I was just viewing Big Red's thread about his carb woes and a few gears in my head started grinding about my carb (4 brrl Holley that was stock with the HO's).

I've an '85 F150 351w ho with all the emissions stuff not needed stripped. Like Big Red, mine is a daily driver to work and wherever and it just doesn't run smooth at idle, especially stop lights. I've replaced cap and rotor, plugs, plug wires, motor mounts, etc... Also plugged the vacuum line from the brake booster thinking it my have a leak, but no help. This carb was rebuilt about 13 months ago and still never idled very good at stop lights. But if I decide to get on it or even while motoring normally down the street/road, it runs very good.

Now that it has gotten cold here, I'm getting very lousy gas mileage compared to when the weather is warm. The colder it is, the worse it idles at lights, even when the engine is warmed up. I've had a mechanic even search with a fine tooth comb for any vacuum leak and he was unable to come up with anything except he thought the only thing that would cure it would be an overhaul cause he didn't like the compression readings he was getting (115-125 range). Maybe he's right, I don't know. It doesn't burn any oil at all or seem to have any kind of motor issues.

I really feel that the carb is the culprit and was curious if anyone had any suggestions of a good after market carb that will bolt onto the stock intake. I've never heard much good about the stock Holleys that came with these trucks and just wanted some input.

Thanks!!!

 

i was having the same problem with my truck. i had the same set up. i just installed a edlebrock 1406 600cfm, and all my problems have been solved. i tried rebuilding my holley. it helped out a little bit but didn't solve all my problems. i'd try replaceing the carb.

 

What is a reasonable price for an edlebrock?

 

the 1406 is about $260. The 1406 is a 600cfm 4bbl and is electric choke. Oh yeah I use a 1406 edelbrock and i think after inital tuning you will be good to go. I debated the holley vs edelbrock when i bought my carb. I was looking at a 4160 holley 600 and 750 and the 1406 edelbrock. They are shiny carbs and electric choke. The 600 is $260 and the 750 is $265. Your carb is 4180 holley and pretty much anything will fit on the intake manifold.

 

Hello from Big Red... if you check my thread, you will find I replaced my carb with a rebuilt Motorcraft 2150 from AutoLine in Winnipeg. What a difference! Truck works like new... drives like a dream.

 

hey big red do you have a stock intake manifold with that carburetor? iM looking to swap in a weiand on my 84 302 w/out egr and id like to keep the 2150 carb because it runs good with it. I'd like a new intake to match the cam and headers the engine has right now but I was told I need some type of adaptor to put it between the manifold and the existing adaptor or just the carburetor? THe plate it has in between the carb and manifold has the vacuum line tree comin out the back.

 

I still have the stock manifold on the truck. It still has the EGR valve installed. Between the EGR plate and the carb is a 1" thick spacer... it is actually a heat insulator.

 

i heard from a ford tech to stay away from those stock holley 4bbl. nothing but trouble. i have a 1406 and like it very much. the only thing i hate is the metal they used it likes to get corroded fast. but it wipes off with your finger, it is just all the crevices that makes it harder to clean

 

what kind of air cleaners do you guys have in your carbs?

 

Completely stock setup... at least for the winter. This summer I would like to swap it for something more interesting.

 

Sooo, will I need an adapter between my intake and the 1406 edelbrock carb?

Is there anything else I need for the kickdown rod and the throttle linkage to adapt, or am I lucky enough that it all fits on nice and tidy?

 

You can't put a 2bbl carb on a 4bbl intake without an adapter. And adaptors are not the best solution. Also, installing a manifold without EGR is not the proper way to eliminate the EGR. The stock carb is calibrated for EGR, the manifold is not the problem. You run the risk of it pinging using a stock carb without the EGR, no matter what manifold you use.


This is very good advice. Keep all the shrouds and hoses to the aircleaner, or you will regret it in damp cold weather. The warm air from the exhaust manifold keeps the carb from freezing up, making it run rough in the wintertime.


You will not need an adapter for your stock 4bbl carb manifold, to the edelbrock carb or an aftermarket holley, it will fit. You do need to order the Ford kickdown linkage kit for the kickdown to fit. Holley makes a carb for Fords that is already set-up. I don't know about edelbrock, but I am sure they make a kit to make it fit. You will probably have to do some fuel line re-routing whatever you do. And buy a good fuel filter and add it in while you are at it.

 

Hey vento,

Did you have to buy an adaptor kit for the kickdown rod for the edelbrock? I'm probably gonna replace mine with an edelbrock. Was there anything else difficult about converthing it over?

 

I put a new edelbrock manifold and 1406 carb on my 83', I needed, the kick down linkage, an adapter plate to move the throttle linkage, and a kick-down extension for proper movement, once all of the adapters came in, (had to be ordered), all worked fantastic

 

Same here! had to get rod extension and throttlr adapter. Mine works great as well. About an extra $30 for the adapter and rod extension.