Need some edelbrock 1806 calibration help

I've got a Edelbrock 1806 on a SBC that is presently calibrated in the number 8 position on the Calibration Reference Chart. That is 2 stages richer in the cruise mode and 1-1/2 stages richer in the power mode, from stock.

The notes at the bottom of the page are Steps 1, 2 & 3. Step 1 says that cruise and power mode changes should be made in the same direction by the same amount, but that's not possible in most cases on the chart.

I would like to go 1 stage leaner in both power and cruise modes but it isn't an option. I either have to go 1 stage leaner in cruise and 1/2 stage richer in power, or 1 stage leaner in cruise and 2-1/2 stages leaner in power. Those are the only 1 stage leaner in cruise options.

The 2-1/2 stages leaner seems like a lot all at once with the engine operating temperature perfect and running pretty good........only
problem being plugs and tailpipe are a bit carboned up.

I'm thinking about going 1 stage leaner in cruise and 1/2 stage richer in power (number 5 calibration) rather than lean-out the power mode by 2-1/2 stages.

Anybody?

 

The #1806 has a tunable secondary does it not?

Carb rich on the power side as desired.

Use one step stronger on the metering rod springs.

That should delay the metering rods opening until full throttle is utilized then the carb would be running on the rich side.

Too far apart may give you a bog and there's the big cam, low vacuum thing to consider.

Remember to take the al***ude where you live into consideration.

Tailpipes are not always a good tuning indicator for drag racing, but they can give you an idea of how things are going on highway running.


If'n it was my car and ran good I'd tune it lean as you indicated, select metering rod springs to match vacuum levels at idle and just drive it.


Fwiw - I live at 3400' al***ude, the 750 Edelbrock Performer carb is set up two stages lean as per the Edelbrock manual and it runs great here, up to 5500' and down at the river were the al***ude is about 500'.

 

The other option I have is to go back to the stock calibration, which is 2 stages leaner in cruise mode, and 1-1/2 stages leaner in power mode. I've never tried running it like that as I am more comfortable with too rich rather than too lean.

The elevation here is 981 feet, but we frequently take rides in the mountains and get up as high as 5000 feet.