Carb options
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2000
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From: Maryland/D.C. Area
Carb options
Hello guys. I'm hoping you can give me some options about carbs. I just got finished installing a remanned 351W H.O.into my 84 F150 4X4. I reused the original intake manifold. After a few agonizing moments (this is my first motor swap) I got the truck running real nice, that is after its warmed up. During warm up it runs a little rough, and i have it on good authority that this is because the Holley carb needs rebuild/replacing. well, I'm starting to get a little short on cash, so I'm wondering what's the best way to go. Will getting the Holley rebuilt cost less than getting a more "tame" rebuilt 4 barrel? What other carb options are for this truck? If I get the holley rebuilt, will I have to do all the tuning (I looked at the Holley web page today and read the tuning manual..Oh my god!!!)? Should i look at a salvage yard or will these guys just sell any piece of crap and tell you that it works great. Thanks for any help in advance,
Tom
Tom
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carb options
Don't buy one from the salvage yard unless you want one to learn on, don't expect any kind of warrenty. You can buy a rebuild, but they are known for having to go through 2 or 3 or more to get one that works right. They look intiminating at first, but if you get one of the books on rebuilding and tuning, I think you will begin to understand them and the different circuits and find that they aren't that hard to work on. Any questions posted here will find alot of info in reply.
Jim
Jim
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Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Durham
Carb options
The Edelbrock carbs are pretty much hassle free. The Holley's are great carbs and their strength is their tunability, but that also makes them more complicated and more tempermental to weather and altitude changes. Holley also has a new street carb on the market that looks like it is shooting for a simpler setup for the street. I would invest in one of the new carbs unless you really trust the person rebuilding your old carb.
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
'82 F150 2WD w/351W (orig 300 I6)
Slik
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 656
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From: Gravel Switch, KY
Carb options
I run an Edelbrock carb and it is OK, but if I had it to do over again I would have bought a Holley, just because it is more tuneable. I've had a heck of a time trying to get the Edelbrock jetted just right. The secondary opening isn't tuneable on a Edelbrock unless you can find different weights for the secondary flaps, on a Holley all you do is change the vacuum secondary spring.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 227
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From: arkansas
Carb options
I personallly think that the E-brock carbs are better street carbs because of the fact that you just bolt it on and leave it alone. Holleys are notorious for constantly having to work on them to get them to run right. A good rule of thumb is holleys work better at higher rpm on race cars where everything is constantly being worked on, and the edelbrocks work better on the street. In fact, on my 83 f150, I put an edelbrock 750 on the ol 514 2 years ago and havent touched it since. it still works perfect. Don't take it wrong, I like holleys, too, but each carb has its place.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 656
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From: Gravel Switch, KY
Carb options
I have looked under the hoods of several large trucks (F-600's, C-60's etc.) in the past and they have always been equipped with Holley vacuum secondary carbs. All I am saying is a carb has to be extremely tuneable and flexible to be used on everything from big trucks to race cars. On my particular application, when I floor the throttle at low rpms, the engine bogs due to the secondaries opening too quickly. I have read that the only way to remedy this is to find heavier weights for the secondary flaps and they can only be found in junkyards on Chrysler land yachts of the 50's and 60's. This alone tells me they are not the best choice for heavy trucks. If my truck had a auto tranny I may not have this problem due to the stall speed of a torque converter.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 227
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From: arkansas
Carb options
hey, danny, the bog stems from the carb being a little bit lean. try to richen up the primary a little bit, this should help. I had the same problem with the 514, and I had to richen up a little bit
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 656
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From: Gravel Switch, KY
Carb options
Yeah, I richened it up and it did help considerably, but my gas mileage went in the toilet, from 12 or 13 to 9. I really don't want to lose any more since it is my daily driver. I unhooked the secondaries and floored it and acceleration was smooth, no bogs, thats why I think the secondaries are opening too quick. I am thinking about getting a spare vehicle cause my wife's Eagle Vision is sick right now. If I do get a spare, I will probably look for something more economical so the truck can sit till I really need one.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 101
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Carb options
As I type I'm gettin ready to reassemble my Carter AFB/Edlebrook carb and I thought about leaving out the secondary upper weighted flaps. My secondarys dosen't seem to kick in right.(can't hear em) I've got to rejet the low speed circuit because at idle I'm a little rich on idle (according to the State Inspection Station) I have the leanest metering rods in and she won't pass. I have a hellof a time setting idle mix.
Any suggestions?
Moe
Houston
85 F150 orig. 300/6 now 95 302HO crate, AFB
Any suggestions?
Moe
Houston
85 F150 orig. 300/6 now 95 302HO crate, AFB
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 656
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From: Gravel Switch, KY
Carb options
Do not leave out the secondary flaps or the weights. It is there to control the air flow thru the secondaries. The flap opens as the engine demands more air. If you left it out, you would experience a severe lean condition when you floored the throttle and the engine would stumble. As for your jetting problem, have you checked your fuel pressure to be sure it doesn't exceed 5 psi? Also make sure your floats are set to factory specs.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
DannyP
89 F-150 4x4 former EFI I-6 now carbed 351W, Edelbrock heads,cam,intake,carb.
MSD 6A, ZF, Sterling 10.25 with 3.55L's.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 101
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From: Maryland/D.C. Area
Carb options
Thanks for all the help everyone. It seems that the E-brock will suit me better. I want this truck to look and run good and slog me through this Buffalo snow and last me till I die (i'm 34). I'm not really into high performance for this project. Now maybe the next one....
P.S. Can these Holleys be so out of tune that I would get little backfires through it during start up? Again, the motor runs sweet once it gets warm, and drives great. Perhaps my friend is wrong and all it needs is a little tweaking. I don't know, just thinking.
P.S. Can these Holleys be so out of tune that I would get little backfires through it during start up? Again, the motor runs sweet once it gets warm, and drives great. Perhaps my friend is wrong and all it needs is a little tweaking. I don't know, just thinking.
