1958buickforum.net

HI All,

Please have a look at the attached photo. This is the carb on my Century.

What type of carb is this ?

What are the 2 connections I have pointed out with red arrows ? and what is the round part they are fitted to ?

That switch with the wires going to it... is that what starts the car when you push the gas pedal to the floor ?

How does that work ? ... as in... when the engine is running and you floor the gas, how does it prevent the starter from trying to work ?

your carburetor looks like it may be a 4 barrel Rochester. i do not have one, so i am going by the pictures in my Chassis Service Manual. there seems to be a slight discrepancy (maybe just a different model), so maybe someone else who has one can verify this for us?

if i am reading the Service Manual correctly, the smaller tube you pointed out is a vacuum line that runs to the intake manifold. the larger tube is a heat pipe that is connected to the exhaust manifold. the round unit they are connected to is an automatic choke.

the switch with wires to it is the carburetor starter switch. i have included a diagram from the Service Manual that shows how it works. the position of the ball is what causes the starter switch to be activated. with the engine running, the ball is lifted out of its resting spot and can no longer activate the starter.

The smaller tube is a vacuum line that goes to the vacuum advance can on the distributor.

thank you for that clarification, Adam.

am i correct, is this a 4 barrel Rochester?

Yep, I have the same one on my Limited

I posted some info and a source for rebuild kits regarding the two slightly different Rochesters used on '58 Buicks here in the vendor section:

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=105

This place can also supply kits for the Carter and Stromberg carbs.