I have a 428 with a Carter AFB. Not sure of the CFM and I didn't see anythin on the carb denoting it.

Here's what I do know and it ain't much...

It has an electric choke that isn't working so when I start her up I need to keep my foot on the pedal for a minute or two

It idles well when initally cool ( after that minute or two ) but once up and run around the block the idle is high out of gear. In gear, it has a nice lope to it and idle seems a bit high.

It runs fine but when I punch it, it bogs at WOT. Either from dead stop or cruising. If I slowly apply power it accelerates well.

The engine does not blow any smoke and seems like it should be producing a ***** load more power than it is ( It was totally rebuilt back in 03 ) and all the maintenance records that came with the truck indicate a previous owner that likely treated this like his daughter.

What I'm really looking for is knowledge on what would be a good laymans manual on the Carter carburators and advice on what guys here think to make this thing run like it should.

Thank you, Todd.

 

Three words, "REBUILD THE CARB", if you must keep the Carter. My best advice is buy yourself a 600 CFM vacuum secondary Holley (this is what came on the standard 428, because those Carters (AKA Edelbrock now) carbs are a bitch to tune.

 

Thanks Bear. Think I will invest in the Holley 600 CFM.

 

All of the 428 CJ and SCJs came with a 735 or 750 cfm Holley the 428 Galaxys, PIs and T-Birds came with a Motorcraft carb, to the best of my knowlege. A 600 cfm carb might be too small for your engine but it is a good start.

 

Actually a 600 CFM carb is exactly what came on the the Thunderbird 428, a 600 CFM carb, and maybe my memory is faulty but I thought the 428 600 was the same carb that was on the 390GT. Both the CJ and SCJ had the 735 CFM Holley.

 

All of the '66 and up T-Birds and 7 Litre galaxies I have ever looked at had the Motorcraft carb. It has been a long time but, I dont recall seeing Carters on any of the Ford line. For some reason they seemed to be on the Mercury and Lincoln lines the most. Maybe they were too expensive for the Fords. The first 4bbl. carb I ever ran was a Carter from a '54 Mercury that I put the intake and all on my '54 Ford. It ran great and then I put 3 2bbl 94s on it and never looked back. The Carter ran way better though but no sex appeal.

 

The standard 428 engines had Ford/Motorcraft carbs usually 4100s. The Cobra Jet 428
had a 735cfm 4150 Holley with center hung float bowls. The 1966&1967 390GT engines
also came with a 4150 Holley with center hung bowls but rated at 600 cfm. The 4100
Motorcraft carbs for big blocks in the 1960s were 1.12 venturi size and also rated at
600 cfm. Some California emisson type setups ran 1.08 venturi size 4100s rated at 480
cfm on some 1966 390s and 428s.

 

Update. Well I have her idling a tad better but she still idles high after running for about 5 minutes. Also, The secondarys are only bogging prior to that five minutes. Once she is warmed up it is quite exciting. I haven't had a vehicle jump like her since my 66 Chevelle.

I found somewhere that confirmed the 735 cfm Holley application. When I do change I was thinking maybe going with a 650 cfm instead of the 600 Bear had recommended only because it seems like a decent compromise

Whats your guys take?

Also, upon further inspection of the carb the body casting has Weber on the left side? Did Weber ( under license ) produce CARTER AFB's at anytime?

Or is it really a Weber carb? Looking at pictures of the Carter it certainly looks like an AFB and the placard in front of the intake states:
Carter AFB Competition Series.

 

Or is it really a Weber carb? Looking at pictures of the Carter it certainly looks like an AFB and the placard in front of the intake states:
Carter AFB Competition Series.


That would very likely be one of the last series of the Carter Competition carbs from either the late '60s to mid '70s. Not too long after that Edelbrock got the rights to the Carter carb line. That carb is likely about a 750 cfm or better unit and should work great with a proper rebuild. I am not a fan of the Carter carbs as I always found the Holleys to be better/easier to tune, for me at least. Ford put the Holley on all of the 427s and that was good enough for me. Also the early big block Chevs and the race hemis came with Holleys so they were the most accepted high performance carbs available. In the right hands the Carters were very competitive.

 

Thanks Moto Mel.

So, should I hang onto this carb for desirability reasons? Think anyone would see value in it for resto reasons?

My gut tells me that I would probably have to be dead and gone before it came to that point.

 

I don't think it will be a "Hot Item" in the near future but it could be a good carb for your application. I believe the bolt pattern is different and as you already have the intake you might as well use it. Edelbrock should be able to provide info and a kit for it. You might send it to one of our advertizers that keep popping up here for a rebuild. They have an 800 number and if you call them for a price to rebuild and tell them what you have they might tell you exactly what you have.