, like the Float. he advises buying another carb for parts.

The carb below has 4.8 rating overall listed on the site. He also has 4 Part series on rebuilding the Holley 1904 on YouTube.

https://www.carburetor-parts.com/190...04_p_3141.html

Re: 305A carburetor
 

I'm confused: You asked if there is an "alternative" to 1904. This means you may open to a non original carburetor. But you also said you can find 1904's but the throttle body is "different". What about it is different that it can't be used? I also don't know what trouble you are having? Do you have a 1904 now? and is it giving you trouble?

If you have a 1904 that you suspect needs rebuilt, Funky is RIGHT ON, contact Mike's carburetor, give them the 1904 number and either get a kit or send for rebuild. He answers any question by email. He is a really great guy. He probably has a video on the 1904 rebuild.

The 1904 is only a one barrel carb. Parts are getting rare. The glass front is hard to find. It may be an easy good idea to switch to a WW Stromberg which is a good two barrel carb used on/designed for 305 V6's. There's your alternative. There are others, some require some fab and doubtful advantage.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

I am familiar with Mikes and have seen his videos ,good information The throttle body on the 1904 on the 305A is larger than most 1904s which were used on smaller engines. The float bowls are the same however . I was looking for a more modern carb that might be better than the 1904 that would be an easy replacement . Have had many cars with 1904s just throwing it out there to see if someone might have used something else .,not looking for a big project . Thanks

Re: 305A carburetor
 

You just need a little newer 305 intake manifold, easy to find and install. Buy a WW, east to find and install. Not much work.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

thanks for the info

Re: 305A carburetor
 

The 1904 Holley that came stock on the 305 A is a wonderfully simple and reliable carb.
It may not be the most economical or highest performing one that can be found and installed, but it is easy to rebuild and adjust.
I have never seen one with a glass float bowl, if that is what Ken means by "front."
I am also surprised that a "newer" 305 intake manifold can be described as easy to find and install.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

I agree simple and easy to adjust however leaking float bowls are a problem with these carbs because of warpage from over tightening the float bowl cover as described on Mike's carburetor website. Thanks

Re: 305A carburetor
 

From Mike's carburetors website:

The Holley 1904 is a 1 barrel, downdraft carburetor and has three basic parts, the main body, throttle body and the float bowl. The main body includes the metering block, float and the economizer. The float bowl mounts on the front of the carburetor and can be metal, or glass. The glass bowl is becoming a rare piece to find, undoubtedly because they are so easy to break and they are not made any more.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

Thank's , I have read the info on his website in the past . Is there any info out there regarding differences in the metering bodies on these carbs interchangeability etc.? Mike's could not help with that. Just got some gaskets from Mike's today. Trying to remedy the float bowl leak.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

To be a little more specific the leaky float bowls have always been problematic . This particular carb had a bent or misaligned power valve "stem" Swapped in another metering body with good stem from another carb off of six cylinder Ford The throttle body bore from that carb has a 2 5/8 "bolt spacing and a 1 9/16" bore (seems this is the most common 1904 ).The 305 GMC is measures 2 15/16" bolt spacing and 1 3/4" bore . With the metering body from the 'smaller carb' truck idles fine but surges at low speed and does not have top end power as before .I tried this with a couple other metering bodies with pretty much same results . Asked Mike's if they knew anything about swapping these bodies but he had never done that.I have a line on another carb with the 'larger throttle body' so I will try that metering body and see. As I said before I have had many of these carbs before used and pro rebuilt and eventually the bowls seem to leak . I have checked flatness on the bowl and cover and corrected as per Mike's . I'll keep ya posted when I swap the other metering body. Yes I would still be open to another bolt on carb but seems no one here knows of one. Thanks

Re: 305A carburetor
 

What is wrong with this idea? Gets you a 2BBL. Era correct GMC.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

Nothing wrong with that idea but not what I'm looking for . My truck is a pro restored body off ,nut and bolt restoration of a rust free Texas truck. Hiding a different direct fit carb under my oil bath air cleaner is as far as I will stray from original. Any input as far as metering bodies on the 1904 ?

Re: 305A carburetor
 

I don't understand why you are messing around with meter bodies? Are you trying to save this carb because it is somehow numbers correct for 1960? What section of the carb is this number? You have not been able to find a 1960 1904? You are obsessed with metering bodies. How do you know that the lack of performance is the meter body. The word "pro" you are using means nothing. Many here are unsung pros also. This is where 6066 GMC pros live.
There is no one on earth that will care if you use a different 305 V6 GMC manifold with a WW carb. The manifolds look basically the same under the air cleaner. The truck won't be worth one penny more or less. No judge or buyer will ever have that knowledge that 1960 305A had 1904 1BBL but a 1960 305C had a WW. You are too tight on this. Maybe you are an expert on 1904, that's great. I'm not. I don't think you need to be this rigid. If you want me to find a specific carb out here in my area, give me the numbers and I will try to find one. It seems like the answer is obvious. They only metering body that will work for you is one from a carb like the one you were using when the truck ran good.
You are stuck on a carb that you say is crappy, they all leak, problematic, warp, no fix, can't find metering body.

Search data:

The Holley 1904 was prone to warpage of the main casting and the bowl, similar to the Rochester B. Since the bowl mounts vertically on to the main body on the 1904, warpage causes a fuel leak at the bottom of the bowl.

The earliest 1904's had the problem, but it took longer as the bowl was glass, which didn't warp. When the glass bowls were replaced with die-cast bowls approximately 1959 or so, the problem got worse, as the die-cast bowls also warped.

The Holley 1904 is available in two different flange sizes (like the Rochester B) and several different internal venturi sizes for use on engines from 144 to 305 CID; and used ones (except the ones for the 144) are much more common than even the Rochester B. The warpage is much easier to straighten than the Rochester, as there are no projections on the surface to straighten.

The flange is SAE No. 3, 2-15/16, I believe there are Carters and Rochester's that fit. When buying a replacement donor carb, the rule of thumb is get it from a motor within plus or minus 3 per cent Cu In of the receiving motor.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

I was hoping to find someone with a working knowledge of the 1904 .I am not obsessed with the metering bodies of these carburetors other than the fact that this is the part that by process of elimination is where my problem lies. No point in debating how to build ones truck but you do yours and I will do mine . If you can help with the 1904 thank you otherwise let someone else will chime in.

Re: 305A carburetor
 

Problem solved .Obtained another carb with the larger throttle body and swapped the metering body and truck performs as it should .Makes sense that the carbs that had the smaller throttle body were for smaller displacement engines and their metering bodies are calibrated accordingly. Also machined some material off the back side of the four bolt 'bosses' on the float bowl cover to give the gasket little more crush ,no more leak ! Thanks for all the input on this