Hey guys, I'm kinda new to the forums, but I've been skimming over it since I just got a 81 F150 4x4 last month. I've been undoing the damage done by the previous owners (Ya'll helped me figure out how to take the damn dash ***** off! Thank you!), rebuilding the wiring harnesses, replacing the jerry rigged exhaust, repairing rusted spots, un-bondo'ing floors, and working on removing the ungodly 4-something odd inch body lift to a suspension lift.

Introductions being over let me get to the meat of my problem. I'm working on a decent 302 with good compression, it has a slight miss, but it's being exacerbated by this derelict, forgotten, and abused Motorcraft 2bbl carb. The identification on it is gone, so I'll be shooting in the dark here, I've been told the motor (brand new!*) (not really) is not a matching numbers motor, so I'm not even sure if it's a F150 302 or one out of a 'stang. I'd be willing to bet they'd be similar. So I've already done the plugs, wires, rotor, cap, whole kit-n-caboodle, and I'm stuck with either needing to rebuild this carb which I'm sure is filled with crap because the air filter wasn't even bolted onto the carb correctly (and this truck was used to mud bog among other teenage antics- regarding the wiring and the stuff I found when cleaning it out, I'd imagine the carb is in pretty rough shape..) or buying a new one.

I considered getting a Holley Truck Avenger carb, because I will be driving this truck off-road. I plan on taking it to off road outings with friends, and I also will be using it to tow and carry parts. The majority of it's time will be spent as a daily driver on the street, Which according to Summit, is exactly what I shouldn't do with the truck avenger (especially towing). So I'm kinda confused. I want good off-road performance, but I don't want to sacrifice fuel economy too much. I'm willing to make a trade off, but the real thing here is experience, which I just don't have with carb'd trucks.

So almighty wizards of trucky wisdom, please come shine some light on me and help point me in the right direction. I'm not looking for a perfect fit, I know there is going to be trade offs with everything, but I know there is someone out there who knows what would probably be my best bet.

Edit: This may also be important. I am on 35's. Stock gearing for now (truck was reportedly an automatic at one point), and I have a 4 on the floor with granny low. (which I'm going to kick out of there for a 5 speed eventually..)

Thanks for reading.

 

If you are going with a 4bbl, I would recommend using Edelbrock's Performer intake and carb. Specifically, I recommend the 1406 carb as it is jetted slightly leaner than the performance oriented 1405 brother.

Why do I recommend Edelbrock? First, out of the box I've found significant differences between a stock Holley and a stock Edelbrock in MPG. Like 2 MPG with the Edelbrock giving a more crisp throttle response than the Holley as well as better mileage. Yes, I know a Holley can be tuned, as can the E'brock, but not everyone can or will, and the E'brock was much closer to "right" than the Holley in my experience.

Second, the Edelbrock is a set-and-forget carb with little to go wrong, which is not what I've found nor read about the Holley.

Having said that, the Motorcraft/Autolite 2150 2bb is a very good carb, and I suspect that's what you have. They are simple to rebuild, with several videos on the web re how to do that, and unless you are really going to wind the little 302 up may give you all the carb you need. Post a few pics of what you have and we can probably tell you what it is.

 

I sure appreciate the suggestions. I'll make sure to check em out. I'll also grab some pics of the carb when I manage a day off again.How's your performance off road with the Carb?

 

I used to off-road in the '83 with a 1406 as Gary has suggested. The only problems I've encountered is going uphill at more than a 45 degree angle. It gets really rich. Bouncing around, small jumps and such didn't seem to effect performance at all.
You could always upgrade the needles to the off-road ones, which I didn't have at the time.


Edelbrock Carburetor Needle and Seats 1465 - SummitRacing.com

 

I just rebuilt my carb and it was cheap and easy and the truck runs like new now with everything adjusted properly.

 

I don't off-road, but 81CP is right about the off-road needles. Edelbrock recommends them for that use.

CG - What carb do you have?

 

I have a 2150, my truck has a 351m with the c6

 

Ok, got it. That's what Dad's truck started life with. And, btw, I can tell you that a cam, intake, and 4bbl will transform the M.

 

I have a 400 that I would like to swap in some day but first would like to install a cam and intake to give it a little more pep.

 

Finally got a day off, If a picture is worth a thousand words, a hundred in a video should suffice.


I'm looking at the rebuild route, and will be checking at my local parts stores. I think I have a Motorcraft 2150. At least that's what I think concerning the choke location.
Thanks gentlemen

 

So at the parts store they had a kit for a E1TE-BSA and a E1TE- something or other... I picked up the kit for the BSA.. hope I made the right call. The one I picked up is normally stocked and the one for the other had to be ordered. I have yet to open the seal on the box.. any suggestions? I took the Carb off the truck and can grab the picture when I get home. It has an electric choke instead of vacuum activation... I assume that may help with the determination?

Thanks again for all the help gentlemen.

 

I don't think we can tell you which kit since we don't really know exactly which carb. But, look closely at the gaskets in the kit vs those in your carb.

 

Ok, the carburetor looks like a rebuilder's special, cobbled together from a bunch of carbs. If you look on the left front mount pad on the side, there was originally a Ford PN stamped there, it will be like E1TZ-A or similar. The 9510 middle of the PN is understood.

It is a Motorcraft 2150 series, but the basic design, and the 2100 go clear back to 1957 when they were called Autolite. The first part of the PN, E for example denotes the deacade, B = 50s, C = 60s, D = 70s, E = 80s etc. The other piece of information is the size, it will be cast on the left side, if it is for a 302, it should be probably 1.08, big blocks used 1.21 to 1.33, the smallest was a .98 for the V6.

 

Would this be a problem gentlemen?



Everything lines up and fits, but would there be any negative effects of this?.. suggestions?

I'm beginning to consider buying a new Carb at this point considering how abused this poor thing is.

 

The new gasket looks like it will work OK, I am surprised that there wasn't the right one in the kit, considering how long that carburetor has been in use. All the kits I have bought have several bowl gaskets in them. The only concern would be if you have an external or evaporative system vent in the top that gas could slosh out of. The new gasket wouldn't provide a baffle.