Edelbrock Thunder AVS carb or 1406 Rebuild?
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Edelbrock Thunder AVS carb or 1406 Rebuild?
At 40,000 miles, it's just about time for the old 1406 to be rebuilt. It runs like crap in the morning, then the secondaries won't open up unless the pedal is slammed. For those of you who read my post about the electrical problem, ironically, I am starting to beleive that this is the culprit.
I'm considering stepping up to a new Thunder AVS carb instead of rebuilding the 1406. I have read accounts of people who have rebuilt 1406s to not fix the drivability problems that arise in the later years of their life, so I'm thinking about just buying a new one. The new ones are expensive ($359!), but if rebuilding doesn't fix it then it's 359 + 35 for the rebuild kit.
If anybody has experience rebuilding a 1406, I would like to hear how it went, and if it helped.
If anybody has expereinced the Thunder AVS 1806 carb, I would also like you to share your experience. These things are so new that nobody has written anything about them. I'll go one way or the other real soon here, I'm getting pretty tired of driving with a worn out carb. Thanks for any input. TK
I'm considering stepping up to a new Thunder AVS carb instead of rebuilding the 1406. I have read accounts of people who have rebuilt 1406s to not fix the drivability problems that arise in the later years of their life, so I'm thinking about just buying a new one. The new ones are expensive ($359!), but if rebuilding doesn't fix it then it's 359 + 35 for the rebuild kit.
If anybody has experience rebuilding a 1406, I would like to hear how it went, and if it helped.
If anybody has expereinced the Thunder AVS 1806 carb, I would also like you to share your experience. These things are so new that nobody has written anything about them. I'll go one way or the other real soon here, I'm getting pretty tired of driving with a worn out carb. Thanks for any input. TK
Last edited by TorqueKing; Oct 21, 2003 at 08:50 AM.
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Well I cannot offer real world data on the new carb but from what I have read your paying $100 for black accented hardware and fine tuning of the secondary air valve. If that sounds like a bargain to you then jump on it. You could opt to have edelbrock rebuild your carb and save you some money, or buy a new one and save yourself $100, That is if you are as satisfied overall with your current carb, as you know the carbs don't last long without needing a rebuild so either way its days are limitied. Not that you or anyone else cares but if and when my carb goes to h**l I am going with the demon, new technology and many happy people all for $250-280, all I have heard are good things. Later
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Well, after reading a great deal of carburetor literature, the AVS is a completely different secondary mechanism from the AFB, both 1960's vintage Will Carter designs.
The AFB is the early 60's version, and Edelbrock embraced it for it's simplicity, but even before the musclecar era was through, it had become obsolete because of the AVS design. It replaces the vacuum secondaries and actuates them with an air valve that is externally adjustable. Apparently old school street rodders place it below only the Thermojet in terms of metering accuracy, with the AFB ranked 4th overall. Problem is that nobody has manufactured an AVS since the 70's, and it was never offered by the aftermarket.
My hope is that it is truly the next generation of performance street carbs, but there's just no proof out there yet, not one single person has written a first-hand account of this product yet. I don't mind paying $360 for it if it really is as good as the old Carter AVS. The black hardware does look sweet though!
The AFB is the early 60's version, and Edelbrock embraced it for it's simplicity, but even before the musclecar era was through, it had become obsolete because of the AVS design. It replaces the vacuum secondaries and actuates them with an air valve that is externally adjustable. Apparently old school street rodders place it below only the Thermojet in terms of metering accuracy, with the AFB ranked 4th overall. Problem is that nobody has manufactured an AVS since the 70's, and it was never offered by the aftermarket.
My hope is that it is truly the next generation of performance street carbs, but there's just no proof out there yet, not one single person has written a first-hand account of this product yet. I don't mind paying $360 for it if it really is as good as the old Carter AVS. The black hardware does look sweet though!
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I don't think it makes $$ sense to mail my carburetor to Torrence, California for a rebuild when Summit sells the rebuild parts for $35. Everybody talks about the demons, and I've never had good luck with them. They're torture to tune, I guess that's why they call them demons. I rebuilt one that was on a friend's El Camino after some terrorist poured sugar in his gas tank. By the way, that's something that I wouldn't wish on anybody, that sugar was the nastiest mess you could imagine, it turns into a reddish slime that even carb cleaner doesn't budge easily.
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Well I agree that the edelbrock do have the simplicity factor going for them. I agree as well that sending it to edelbrock may not be the best idea but then again you wrote " I have read accounts of people who have rebuilt 1406s to not fix the drivability problems that arise in the later years of their life, so I'm thinking about just buying a new one." so I figured if anyone can rebuild your carb it would be the manufacturer and I don't know if they would cut a deal on a carb sent to them or not, I was looking at it like this if by chance they would rebuild it for less money (than a reman in summit or jegs) then it would be money well spent on a rebuild especially if you don't wanna do it, besides you can't give yourself a 30 day warranty. My whole point is if you really think the carb will save you a $100 in fuel over the next couple of years or put a smile on your face when you stomp it then its money well spent. Who knows? I am just trying to throw a different perspective out there. Be sure and let us know what you do decide, nothing like a new toy though. Later
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Man and I was thinking just yesterday of trying one of those Performer carbs on my truck to help with the gas mileage. Did'nt know they wore out so fast. Also been looking at the Speed Demon. Sure is a pretty carb.lol If it runs like it looks ought to be a good one
Clint
Clint
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well, 40,000 miles is a lot for a carburetor. I seriously doubt that you could keep any other carb running so well for that long. I went ahead and bought the master rebuild kit for the 1406, so I'm going to rebuild that one and keep it as a spare, or sell it to whoever is interested. My AVS gets here thursday, I'm going to write a tech article about it, but I'll make sure to post here first.
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Well then I'm a gearhead. No wait. Hello, my name is Clint and yes, I am a gearhead. lol
My next new toy is a street/strip valvebody from performance automatic. Smooth shifting while cruising and tires burning shifting when mashing it. Can't wait. How much for the old carb torqueking?
Can you rebushing the throttle shafts on those like you can a Holley?
Clint
My next new toy is a street/strip valvebody from performance automatic. Smooth shifting while cruising and tires burning shifting when mashing it. Can't wait. How much for the old carb torqueking?
Can you rebushing the throttle shafts on those like you can a Holley?
Clint
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Apparently everybody else that I've talked to says the rebuild is easy on the 1406 and restores factory performance to a T, so I'm going to see how that goes. I don't know how much I should sell it for, but I've already got $40 in rebuild parts, so I think that $120 would be pretty fair.
I would like to declare the official publication for gearheads everywhere is Car Craft magazine. Here's one reader's story:
"I'm selling my Porsche to buy speed parts for my '62 Impala. I figured you guys would be the only ones who would understand."
I highly recommend it to anybody who isn't already reading it. Stupid gearhead stories is my favorite article. TK
I would like to declare the official publication for gearheads everywhere is Car Craft magazine. Here's one reader's story:
"I'm selling my Porsche to buy speed parts for my '62 Impala. I figured you guys would be the only ones who would understand."
I highly recommend it to anybody who isn't already reading it. Stupid gearhead stories is my favorite article. TK
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New toy arrived this afternoon! It's exactly like the old Carter AVS carbs, which are very highly regarded among street rodders.
AVS: Air Valve Secondary
AFB: Aluminum Four Barrel
both are old Will Carter designs, and I can't wait to throw this carb on my truck when I get home. I also got the rebuild kit for the 1406, so I'll still have that one (unless Clint decides to take it off my hands). TK
AVS: Air Valve Secondary
AFB: Aluminum Four Barrel
both are old Will Carter designs, and I can't wait to throw this carb on my truck when I get home. I also got the rebuild kit for the 1406, so I'll still have that one (unless Clint decides to take it off my hands). TK
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Man alive either you had it delivered to an autoparts store or you opted to get your new toy overnighted. haha. (Your old 1406 had air valve secondaries) Well give us a run down on out of the box performance or at least once you get it set up to your likeing. Later
