Looking for best carb intake and header or exhaust manifold setup for a stock ford 300 looking for horsepower and reliability without cam swaps or ignition setup changes

I got a 1981 f100 300 i6 srod manual 2wd

I'm new to carburated vehicles so be easy on me I'm trying to learn as much as I can

 

ive got a clifford dual weber set up on a 240 ci w/ headman headers and im happy w/ it - headman headers were a bit of a pain to install -its a bit $pricey$- all depends on how much you want to spend and what your looking for good luck

 

On a stock engine I believe the best set up would be either a Offenhauser C-series (not the DP ) or a clifford performance single carb intake. Then add an adapter plate (4V to 2V ) and then a Autolite 2100 2V carb. This is the carb Ford used on their V8 engines from the late 50's thru early 70's. So you would either have to pick up a used one and rebuild it or buy a rebuilt one. Stay away from the new chinese reproductions of these carbs. If you are new to carbs this is the simplest and most reliable carb you could go with. They are very easy to rebuild and work with. You do not need a 4V carb. That will just cost you more money and be harder for you to tune then the 2V.

And for the Autolite 2100 try to get one of the 1.08 sized versions. These are the most common. They came on the 289/302 V8's. They are a good size for a stock/mild 300.

On a stock/mild engine the stock 1987-96 Ford 300( 4.9L ) EFI dual exhaust manifolds are the way to go. These are basically cast iron shorty headers. Headers will slightly out perform them. But headers have there own issues. Headers can be expensive, they can leak, burn up starters and make changing the starter a royal pain!

The clifford dual weber set up is ok, but to me is way over priced. In my opinion the webers aren't the best choice for a 240/300. I think they are a little small and over complicated. Now the clifford dual carb manifold with 2 Autolite 2100 2V carbs is my favorite set up. But multiple carbs isn't the best choice for someone new to carbs. If you are new to carbs, you want to make the set up as simple as possible. And for that, it's real hard to beat 1 Autolite 2100 2V carb.

 

what about a holley 2300 clifford intake and adapter efi exhaust manifolds

 

The down side to the Holleys is when the float bowl gaskets leak they drip gas right on the exhaust manifolds.

But yes the Holley carbs will work too. I still prefer the Autolites.

 

where is best place to get a autolite with a manual choke

 

I am using a clifford with the autolight and efi exhaust. I love it. I drive a 1980 f-250 two wheel drive. This was my first 300 and I am hooked. I am always looking at new ideas and collecting parts for future projects. If there is anything new on my truck it's not my fault.

 

I might be able to get a new hd exhaust manifold for my 300 from a guy will it bolt to a offenhouser intake like the stock exhaust would to give it heat ??

 

Yes and no. The HD manifold is set up to heat the stock manifold. But it has no control butterfly like the standard manifolds do. So even if you could bolt it up. There would be no way to control the heat. The standard manifold has a butterfly valve that is controlled by a bi-metallic spring. So once it reaches a certain temp it closes the valve. Without that set up and an aluminum intake, you'll end up boiling the gas out of your carb.


Here's a couple videos that will show the manifolds and show the differences.







Personally I don't like the HD manifolds. Yes they have a large outlet. But they are still a log manifold. The EFI exhaust manifolds will flow better, even with the smaller outlets, simply by their design. And then if you want even more flow you can port the EFI manifolds. Plus the new HD manifolds are expensive too. I believe you can buy new headers for the price of the HD manifold.

If it was a choice between a HD manifold and headers I would go with headers. Otherwise the EFI manifolds are the choice.

 

Well I priced efi manifolds walker pipe carb Clifford intake and adapter studs gaskets 2 barrel carburetor I'm looking at $1000 give or take what kind of fuel economy horsepower and fun factor can I expect from this setup

 

[QUOTE=FirstFord1994;17730826]Well I priced efi manifolds walker pipe carb Clifford intake and adapter studs gaskets 2 barrel carburetor I'm looking at $1000 give or take what kind of fuel economy horsepower and fun factor can I expect from this setup[/QUOTE

 

Yea you could spend a lot of cash if you want everything new. Or you could do searching, shopping around and go with some used parts and do the same for half that or less. I can go to a U-pull it or a regular salvage yard and get a pair of EFI manifolds for around $50.00-$100.00. Or you can spend around $300 for a new HD manifold. Either way you'll need to buy/build new head pipes for the exhaust.

I can find a used Autloite 2100 and rebuild it and have less then $100 in it. Or you can buy a reman'd/rebuilt 2100 for $150-$300. Or buy a new Holley or other carb for $340-$400. The adapter plate is easy to make from a piece of aluminum plate. Do some layout work drill and a few holes. You could make one for $10-$25. Or spend $30-$60.00 buying a adapter/mounting plate.


The most expensive part will be the intake manifold. A new Clifford is going to be the most expensive option. The Offenhauser C-series is probably around $50.00-$100.00 cheaper for a new one. The down side is the availability isn't always the greatest. So if you can find a used one that is usually the best way to go. But you won't save a whole lot on the intake buying a used one. Unless you do some searching and luck out on craigslist or some other third party sale.



And there are way too many variables to say what hp or or mpg or fun factor you would get. It will definitely be more enjoyable to drive then a stock 300. But that enjoyment can also lead to worse mileage due to using the go pedal more.

 

I was trying to stick with Clifford for the water jacket so I don't have to deal with making heat plate I could go junk yard diving and see what I can find but yards around here are scarce on any older vehicle parts scrap metal prices went up few years back and most of them cleaned out I have a lot of thinking to do only had truck a month I love everything about it reminds me of the old farm trucks we had growing up but much much nicer condition

 

I am going to get Clifford intake and a autolite 2100 I found a website national carbs has a 2100 with manual choke ford $180 and efi manifolds website says it's for a Ford 330 what I wanna know is will that carb work ok or be made to work I have been to 3 salvage yards in my area there's absolutely no autolite 2100/2150's

http://www.nationalcarburetors.com/lookup.aspx?partnum=nd2695

 

Being off a 330 I'm guessing it's either a 1.14 or 1.23 sized 2100. It's probably slightly bigger then needed. But any 2100 will work. Once you get it running it will probably need a little tuning, but it will work.