carburator upgrade for 39 P8

[JimCno]

Just look down the throat and count the number of circles....
Single barrel -
double barrel -

[David Pollock]

If you are lucky, you might find a two barrel manifold from a 55-59 Dodge six. It was an option and very rare. However, the engine in your 38 will run just fine with the original carburetor. If you are set on an upgrade, two options have worked well for me. The carburetor from a 51 to 54 Chev 6 will fit right on your manifold and works well. but the Zenith which was found in International trucks of the late 40s also fits perfectly and makes an excellent upgrade but you need to get the air cleaner that goes with it.

[1939P8]

Jim, thanks for the feedback.  This is probably going to sound like a foolish question but how can you tell a one barrel from a two barrel.  My carburator looks smaller than most two barrels I am familiar with, but that may just be the way it is designed.  With the price of gas now, maybe I should stick with the smaller carburator.  I am reluctant to deviate from stock in my restoration and do not know if p8s used two barrels back then.  Do you know?  thanks

[JimCno]

Yes, the two barrel has a different manifold. Also, the exhaust pipe has changed sizes over the years. The reason for using a two barrel carb is to get more air in faster but I'm not sure how well it will work without an increase in exhaust size also. Some people claim that the best way to get more power is to increase the exhaust. That is to say, you'll get more power out of a dual exhaust that duel carbs.

[1939P8]

I believe I have a one barrel carburator on my flathead engine, but would like to upgrade to a 2 barrel.  Will this work and will I have to change the manifold?