The history of the aftermarket industry and speed equipment is fascinating if not just for alleyways and side roads alone. When we think of a Holley four barrel carb, we default to a 4150 style piece with its familiar removable fuel bowls, swappable jets, and other basic elements that have been a part of the program since 1957…but what about before that? The Holley 4000 was a standard equipment four barrel carb for Fords from 1955-1957 and on Lincolns from 1955 and 1956. They were used in single and 2×4 configurations and are best known for their unique design which placed the float bowls in an elevated position above the throttle body. We don’t think we have ever seen a hot rodded car (on built to look 1950s period) wear these carbs which may not be a surprise because they are worth a pretty penny now and are hoarded by restoration guys. There are rebuild kits still on the market for fix them up if you ever find one to mess with.
Y-block engines are tough and they have a strong following in the Ford hot rodding set so this intake and carb setup would look cool in someone’s Thunderbird or Y-block equipped classic Ford pickup truck. It won’t make huge horsepower but it’ll certainly have people wondering what the heck it is if you take the air cleaner off and let them gawk at the carb. Hell, the real entertainment may just be setting that carb in a place where lots of gearheads hang out and demand that they identify it. We’re thinking that it would be a source of constant entertainment and debate.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THIS COOL (AND REALLY PRICEY) CARB AND INTAKE COMBO ALONG WITH AN EBAY LINK TO THE AUCTION –
CLICK HERE to see the eBay ad or this cool intake and carb setup
I have worked on a ’56 Ford Fairlane that had one of these Holley carbs on top of a 292. Only needed up jetting in order to run on today’s garbage gasoline. Best of all, they use the same style jets Holley has been using for near 100 years.
Even harder to find is a dual carb intake for Y blocks.