Customs Four Barrel or Two Barrel Carb

I have a 1956 Chevy 265 engine that I am about to replace the intake and carb on. I believe the engine originally had a two barrel carb on it. It is currently running a four barrel that is too big; an 800 cfm.

Can I run a Quadrajet four barrel on this, say a 640 cfm, or should I go with a two barrel?

I don't have a two barrel carb and intake so I am not wanting to spend any more money than I have to. I am real sure this engine came out of a 1956 Chevy car. I have pictures of the engine being put in the car dated Oct. 1956.
I have a friend how says they had a 283 in 1956 and this engine is not a 265. Not really believe this.

Also, the four barrel and intake that I have is from a mid to late 60's 350 engine. Will this intake fit on a 265? I don't know how many small block parts will interchange. The newer intake has a place for a choke thermostat that I believe will help with starting and running.

Some advice and help with this project would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

Depending on what intake is on it, you could use a 500 cfm 4bbl. carb alot better than even the smaller Q-jet. The 265 was 2bbl and the 283 was 1st built in 57 afaik. I'd go with either a 450 Holley , or the 500 Edelbrock

 

Here is an image from the 1955 SAE paper "The new Chevrolet V8 engine".
It had charts for 2bbl and 4 bbl dual exhaust versions of the 265.

I rescaled them so the HP and torquage have the same vertical scaling.

The text of the paper does not mention a cam change when the 4 bbl etc is added.

 

If the intake you have is for a Q-Jet run it. The Q-Jet has very small primaries and the secondaries are demand operated so it works well in low demand applications.

If, you have a Square bore manifold then the small four barrels mentioned above will work fine.

Hoop

 

In 56 there were 4 265's a TurboFire 163, TurboFire 170 (Powerglide) Turbofire 205 (4bbl/dual exhaust) and TurboFire 225 (2 4.bbl).

The 170 and 205 had the same cam, about 18 degrees more duration and .040 more lift . The 225 had another ~.040 lift and was a solid lifter, there was an optional cam too.

Hoop