History Of all the parts for hot rods in the
40's-50's and 60's--the Stromberg is king. Almost every hotrod of this era had a
pair,trips or up to six or eight with chrome scoops or bonnets.We have tried to keep this
love for the stromberg alive by offering parts and service work to make them like new or
in some cases better than new.
Stromberg Model "48"
The Model 48 had a 1-1/32" venturi and named for the jet size .048"
I think. It was standard equipment on most 1934 and all 1935 Ford V-8 pass. cars and
trucks. Most of these carbs are not marked 48, but some (not all) have the venturi
size 1-1/32" stamped on the side of the bowl. This carb looks identical to the 97 and
in fact uses the same base. The bases are marked EE-1. The top of the 48
will fit the 97 and many 97's I find have 48 tops, and 48s will have the 97 tops although
the choke linkage ball detent is not found on the 48 top. The 48 makes a great hot
rod carb because of
increased cfm (approx. 170) over the 155 cfm of the "97". The actual flow
bench checks show that in test the carb flow rates are not real consistent and a good
flowing 97 will actually flow almost the same as some 48s. I think this is caused by
the different casting molds used by Stromberg and sub-contractors over the
years not being consistent. Die castingwas a new thing to the industry back then and
they had a few problems. I like the 48 carb for most overhead valve setups and hot
flathead dual intakes. They are gaining in popularity fast today as guys find out
just how good they perform with th extra 1/16" of venturi (31/32" vs
1-1/32"). The good cores are getting harder to find due to the growing demand
for the"48" carbs today.
Stromberg Model "97"
The model "97" had a 31/32" or 97/100s" venturi and was
standard equipment on the 1936, 1937 and a few early '38 Ford pass. cars and trucks with
the V-8 flathead engine. This carb was made for many years as a replacement unit
after it became obsolete on Ford cars and trucks. The Stromberg "97" is
the most famous of all hot rod carbs. Some are marked with a large, raised
"97" inside a circle on the side of the bowl. Some have a small raised
"97". Others have a small stamped 97. Still others have no markings
at all. Look for the 31/32" venturi size marked on the side of the bowl on
some, but not
all "97s". Stromberg 97 bases are usually marked EE-1 and are the same as
the model 48. The later aftermarket bases were triangle shaped much like the holley 94.
Some had vaccum ports for use on the later flatheads. The good cores that haven't been
chromed, broken, polished, sanded, modified, stored outside, frozen, cut, ground on, and
beaten on with large hard objects, are getting hard to find and costly with the popularity
of nostalgia hot rods today.
Stromberg Model "81"
The model 81 had a small 13/16" or 81/100s" venturi and was standard equipment
on the 1937 and 1938 Fords with the small V-8-60 engine. This carb was very popular
with the midget racers using the V-8 -60 in years past and even today.
It was not produced in large amounts and good cores are rare today. This little carb
flowed about 125 cfm and make great hot rod carbs for small inch motors. Souped up
Model A and B Ford and the little V-8-60 V-8 use these a lot.The body section and the base
are much smaller inside on the 81 but the outside dimensions look the same. Most are
marked with a large 81 on the side of the bowl, but all have the 13/16 venturi size
stamped on the side of the bowl. The81 uses a smaller base with tiny throttle plates
and are marked marked EE-7/8. |
