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I've been looking into a new carb for my 81 f-150 (351w) it's used mostly as a daily driver but eventually would like to see track time out of it (were a long ways away from that) anyways I'd like to replace the carb from the stock and plan to go with a edlebrock I plan to stick with a 600 as I hear a 650 is a little to much carb for this engine. Now I ran into the choice of a electronic choke or a manual choke performer. What would be better performance wise? Also I live in Colorado with a decently cold winter. Which of the two makes my life easier with performance in mind? Here's the two I've found
The choke style won't affect performance. Do you want it to work automatically or do you want to pull a cable like it was a lawnmower? That is the only difference. I prefer the lawnmower style of operation myself.
Your choice of an Edelbrock is good, but the difference between 600 and 650 is so minimal as to be inconsequential. However, the two carbs are a bit different:
600: This is the Performer series, and it started life as a Carter AFB - Aluminum Four Barrel
650: This is the Thunder series, and it started as a Carter AVS - Air Valve Secondary. It is a new and improved, in the late 69's, AFB. And one of its improvements is the adjustable air valve. This allows you to easily tune the point at which the secondaries come in with a screwdriver and an Allen wrench. To do that on an AFB/Performer carb you totally disassemble the carb and grind off or add weight.
The 600 CFM Performer carb is less expensive and is the normal choice, although I prefer the Thunder carbs for their adjustability. Anyway, if you decide to go with the 600 Performer you then have two more decisions to make: choke and model. On the choke, I would go with an electric one. They work pretty well and are simple enough to use that you could let your wife drive the truck.
As for model, Edelbrock has a 1405, which is for power, and a 1406 for economy. I'd suggest the 1406 as there is a remote chance it will be lean enough for you - depending on where you are in CO. But you are likely to need to rejet anyway, and Edelbrock has a great manual on how to do that.
The choke style won't affect performance. Do you want it to work automatically or do you want to pull a cable like it was a lawnmower? That is the only difference. I prefer the lawnmower style of operation myself.
Don't tell Holley that as their HP series carbs do not have the choke tower on them for better air flow.
Now if you are looking for performance then Holley is the way to go, how many people use the Edel carb for racing?
As for 600 or 650 cfm well........ I have used a Holley HP 650 DP on a AMC 304 and ran good. I then used that same HP650DP & a HP750DP on a AMC 360. Both ran the same ET times, the 750 took a lot of tuning to get a bog out of it and it still felt it left the line soft. I was too lazy to put the 650 back on so stayed with the 750. Both motors were "1/4 mile drag only" motors.
What work will be done to the motor before you hit the track as that will also dictate what size carb you go with.
Dave ----
edit:BTW you will be running brackets so you should not care how fast it is just that it runs the number every time!
You can run your stock truck if you want. You then get to know the truck and can build it up from there.
prior to even thinking about track time I'll be adding the gt40 heads, I have pair of headers I need to install. Also a new intake manifold I'd prefer to buy the intake and carb together but money's tight and I need to buy or rebuild a carb
My experience is that the Holley carbs give better full-throttle power, but the Edelbrocks give better part-throttle crispness and are easier to live with on a daily basis. I don't do much (any?) racing so I prefer the Edelbrock.
I've run an Edelbrock, Holley and the new Summit carb on my Oldsmobile. The Edelbrock definitely seemed the easiest to use. Just bolted it on, set the idle, choke and mixture screws and drove the car.
The Summit carburetor would be a bit cheaper than an Edelbrock or Holley. The good thing about them is they use all Holley parts. They are actually a clone of the old Holley 4010 which was a clone of the Autolite 4100 used on Thunderbirds back in the day.
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