Ford Cross Boss Intake, Autolite Carbs

[Alfa02]

Has anyone seen? or even have one of these?? Never knew anything like this existed. This is the only time, I wished I had a SBF in my car . Comments? I'd love to hear what you guy's think of this piece of history. https://bringatrailer.com/listing/or...50-carburator/

[Gaz64]

Just google Autolite inline carbs.

Twins would be nice if you can find them.

Not as tuneable as Webers.

Gary

[Brdslayr]

Friend of mine had an inline Autolite in his garage. Didnt have the original intake, but used a blower intake with a flat plate milled for the carb to mount to. When I asked about it years later, his crackhead brother had taken it and ditched it for scrap.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by Brdslayr

Friend of mine had an inline Autolite in his garage. Didnt have the original intake, but used a blower intake with a flat plate milled for the carb to mount to. When I asked about it years later, his crackhead brother had taken it and ditched it for scrap.

Ah no really, ahhhh.

Gary

[CompClassics]

You could get the system in a couple of configurations, single inline and dual inline. Both systems were intended for BOSS302 applications. The tuning was very similar to 48IDA Webers.

[Alfa02]

Thanks guy's, so far. One thing that I don't still understand is why only one, or two, 2bbl's.? What was the reasoning for this system? When we talk about the 48IDA, we have 4-2bbl's. Now a day's I like it just for the cool, or wow factor, I would bet if you lifted 500 Cobra hood's in this day and age you wouldn't find this intake under any of them. I was around during the org. Trans-Am day's and don't remember any team running this system. And I don't think the reg. said anything about just one 4-bbl or in this case 2-2bbl.. as all I remember were the cross-flows or straight 2-4bbl,'s. Cheers Tom.

[Dumpling]

427 S/O Gallery - Club Cobra Photo Gallery

Member 427S/O ? converted an FE crossram to use dual inlines...

[CompClassics]

Each inline is actually a 4 barrel carburetor.

[Alfa02]

Originally Posted by CompClassics

Each inline is actually a 4 barrel carburetor.

Yes, I do understand that the 2-2bbl. is equal to one 4-bbl. What I'm wondering is why only 2-2bbl's ? Such as the above picture 4-2bbl's and the 4-2bbl 48IDA Weber intake system. Are you saying this 2-2bbl system is equal (Fuel & Air) to 4-2bbl's ? By the way, tell Allen Hi for me, next time he stop's in. Am I missing something? Thank you Tom.

[Gaz64]

The Cross Boss manifold and single 875 cfm inline 4 barrel Autolite carb was Fords successful attempt at "bending" the rules for racing while using a single 4 barrel carburetor.

The Cross Boss is a single plane crossram manifold with removal top to allow lower half to be fitted to the engine.

All 4 barrels of the carb are in communication with the single plane manifold like a typical Holley 4 barrel manifold arrangement to meet the rules.

But the 4 barrels placed inline gave better distribution front to back.
The manifold also made more power than previous 4 barrel combinations.
Eventually, the combination was banned.

The Cross Boss also makes more power in a single inline than two 875s in an IR setup.

The 1425 versions have 2.25in (57mm) butterflies, and are more suited to IR, especially with large engines.

Barry Grant manufactured a similar concept carb named the BAD MAN, 4 barrel inline.

Gary

[Mark IV]

Originally Posted by Alfa02

I was around during the org. Trans-Am day's and don't remember any team running this system.

SCCA would not homologate the inlines for Ford so they couldn't use them in Trans-Am, they were used in Formula 5000 and some other series. Because they were not eligible for Trans-Am Ford stopped development and support for them. They were also available in 1200 CFM versions that some drag racers used, the concept was each intake runner had a venturi over it for direct pathway to the combustion chamber.

Had they be accepted for Trans-Am I am sure you would have seen a lot more of them and continued development.

[Alfa02]

Thank you so very much, Gaz64, and of course Mark IV that answer's my question's. completely. That's why this site is just "The Best" I still wish I had a SBF, to set this on

[Danr55]

I'm not sure but I believe there were issues with tunning these "back in the day".

[Dumpling]

Originally Posted by Danr55

I'm not sure but I believe there were issues with tunning these "back in the day".

I believe one version didn't have idle circuits.

[Gaz64]

Originally Posted by Danr55

I'm not sure but I believe there were issues with tunning these "back in the day".

They didn't have the parts availability or number of tuning changes possible compared to Weber. About equivalent to early Holley.

Originally Posted by Dumpling

I believe one version didn't have idle circuits.

Unlikely, since every engine needs to have an idle circuit.

The idle circuit, is really the low speed circuit.

The engine runs on this up to 2500 rpm or so, for light throttle use.

Gary

[Dumpling]

Originally Posted by Gaz64

Unlikely, since every engine needs to have an idle circuit.

The idle circuit, is really the low speed circuit.

The engine runs on this up to 2500 rpm or so, for light throttle use.

Gary

..........

Ford sought to find a better solution back in the “Total Performance” days of the late ’60s. SCCA Trans-Am racing was in the spotlight. While multiple carbs with an appropriately designed intake manifold could reduce the manifold layout compromises, the SCCA rules presiding over the series dictated that only a single four-barrel carb could be used. Seeking to improve distribution in the induction system, Ford introduced the notorious Autolite inline four-barrel carb. The idea was to arrange all four barrels in a row, a layout that is intrinsically superior at providing mixture to all of the cylinders along the length of the engine. The original Autolite inline four-barrels were purely “race-only” carbs, and were never used on a production car. Early versions of these carbs did not even have an idle circuit. Though the basic layout proved valid then, development was short lived, since once Ford pulled out of racing in 1970, the inline carb was essentially dead.

[eschaider]

Gary is correct and the automotive journalist, as so frequently happens, is wrong. Either misinformed or not fact checked (equally likely) prior to publication.

An engine can not run without an idle circuit.


Ed

[Dumpling]

Originally it was called the Maximum Performance Carburetor and the prototype used mini velocity stacks. This was changed when they went to production, Even then, the initial carbs were different from what the public received later on. For instance, the early race carbs had raised bosses on the top casting near the venturis. Production carbs do not. There are no ejector pin pads on top nor on the main side casting.The main well body have experimental part numbers and the raised boss inside the main casting between throttle bores is shaped differently as well. The actual production In-Line carbs have true idle circuitry as well. These early race carbs seem to have been produced between March and April 15th 1970

The pre-production RACE versions did NOT have idle circuits. The PRODUCTION versions did.


Shown above is a race version In-Line carb that was in possession by Kelly Coffield when he was doing work for a customer on it. Kelly notes the many little details that separated these early units from the later one which were actually sold over the counter

[Gaz64]

Funny there is a mixture screw per barrel below the throttle plate in each barrel, and an idle air bleed in the air horn per barrel next to the main air bleed.

Historical Info - Welcome to the Inline Autolite Carburetor Site: www.InlineCarb.com

Read under Early Production D0FF9510T

Looks like an idle circuit to me.

Gary

[Dumpling]

early production

early Production

early PRODUCTION

early PRODUCTION

early PRODUCTION

original RACE design that was the basis for the PRODUCTION model was DIFFERENT.

I can ignore Trump, I can ignore other mule-headed old geezers...bye