Hi,
I have a 73 CJ Cleveland 351 4V out of an Italian car. The Engine has the 4300D autolite carb as original mounted on the ford Intake with the EGR plate and kick-down rod etc etc. I have heard a lot of bad stuff about this carb and was wondering what other period correct Ford carb could have been fitted besides the usual Holley.

Failing this, is there any real point in getting it rebuilt to work better, if that is even possible. I have been to the Pony Carbs site and was wondering if there are any other specialists for this kind of carb. Any advice appreciated.

Vic

Out of luck.

First the 4300D is still a 4300 and suffers from EVERYTHING that the 4300 suffers. Poor quality, leaking, flat spots, over or under carburetion, warping, poorly engineered, bad publicity, and a myraid of other little things.

However that being said, That 4300D is a pretty unique and isolated bird. Only a few cars came with these cream of the crop 351 clevelands with that spreadbore 4300. And those cars these days are pretty much collectors items.

So heres your choices:

If you are talking about one of these rare and unique cars (can you say demotosa :o) ) Then it is definetley worth restoring and getting that 4300D to cooperate and operate properly.

If you want to change out to a period specific carb then the holley spread bore is the ONLY ticket (I say it that way not because it is a much better carb but because it is the only period specific one available (compared to the 4300 it is a better carb though).

So as far as rebuilding the 4300 (and the 4300D), there are very few people who rebuild these for a living. They are complicated, and fraught with problems. In fact I consider them a customer service nightmare and I will only work on them in an extreme circumstances (like a total resto).

But I have heard good things about Pony's. Without a doubt Jon continues to be the leading FORD carburetor guy and would be my choice for at least an inquiry as to what it would take to make that 4300D start ticking or humming. He has had extensive experience with this carb and better yet not afriad to take them on (you go Jon, more power to you).
For all thats out there about Pony's you do not get a big nor the reputation Jon has gotten by being a hack. We have not had any strings concerning them lately, and my opinions about them have not changed.
I still consider Jon the BEST EXPERT for ALL ford carbs, I do question his marketing methods and his subsequent pricing, but he is what is now in vogue, he was just ahead of the curve from everyone else.
I tend to suspect some of his claims about his reengineering, but again you do not get to be SO BIG AND AS WELL KNOWN by not delivering.

Good Luck,

Bill White
White Automotive