Can anyone give me some adivce on the best carb for a 400? It will put out around 300 hp and is used as an all-around truck, (back and forth to work, but also for hunting, hauling, etc...) Are Carter's still available. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

I run the Elderbrock 600cfm eld 1406

 

I also use the Edelbrock 1406. Seems to be fine and I'm a holley man. I have a very light hesitation when I punch it at cruising speed . I think it is probably some fine adjustment need with the accelerator pump. A 600 carb will the 400 engine to 5000 or a little beyond before it needs more. Carter's are hard to come by and why would you want to. Parts for them are real expensive if you can even get them. My son had one on his 390 and even places that listed parts in the catalog didn't have them when I called. Got a 650 holley from e-bay and made a world of difference in performance.

 

I had a 750 Carter on my 400. I just replaced it with a 750 Edelbrock. They are identical, except the Carter had the off-road needle and seat, the Edelbrock did not, until I put it in. I don't remember if I installed the off-road needle and seat in the Carter, or it came that way.

Edelbrock parts can be used in a Carter and vice-versa.

The 750 Carter is in good condition, but you probably want a 600 CFM. The 1406 is great for a daily driver 400.

 

while i was surfing for info, danlee beat me in. but anyway the "edelbrock" IS a Carter. original AFB's are at your fingertips. NOS, NIB. new old stock, new in box. not any more than a holley, and parts are out there too. a Carter should make an excellent carb for an all around driver. there were many different CFM's available, 625 up to 1000, but they were rated a little bit different for cross comparison to holleys. do a search for Carter carb, AFB, AVS, thermoquad, or thermo quad. on Ebay too. they're all over!

 

Here's my .02 on these. Ran the Carter 625 on the tired 351M I had. Did excellent for me. When stepped upto400...used same carb. In both instances the mileage didn't change. Performance on the 351M was awesome to say the least. (Always had **evy guys asking if it was a 390!!) With the 400...its not as awe inspiring.....so i ran an Edelbrock 750 for awhile and it was too much. Felt soggy when i opened up the secondaries. Guy I bought it from had it jetted for a Dodge 440..figured that might have something to do with it, and mileage didnt suffer....still got 10mpg. Now I've never ran a Holley 650.....

 

Ive enjoyed both the edelbrock and the holley on the 400. The edelbrock seemed a little easier to set up but I just recently got a hold of a predator and thought i was going to be forever with it but it was the best of all 3 to set up only had on screw to turn and i was done been loving it ever since

 

I have a Holley 600 part # 0-80145 on my 400. It has center hung floats, a rear metering block, dual fuel inlets, ford auto kick down. I've never owned a better carb. it's been trouble free for 3 years now.

 

I am running the Edelbrock Performer 1405 600 CFM...worked great right out of the box. No problems, and I've had the carb on my engine for 3 years now. I get 13-14 MPG with it. My mechanic has tried both Holleys and Edelbrocks on this engine, and he said the Edelbrock usually works great out of the box on a 400 with no adjustments (the 600 CFM model) as it did on my engine.