Predator Carb

I'm getting close to completing a SBC 383 stroker, ally Superflow heads etc. I'm thinking of putting on a Predator carb but they are rarely seen in the UK.

Do you think they are suitable for the 383? ... mainly street driven but will see the 1/4 mile regularily. it's a 32 5 window... 9" rear.

Cheers

 

I have used the predators , they are ok , don't leave as hard as the holleys or BGrants , a little tempramtental , because there isn't a choke , but all and all a workable item . One advantage is the predator will only "give" the engine the amount of air/fuel it needs because of the variable venturi. This does not mean you can't over do it with the fuel , but it has different fuel cams and in the event it's running too rich you can re-tune by changing the cam. It will take a little getting used to on the tuning too as turning the idle adjustment screw "in " will richen instead of lean the fuel mixture .

 

It'll work fine...be sure to get the street version, it has adjustible idle circuitry on the float cover.
I ran one on a mild 350. Ran good with GREAT throttle response. Only problem was it would stumble going aroud slow, sharp corners. Could have just been the float level......

 

Word on the street is these carbs need to be rebuilt annually, that and the precious underhood space they occupy has made them somewhat of a 90's oddity. they do work great at WOT as they only give the engine what it needs. make sure you buy the one with an Idle circuit in it.

 

They're ugly as sin and don't work as well as a lot of other carbs out there....

 

Well looks isn't everything thats why we all drive different types cars and marry different types of women --and yes there are carbs that will out do this one . I'm not a big fan anymore of these. I did succesfully run a pair of them on a big block and it worked pretty good . But dollar for dollar you can't find a comparable 900 cfm carb -----They are wayyyyyyy cheaper than a holley or a B Grant , but as I said before they don't leave the line nearly as hard either . A good polishing job or the chrome carb either one look ok --they are just a lot different than any other carb ---they are actually a "cleaner " looking carb as all the "works " are under covers.

 

They're also not very traditional, more 70's-80's Mullet Camaro Carb than anything...

 

More like Poor White Trash Monster truck loving carbs. Those thing would never fit under a 70's or eighties Camaro. But three off them were on at least one iteration of BigFoot.

 

Ya gotta cut a hole in the hood, that's what made them cool....

 

Thanks guys, jury's still out on this, can't make my mind up....

They are kind of ugly - maybe it's that you just don't see them in the UK that appeals to me.

I gave up long ago trying to keep the Deuce traditional, it's sort of 70's with a bit of 80's and a smattering of 90's with a 2000 rebuild revisited in 2006 ....

 

Buy a Holley.

can't get close to the price of a predator in the 900 c.f.m. range? hooey. Any 830 h.p. holley variant will beat the snot out of ANY predator, even if you fill the bowls with sand. ( and on the most stingy of flow benches, an 830 h.p. will flow anound 920 wet.)

Buy a holley, and if you hate the way it looks, get a drop base air cleaner bottom, a 3 inch k&n filter and stuff it all under a caddy air cleaner. done. and faster than a predator.

 

I am running a demon 750 on my 383 in my truck. 4sp 374 rear gears. Kinda of a gas hog but runs so well.

 

Damn Lux, did you convert?
I thought you were a die hard Demon fan.

 

Yes like I said the holley will leave harder and possibly outperform a predator , but if you notice I said dollar for dollar they aren't a bad Carb. A predator can be had for about $375 or so --a GOOD holley is almost twice that . Oh and by the way I also run 2 1050 hp's on a 605 BBF so I'm not putting down the holley and also I have a 1190 BG on a 521 BBF --so I have no problem with them either. The later comment about --not by you , but another --may be true poor white trash monster truck carb ---that is really funny So many of the guys on here spend the big bucks to make their rods look like the poor white trash rods of long ago , rust and all . I'm not a billet fanatic and like this forum because there is a good sharing of information and it is very interesting. The only down side to this place is if someone doesn't believe like someone or their taste is different then they are trashed --and made to feel as if they are a dumbass ---I was only trying to give an honest non-biased opinion of a different carb --I didn't over build the predator , nor did I trash any other --I feel everything has it's place and if someone wants something a little different than the norm --then so be it --it's their choice .

 

go holley... actually, just use something COOL lookin, not that shiet