In another thread I posted about placement for an electric pump, a few readers here hinted I may have carb problems. Since I've had this carb rebuilt twice in the past maybe I need to replace it. Can anyone suggest a good replacement carb and a low rise manifold ?

I don't a stock cleaner.

Thanks

 

I have had really good luck with my demon carb. and in the future I will be putting on a an air gap manifold. If you don't care about stock, a Demon carb is areally great setup, easy to tune and great performance.
Hope this is of some help.

 

kenmo,

Trying to advise what carb & intake would be best for you is difficult without some background info. Carb "type" and "size" are dependant upon this info.
Besides, some applications almost require "double pumpers" or mechanical secondaries, whereas others would be a real problem with these items.

Is your engine "stock" and what version is it?
If not stock, then what modifications have been made (need a complete list including headers or 2-1/2" Ram horns, etc., cam & lifter type, heads, valve sizes, compression ratio, etc.). Ignition type as well (some manifolds/carbs will not clear HEI type ignitions - mine in particular, since I run dual AFBs). What rear gear & trans?
How are you using the Vette (any drag racing or street racing?)? Need best fuel economy? (I had to ask!).

As for manufacture of the carb, that is more a factor of personal choice (and/or prior experiance). I have worked on & set up most brands of carbs (except the above recommended Demon - but that is really just an updated Holley). Holleys (& I expect Demons as well) are probably the easiest for the weekend warrior to play with, but a good Q-Jet or AFB can be made to run very well with probably better economy. They all have thier own quirks and advantages. Edelbrock has updated both Q-Jets & AFBs, and manufactures a broad band of intakes. Intake hgt. is a real problem on Vettes. Look in the Edelbrock web site, and I think they will list effective hgt. plus recommendations. Holley also offers some good designs and should have the same type info. Air cleaner selection is also a concern, since each carb has slightly different requirements for air cleaner base clearance. So include this in the equation. Recommend measuring your carb & intake hgt. now (& air cleaner if you plan on reusing it). Use clay (make the clay into thin "rods" about 1/2" diameter) to measure from various intake, carb, & air cleaner points to "map" out the existing hgt. points (when the hood is closed on the clay "rods", it makes a very good impression for hgt. measurement). Remember that you will need clearance between the hood and the air cleaner due to movement between the 2. 3/8" is a good start (sometimes only 1/4" is OK, others will require 1/2" clearance). Also include the thickness of a thick intake to carb gasket (1/4" is a good start, but thicker is better) for heat isolation. Current gasoline is easily vaporized and can cause all kinds of hot soak / running problems from boiling the gas in the carb.

Intake selection will be a factor of carb selection (or vise-versa - since they go hand in hand). If you run your Vette mainly in the warm season, then think about blocking off the exhaust crossover passage that runs through the intake. This will help with heat soak concerns and provide a little more power as well (colder incoming air is denser & therefore more power). Personally, I think a dual plane manifold is best for street purposes. Single plane are great for upper power, but that is not where most Vettes are run (most of the time). I have replaced too many single planes with double planes lately, and all have been very happy going back to the "original" design type manifolds.

Good luck,


[Modified by Plasticman, 9:22 AM 7/22/2002]

 

Thanks for the reply. My Vette is used mostly for city cruising. But I plan on using it for some highway ventures once I do something about the 4:11 rear end. Trans is a Muncie M21 but may swap it for a 200R4.

Engine is basically stock. Stock 327 with stock GM intake manifold (sorry don't know what it's off of, ram horn exhausts, stock GM distributor, Carter AFB carb, aftermarket clenaer). There is a small adapter plate between my carb and intake. It is maybe 1/4" think.

Thanks muchly for the reply. I did not see it previously (must have over looked it). I'm looking at the Edelbrock 1406 with electric choke as I'm told it is a moderm clone of a Carter AFB 600cfm.

The inake manifold is Edelbrock 2101 (aka Performer EPS - dual plane). My concern is the listed manifold height: A-3.74", B-4.80"

Thanks

 

As far as the height goes, I am running all stock motor mounts on my '60 and have an Edlebrock RPM intake on it with a 750 matching carb. It fits and here is proof.. :)

 

Is that the Torker or Torker II series ?

 

Kenmo,

I have used AFBs with good success and think they are well suited for your purpose. The 1406 is listed as a good street AFB version with an electric choke (electric choke is easy to set up but a pain in the winter if multiple starts are made - assume your Vette won't be used much in the winter, so not much concern). Edelbrock did not list the total hgt. of their AFB (in my old 97 catalog), but my Carter AFB's are approx. 3.235" tall without a gasket. Perhaps you can verify the Edelbrock AFB hgt. via their web site, or a call to them (tech line: 1-310-782-2900). I am using thier intake to carb gaskets that are .320" thick P/N 9265 (needed for heat isolation - see previous comments).

My intake is an Offenhauser dual AFB manifold that is 3.125" high (average of front & rear hgt. measurements). The Performer you list is 4.27 average hgt. (over an inch higher).

My point is that you need to measure the hgt. that you have to play with (from existing carb surface or from the block surfaces if purchasing a new intake) to determine how you are going to fill that area up without contacting the hood. This includes the manifold, gasket, carb, airhorn gasket, and air cleaner (including wing nut - if used). If you have to use a tall air cleaner, it leaves less room for the rest of it, etc. Since the air cleaner is the "cheapest" portion of it, perhaps obtaining it first (and using on your existing setup for measurement purposes) makes the most sense. Then work backwards from there. I had to make my own air cleaner (modified the base of a large aluminum single A/C), since dual AFB versions with Offy manifolds are hard to come by (either you use miniscule 6" round, 1-1/2" high units, or you go the custom route - Edelbrock and Offy dual manifolds have the carb to carb spacing different, so I couldn't use an Edelbrock A/C).

An existing Q-jet manifold that I have, measures 3.64" from block surface to carb mounting surface (on average). Can't say that your manifold measures that, but it is a starting point. Recommend you take these measurements to be sure.

My total block surface to hood measurement was 10.052" at the closest point (yours will vary depending on several factors, including engine mount condition, body to frame shims, rear trans mount shims and mount condition, etc.).

As stated above, my manifold measures 3.125" avg. (lowest manifold I have found, and a very good one for my application - but not for yours).

Carb gaskets are .320", and carbs are 3.235".

Since I wanted a min. of .375" clearance between A/C and hood, this left me with 2.967" for the A/C.
10.052" (total hgt available)-3.125" (intake), -.320" (carb gasket), -3.235" (carb), -.030" (airhorn gasket), -.375" (min. clearance) = 2.967" for the A/C.

Hope this gives a starting point. If I had used the Performer, my A/C hgt. would of been 1.145" less (1.822" for the A/C).


Good luck,
Plasticman

 

Kenmo,

No, that is not a Torker (or Torker II). Those are single plane manifolds and I would not recommend that design for your application. His manifold is a RPM Performer (definately a dual plane manifold) with an AFB style carb. RPM Performer is for higher RPM band than what your application is. Avg. hgt. is 4.65" (very tall).

Note that Q-Jet carbs measure a little shorter than a AFB, but not by much (3.216 vs. 3.235"). Holleys measure 3.225" tall.

Plasticman


[Modified by Plasticman, 11:35 AM 7/28/2002]


[Modified by Plasticman, 11:41 AM 7/28/2002]

 

Curtis,

What air cleaner are you running, and what thickness carb gasket?

Thanks,
Plasticman

 

Thanks muchly for your response. Looks like I may have to purchase a stock original intake manifold for the 60. I believe that Edelbrock will bolt up no probs.


[Modified by kenmo, 3:50 PM 7/28/2002]

 

Just had a talk with my kid brother (diesel & truck mechnic) and he says I should scrap the carb and go for a fuel injection system from Holley or Edelbrock.

Opinions ????

 

kenmo,

First off, FI will not provide more absolute power, but "can" offer better drivability under a larger variety of conditions. It provides a more concise fuel delivery curve with feedback to adjust the fuel curve constantly. This is great for emissions and drivability, and not bad for fuel economy either. So I understand where your brother is coming from. But for how most of us drive our Vettes, FI is a waste or eye candy, depending on what your trying to achieve. I'll put my 62 with dual AFB's, up against most FI vehicles and bet I will come out on top (for both eye candy and top performance).

And FI comes at a healthy price:

Holley TBI systems start at over $1300 (That's a Throttle Body Injection system, which is a glorified carb with feedback - not the best in my opinion).

Holley Multi point start at $2300 (much better system).

Edelbrock is multi-point system and starts at $1900, and is probably the best of the 3 systems offered.

Also figure in extensive installation, adjustment. and fiddle time, and I frankly feel that for the most of us, a plain old well setup carb is just as good or better. Note that new higher pressure fuel pump and lines have to be run for all of the above FI systems, and oxygen sensors installed into the exhaust. For all out power, carbs can be made just as good or better, and are a lot easier to troubleshoot/repair (and I do all my own diagnostics/repair on my 4 FI vehicles as well).

The Edelbrock 600 CFM AFB style carb (#1406) you had selected sounded like a good plan (with a stock manifold).

Good luck,
Plasticman

 

OK.....

I purchased the Edelbrock carb (model 1406 - Carter AFB clone) and matched Edelbrock intake (2101) *BUT* did not order gaskets (intake) as I was told they were included. So these are now on order as well as the intake bolts and washers from Edelbrock.

I hope to be tackling this next weekend....too bad as it's a long weekend in Halifax this week.

Thanks to all who replied to my queries.

Cheers

Kenmo (proud owner of 1960 C1 since 1982 & #1 fan of St Louis Blues hockey team)