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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:14 am 
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2 BBL ''SuperSix''

Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:49 pm
Posts: 21
Car Model: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda
Hey yall, hows everybody? My name is Mike and I'm 19 years old and I'm in love with these slant 6s. So anyhow, my dad has a 1968 Plymouth Barracuda with a 225 slant 6 he bought from the original owner back in the very early 90s when he was about my age. So it has the original holley 1920 and we are getting the ol barracuda alive after sitting in the garage for almost 30 years. So I heard these carbs have nitrophyl floats in them and that they don't make them anymore :x. Is there a way I could convert it over to a brass float instead? Like from a different model holley that's just about similar in design? Or does it have to run on these nitrophyl floats? I really appreciate all the help and advice. Thanks everybody and take care.
Mike :D


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:20 am 
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There's no brass float that fits and works in a Holley 1920. It's going to be a go-fish game (they go by on eBay pretty often) or a swap to a Carter BBD or other carburetor. Carburetor operation and repair manuals and links to training movies and carb repair/modification threads are posted here for free download. Tune-up parts and technique suggestions in this post. Also see this thread, and get the three books listed in this thread.

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 9:23 am 
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2 BBL ''SuperSix''

Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:49 pm
Posts: 21
Car Model: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda
Hey thanks buddy, but I heard there are 2 different ones they look the same but they are different, the float has some numbers on it but it's impossible to read. I also heard theyre are 7.5 grams and 12 grams. And what are the differences of the floats?


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 11:51 am 
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There were two different Holley 1920 floats, yes, years ago. The 1969 carbs are supposed to use the 7.5-gram float, which was a Holley 16R-362-3A or Walker 100-86. You might start by weighing your existing float to see what comes up on the (accurate) scale.

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 2:07 pm 
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TBI Slant 6
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Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:39 pm
Posts: 210
Location: Houston, TX
Car Model:
69 Valiant: welcome, and good luck bringing back to life yours/your's dad Barracuda!.

I also had problems with floats (and carburetor baffles) some time ago, see:
http://slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=50914

As SlantSixDan said, 2 different weights. At the time I was buying I was only able to find the 12.5 grs new. Each float has its own spring (different stiffness), so if you buy the float, buy the spring too.

I don't know why they changed floats, I can guess they went to the lighter floats in later models to improve fuel level control and emission, probably people with much more knowledge that me in this forum can give more details when and why the change happened.About the floats, I checked Mike's Carburetor website and they don't have these floats anymore. Quadrajet Parts say they have it, but the price is high: (https://quadrajetparts.com/holley-1920- ... -2666.html)
Maybe in Rockauto you might find New Old Stock (NOS) floats with both weights. They are kind of a lottery, but other things/parts I've bought from them worked ok for me.

Also, as SlantSixDan says, be checking for NOS Holley 1920 or Carter BBS carbs, I really solved my carb problems buying an NOS Holley 1920 (or might be an old rebuild (1970s-1980s), but buying "new" rebuilds in a mass Auto Part Store is a lottery you don't want to play, as indicated here in many posts, and one I played myself before the NOS carb, and got burnt). There might be some carb accessories difference if your car is automatic or manual (i.e. manual transmission carbs have a dashpot to operate better), but I think you can swap them if you need to.

I am a hoarder, but if you buy a NOS carb, I won't recommend you sending your carb core back to the seller (if they ask to). If you can fix your old carb but works so-so, or you can't fix at all, you can use it as a backup, or it might have pieces you can use to better fit or repair the one you are buying.

And also check the links SlantSixDan gave you. The Car Service Manual (I think you can download it from the internet), and the carb instructions explain a bunch of useful stuff, between others how to check that the bowl fuel level is correct, and how to correct it if if is not.

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 2:20 pm 
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TBI Slant 6
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Location: Houston, TX
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About Rockauto...

Just checked... forget it, they don't have it (the pictures in their website have nothing to do with the right float)

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 2:25 pm 
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2 BBL ''SuperSix''

Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:49 pm
Posts: 21
Car Model: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda
Thanks a bundle dan and tbi, and thank you for the welcome to the forum, and that's a great idea about trying g to find a NOS carb. But another question is that can you get any 1920 off any vehicle and throw it on a slant 6? You know how some are manuals and some are autos? Does it have to be off of a automatic transmission slant 6 of the same year(ex:1968)? And to talk about the float situation my carb is a 3276-1, 12R3106B stamped into the side of the bowl. Does that number on the side of the bowl mean anything about a part number for a float? Thanks for all the help. MIKE


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 2:56 pm 
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TBI Slant 6
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Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:39 pm
Posts: 210
Location: Houston, TX
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I would say it matters, you want your auto transmission linkage and accelerator cable to connect properly with the carb (the former is more important than the latter), so you need the proper geometry. Also there might be some internal differences (the fact they are called 1920 does not mean they might not have some internal differences for other applications). I will let others say more, but I recommend looking for the carb that matches your car model.

For the carb number, I don't know. Buy a carb rebuilding kit (http://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopic ... 19&t=26468, useful at least for the bowl gasket... I cut them from a rubberized cork sheet) and open the bowl, remove the float and weigh it (you can go to a US Mail Post Office)... you want to remove it anyway...

or maybe the question is: Do you really need a float? Did you try to starting the car and it flooded? Did you changed already the bowl fuel valve? I know that with time floats deteriorate, but it might still work for starting and driving it while testing...

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:09 pm 
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Carb ID is by the "list number", which is stamped on the top surface (facing the sky) near the fuel inlet.

Carb interchangeability is wide across years and transmissions. Nothing runs like a new carb, and getting one will save you a great deal of aggravation and hassle in the long run, but be prepared to spend money to get a new carburetor—they have really gone up in price over the last ten years (which is no surprise; demand outstrips supply). Here are some carbs that will work well for you and will easily go on your '68 car:

'73 Dodge truck Carter BBS, tied for first choice. Price is insane-suckerbait, but "or best offer".

'71 Dodge-Plymouth passenger car Carter BBS (mis-listed as Dodge Truck), tied for first choice.

Another of that same '71 BBS tied for first choice.

1968 Dodge-Plymouth taxi Carter BBS (taxi spec means jetted for fuel economy, real good pick if you're above sea level. And you can get $45 back sending in your old carb.) Pretty close № 2 choice (tie)

1968 Dodge-Plymouth passenger car Carter BBS Tied for № 2 choice

1968 Dodge truck Holley 1920. Price is insane-suckerbait, but "or best offer". This would be my № 3 choice.

Installing a Carter BBS instead of a Holley 1920 is easy. Everything hooks up and bolts on the same, except the fuel inlet is on the front instead of on the side. Good excuse to do the fuel line mod.

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:23 pm 
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Turbo EFI

Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:19 pm
Posts: 1603
Car Model:
https://www.slantsix.org/forum/viewtopi ... lit=floats


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:29 pm 
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2 BBL ''SuperSix''

Joined: Sun Aug 18, 2019 8:49 pm
Posts: 21
Car Model: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda
You guys got good points there and thanks for looking out on the carbs dan for one that'll fit easy on my barracuda. The float doesnt seem to be in too bad of shape, we plan on running ethanol free in the barracuda when shes running again. It's got a couple hairlines in it, but it's not brittle where it falls apart touching it


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:44 pm 
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Turbo EFI

Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:19 pm
Posts: 1603
Car Model:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Holley-216-38- ... 3491189505 Thats the older heavy one


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:47 pm 
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Quote:
The float doesnt seem to be in too bad of shape, It's got a couple hairlines in it, but it's not brittle where it falls apart touching it
Weigh it on an accurate scale. You can't assess its suitability by just eyeballing it.

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Too many people who were born on third base actually believe they've hit a triple.

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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:57 pm 
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TBI Slant 6
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Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2013 3:39 pm
Posts: 210
Location: Houston, TX
Car Model:
450$+ for a single barrel!! :shock: :shock:

The 270$ options sound "reasonable", specially if a new float for the Holley is 50$ :shock:

Of course you can work with what you have, but if you have the money getting one of the options SlantSixDan posted can save you time and frustrations for all other things you will need to do.

Also is good to see that options are more common than you thought (at least today).

Good luck!

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/6 Dodge Charger 69
Image...there's nothing like using the "Search" link above to solve most of your problems...


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PostPosted: Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:10 pm 
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Turbo EFI

Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:19 pm
Posts: 1603
Car Model:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1964-1965-Jeep ... Swk1hcrViA carter older heavy float


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