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Technical '62 Cadillac 390 carb/intake issues

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by '50_SEDAted, Sep 27, 2025.

  1. '50_SEDAted
    Joined: May 4, 2019
    Posts: 78

    '50_SEDAted
    Member

    Howdy.
    Stock 390 with a stock '62 Caddy intake. Trying to run an Edelbrock Carter-style carb, I want to say it's 500 cfm. Idles rough and off-idle rough, stumble "spit-n'-quit". I'm guessing the trough on the intake plenum carb casting is either part of the idle circuit or for heat riser? Somebody plugged the holes at some point in time (not me). Anyway, I'm thinking carb/manifold mismatch or vacuum leak is causing it to lean out. I can't find any apparent leaks around the manifold. Is there any way to get the Eddy and Caddy to play nice together? I also have a square-bore to spread-bore spacer on there.
    Thanks!!
     
  2. carbking
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 3,939

    carbking
    Member

    The original Carter was a 650 CFM, and calibrated SPECIFICALLY for the Cadillac 390 engine.

    Carter 3351s W/O AC
    Carter 3352s W / AC

    Jon
     
    SS327 likes this.
  3. warbird1
    Joined: Jan 3, 2015
    Posts: 1,333

    warbird1
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The "trough" on the intake is for carb heat.
     
    Oneball, Mr48chev and '50_SEDAted like this.
  4. '50_SEDAted
    Joined: May 4, 2019
    Posts: 78

    '50_SEDAted
    Member

    Unfortunately, I don't have the original Carter, otherwise I'd use it.
    I do have another Edelbrock 650 CFM I could put on there. But I guess the flow of the OEM intake is just that picky?
     
    SS327 likes this.
  5. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 35,807

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    The bases on those carters are cast iron I''m not sure how well an aluminum carb base will handle that heat. I have drilled and tapped and plugged the holes that let exhaust heat in a Chevy intake that had that heat channel in it and ran it for years that way.
     
  6. Oneball
    Joined: Jul 30, 2023
    Posts: 1,577

    Oneball
    Member

    Most Edelbrock/Carters are spreadbore, your intake is spreadbore, why have you got an adapter?
     
  7. 42merc
    Joined: Dec 19, 2010
    Posts: 975

    42merc
    Member

    Edelbrock carb will bolt to the 390 intake. No adaptor needed. Should tap heat risers for 1/8 pipe plugs.
    An off the shelf 650 E-brock carb is probably jetted a bit lean for the 390.
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2025
    warbird1 likes this.
  8. HEATHEN
    Joined: Nov 22, 2005
    Posts: 9,008

    HEATHEN
    Member
    from SIDNEY, NY

    I've never seen a Carter AFB that wasn't all aluminum. People who discarded the stainless steel plate that went between the intake manifold and the carb ended up warping and/or corroding the aluminum carb base.
     
  9. '50_SEDAted
    Joined: May 4, 2019
    Posts: 78

    '50_SEDAted
    Member

     
  10. Bird man
    Joined: Dec 28, 2009
    Posts: 1,022

    Bird man
    Member
    from Milwaukee

    "I've never seen a Carter AFB that wasn't all aluminum"
    AFB stands for Aluminum Four Barrel...
    Marketing genius, I tell yuh!!
     

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