FAKE CARBURETORS: How to spot them and not get ripped off!
Below is a set of pictures which will help identify carburetors which have had their original numbers milled off and then restamped to look like high dollar 442 carburetors. With the ever rising price of original authentic components, hopefully these pictures will help you make an educated decision when scouring ebay or the local swap meets. Remember, real carbs are rare, there are more fakes out there than real ones.
BUYER BEWARE!
Here's a typical 68-later carb that is original. Notice the flat area where the numbers are stamped. The flat area is formed during the casting of the carb body. It is NOT a milled flat area. Notice the rough texture typical of cast parts, not a smooth milled surface.
Look at the pencil pointing to the nice clean casting with no milled ridge above the stamped numbers.
See how the original casting has a nice rounded edge, not a half chopped-off corner. Edge is nicely rounded. Notice the rough casting with imperfections typical of a cast part.
FAKE CARBS......
And here's a fake 7041257 with a heavily milled number stamp area. Notice the ridge above the numbers. Notice the shiney milled surface. Notice the sharp edge below the numbers because the casting has been ground away and the chopped-off corner under the "074".
Another fake carb - 7040258. Milled surface, grind marks, ghost image of a former number stamp to the left of the 7040258, chopped-off corner to the lower right. A mess.
More fakeness. Better, but still fake...
And more fakeness....
