Best 4-barrel carbs?

Seems like there is a major objection to each of the currently available 4-bbls, and there's as much disagreement about them as there is over Ford vs Chevy.

Holleys blow out the power valve.

Edelbrocks starve in left hand turns, just like the old AFBs.

Grant carbs are delivered full of metal shavings, and must be dis***embled and cleaned before using.

Are these all true? Is there anything available that avoids all of these faults?

 

I've been running a Holley 390 for six years. I did replace the economizer valve last year, but I don't know that it failed from blowing out, old age, or what--it just leaked. Otherwise, the Holley has given no problems at all.

 

I run primarily Edelbrocks. It is just what I am used to. I have never experienced a fuel starvation issue in a left-hand-turn.

All carburetors should be opened up and checked for debris before using, new or used, they all should have their float levels checked and set, new or used, and they all should have a properly set fuel pressure regulator, no exceptions.

Do those three things to any carburetor, and I think you will find that a lot of these "issues" disappear into the mist.

 

An Edelbrock 1406 on a 350SBC is about as bulletproof as you can get on a street car. Cost, power and driveability are right on the money.

 

x2, that is my experience as well

 

X3 on edelbrocks. low maintenance, almost take out the box bolt on and go carb!

 

i run a quick fuel on my sbf stroker and i love it!!! once it is tuned no screwing around, and very easy to tune. i can't beleive that a grant carb comes with shavings in it, that seems crazy for what they cost. holley carbs are good , i mean how often do you pop a power valve? plus it's only 4 bolts and a $10 power valve 5 min fix. i think edelbrocks aren't very tuneable but i have never really tried messing with one besides idle stuff

 

i went from holley to edelbrock. i think i lost some top end power but gained better starting and idle quality.

 

Had some luck with Demons, but I'm a Holley guy. I can't say much for the Edelbrocks or Carters...I just don't like em. But, everyone has their own opinions.

 

I run the Edelbrocks on my small fords. I think they run pretty good. Never had an issue after they've been set up right.

 

Old school- I still run Quadrajets.

 

Holleys all the way. You can buy a check valve kit that keeps the power valve from blowing out and only cost about $12 and takes less that an hour to install.

 

Impossible to make a "common" statement about what is best for all applications. The current production carbs are ALL aftermarket, meaning none are calibrated specifically for any specific engine. How well each will work will depend on selecting one close to the proper size, and then adjusting (calibrating) for the specific application.

Personally, for street use (and much race use) I prefer older carbs made in the 50's, 60's and early 70's.

Jon.

 

New Holleys don't blow out the power valve and an old holley can be modified for about 7 bucks so they won't blow out the power valve either.

I don't know too many folks that have enough engine and a car hat will pull enough Gs to make an AFB starve in a left hander. But it can be over come by making sure that you have enough fuel on hand to overcome the problem.

Those are both old carbs.

The other two I don't particularly care for but its just like the Ford/Chebby thing. Anything can be made to work that's called Hot Rodding.

 

Edelbrock user.......Way too easy to tune.
Pat

 

I've got a ford 302 that I have switched back and forth from an Edelbrock 1406 to a Holley 80457. They both run fine. The Edelbrock seems a little better around town but not enough to worry about.

 

If you will do a little research you will find the shavings issue was several years ago and was addressed on this board and many others yet some of mour more prominent stalkers would like to make out it is current.

In regards to blowing out power valves while the anit-blow out protection can help if you bang one hard enough it will still take them out. One of the biggest causes we see of this though is not having enough initial timing and the wrong ignition curve.

 

After at least 6 Edelbrock carbs, I see no reason to buy anything else for the street.

 

Best 4-barrel? Four one-barrels.......... or even three-ones.

 

I like Edelbrocks for that bolt-on and go experience, or anything that can be hogged out and have injectors hidden in it!

 

Q jet, very good carb, usually never needs to be touched. Unless you have some all out dragster motor, they just work and save gas too.

 

A big factor in the choice of carbs to use is the make of engine its going on, Chevys run better with,Edelbrocks,Quadrajets,Fords run better with Holleys,Mopars with the Thermoquads.A big cause of carbs getting a bad rap is from putting to big of a carb on the engine that doesn"t have the balls for it.Just my opinion from experiences.

 

I've never had a problem with Carter AFB/Edelbrock Performers. Tune it then forget about it.

 

Any can be made to work well . . . it comes down to what you expect out of it, how much 'tuning' work you're comfortable with, etc..

Given my interpretation of the range of opinions out there, it seems that the "out of the box" guys really like the Edelbrock stuff and the guys that like to build/tune and screw with carbs like Holleys or Demons. To each man his poison . . .

 

It all depends on what you get used to. For me, it was Holleys early on. I have a few in boxes on the shelf, a 2BBL, 4BBL single pump 600 CFM and a Spread Bore Q-Jet replacement. When I want to dust one off and use it, I toss a rebuild kit into it and I'm off.

Bob

 

If you have a typical built street 350 cubic inch V-8,bolt on a Edelbrock or Holley 600 and it should be good out of the box.Same formula works for larger engines,just follow the carb manufacturers recomendations.
What I like is how some guys feel a bog on a mismatched or ****py carb makes the car faster."Yeah man,when the secondaries open up,this ****er jumps out like a rocket"
What you got there is a bog,then a recovery.If you were racing the other guy just jumped out 3 car lengths.

 

To paraphrase Truckedup - if you can feel the secondaries kick in, you need to do more tuning. The power should be seamless from idle to W.O.T.

Jon.

 

Holley. I have ran Edelbrocks and Quadrajets and they work alright. But the looks and the performance of a double pumper is where it's at.

 

Holley style carbs which also includes BG's and some others... The only problem I have is rebuilding the older Holleys with the paper bowl gaskets. Those are a pain to s****e clean.

 

Mid 70s 1050 Dominator with annular boosters, progresive linkage and power valves. Also had a choke! worked great on my BB.

I like the 1971 Pontiac 455HO quadra jet 800cfm model.

The CARTER/Edelbrock 750 model runs right out of the box and also a great everyday carb.

Summit Racings carbs they are annular discharge. Its the old rebadged Holley versions they discontinued. Annular discharge and spreadbore is hard to beat for the street.

I currently have a Holley 4011 spread bore that even an Edelrock cant touch. It did have its problem out the box. The rear shaft linkage had slop and would cause a surge at idle so I had to bend the rod a little to make sure it stayed shut. I also shaved the air horn, polished annular boosters and honed the bores, installed br*** floats and added a quick change diaphram kit. Best carb I've ever had!