I am in the Market for a new Carb the old Q-Jet has served its purpose and seems hard to make perform! Here's the scoop, 350 motor with a Edelbrock Q-Jet Performer Manifold and Hedders with an HEI ignition,and 184 Heads,real basic 350. I want something I can get in,hit the starter and go,this Q-jet after sitting for awhile is really hard to get reprimed and started,and it just doesnt perform very well. Not looking for a big 4 barrel just something thats really funtional on long cruises,easy to set and performs with somewhat decent mileage. I have heard good things about the Edelbrock but was not able to get a tech on the phone at Edelbrock or Holley? Is anyone using the Demon's? Please give me some suggestions and feedback with bore sizes etc,I am ***uming I will need a adapter of some sort cuz the Performer manifold is set up for a q/jet and I plan on using the existing manifold with one these other carbs. Thanks,xtralow
the edelbrock is a good carb I've used them a lot a 600 cfm is plenty and they are easy to tune the deamon is good for racing but it's a bit much on the street holley I've uesd too but had to be tuned a lot and if your car back fires through the carb the power valve is gone
The Edelbrock/Carter (they both come off the Weber ***embly line) are great carbs. For both newbies and us sorta experienced guys who think we know a thing or two. I've been running several different Edelbrock/Carter setups on my - different cams at different times - 462" Buick in 32 roadster. As well as a 600cfm smog Holley . . . which was interesting. The Holley ran good, but was jetted so lean on the primaries that it didn't really pull hard until the secondaries were about ready to come open. Get a 650 cfm Edelbrock/Carter with elec choke. Tune it for your car and your al***ude according to the Edelbrock tuning manual - available online @ http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/eps_intro.html If you bought your Performer manifold new, you'll find an adapter (of sorts) made from approx 16 gage sheet metal. It works, but better yet is one of the 1" thick adapters. Nothing wrong with the Holley, but it's failing is that there is so much adjustability with it that you can back yourself into a corner easily. If you go Holley, get a new one and make changes only to jetting and power valves if necessary. To strike off on a small tangent, Holley used to (and may still) run a tent at the WinterNats - and similar - where a racer could take his troublesome Holley carb to an expert for some help. About 95% + of the problematic Holleys were returned to factory baseline and that cured the problem. My latest setup is a 750 Edelbrock on the aforementioned 462" Buick engine and it was set up (jets, rods and springs) exactly like Edelbrock recommended for the al***ude I now live at. (3400") The same carb ran great with only a spring change when I lived at 350' al***ude. Unless you're a died-in-the-wool Holley afficionado, the Edelbrock/Carter is the way to go. I will add that reading about the Demon carb on the Demon site, it sure looks interesting. It has some additional adjustability as compared to both the Edelbrock/Carter & Holley carbs and looks like something I'd like to try. Make a point to dig up the site and give it a read.
For a mild street 4bbl carb, or something to throw on a stock motor...Holley 4160 series carbs, or the Road Demon Jrare the best bet. Under $300. Holley & Barry Grant (Demon) have been doing it forever and these simple little carbs are great and a good price. I've had three Holley 4160's on various engines, 1 Road Demon Jr 525cfm, and now use a Speed Demon 650cfm. All great carbs.
My opinion is go with a Holley. I love them...you might have to tune it, but I think thats alot better than buying a Carter or Q-Jet (both good carbs also) and not tuning it because it runs ok. Just my opinion, and I haven't messed with other carbs all that much, but Holleys are super easy to tune/rebuild.
If you can find an old Carter Thermo-Quad in rebuildable condition, and can locate a rebuild kit...you'll never go back! (But, a Holley Q-jet replacement carb would work damn good, too!)
Thermo-quads are great , but finding one with a main body that isn't warped is a challenge. Were made of plastic or phelonic material to help guard against vapor lock. Excellent performance carbs. I'd run an Edelbrock myself on a street car that sees daily use. I've got an 800 EPS on a mild 440 and a 750 Edelbrock on a 454 and I'm not messing with 'em every time I drive 'em. I had an early Barry Grant Sport Claw 750 before he started with the Demons and it was JUNK. But I've heard the new Demon carbs work well and have plenty of different models to choose from. Josh
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