i still like my speed demon and think for a true performance carb it is top notch i haven't had any problems with mine and it was Lars that discovered that it was a 750 at one of his tuning sessions....

 

Sorry to hear that you had these problems.

We’ve found some carburetors (less than 1% of what we manufacture) with some debris in them, which is unacceptable. The goal is to have absolutely none, and to build the best product possible.

Since the majority of our products are made from billet components there is a higher chance of these types of issues than with cast components.

In the past a carburetor could have had trapped debris, and pass a flow test, but while getting bounced around during shipment the debris could become dislodged.

We have instituted the following changes to prevent these problems:

1) A vacuum system has been installed in all areas where drilling or machining is done to remove any debris from the parts.

2) A timed lock system has been installed on the pressure washer for the metering blocks to ensure they are flushed for the proper time.

3) Metering Blocks, and Main Bodies go through ultra sonic cleaning before final assembly.

4) Gaskets come from a sealed area to prevent debris from getting on the gaskets before the carburetors are assembled.

5) As always all carburetors are flow tested to proper specifications.

We appreciate the support, and feedback from our customers, and as always use this information to continually improve the quality, of our products, and services.


Technical Support,

Barry Grant, Inc.

 

I have had 4 demons, 1 750 and now the 6 shooter and love 'em.

Can I say the're better than a holley or Q-Jet? no not really, but I find them well built, perform brilliantly and they look real cool on my engine

 

I have a 825 Race Demon on my 406ci and it is properly dialed in and it runs very good, better that the Holley it replaced in my opinion.

I have had it apart many times and have found nothing inside that wasn't supposed to be there

 

I also had a little machining debris in both of my demon's, but get some freaking perspective.

EVERYONE has manufacturing issues - making a gajillion of anything is no simple task. Just because there is nobody on the forum complaining about machining debris does not mean Holley's do not have other issues (see the current thread with the plating coming off the bowl). I took apart an edlebrock carb and found flashing blocking one of the ports, among other things.

Some holley's will run better than others and some demon's will run better than others. It would be nice if they all ran perfect, but what part ever went into a corvette perfectly in every instance? NONE.

If you have to choose between a carb with design and manufacturing qualiy issues or one with easily addressed manufacturing quality issues (and that seems to be the choices), which should you choose?

Edlebrocks are not performance carbs (despite the 'chrome' plating), holley's are extremely subject to the casting quality and have other design weaknesses, and demon's have machining debris. I can clean machining debris, I can't solve carb design problems or casting issues, and I would never install a carb without an initial teardown anyways - it only takes an hour and if you don't do it and it drops a nut in the intake when you fire it up you are going to wish you did, even if you can eventually get compensation for your pain and suffering.

Saying this or that sucks and you would never use it because somebody once complained will eventually have you sitting in a dark closet afraid of everything! A little common sense will get you much much futher than anything you read on the web, including this response.

btw...I just fired my car up after 6 months and it started as soon as the bowls filled. no issues with my Mighty Demon.

 

and you still put it on your car without an initial inspection? Crazy man, just crazy.

 

You are the perfect customer! It sounds like no matter what you product you purchase, no matter the price, no matter the performance, you defend the product because “making a gajillion of anything is no simple task.”
Others are a bit more particular. The Demon carburetors are fairly expensive and while the customer should expect it to require a bit of tuning to work with their particular application the customer should not have to spend countless hours trying to get the Demon to function reasonably well. It sounds like most Demon carbs work out pretty well but if you are the unlucky customer who purchases a Demon with abnormal issues, it’s a bit tough to maintain your “freaking perspective”. Know what I mean?

I haven’t purchased a Demon. I’m still hung up on the old Q-Jets but I have a brand new Demon, complete with issues, on the shelf in my shop. It belongs on top of a friend’s stroked Cleveland. Eventually, we will get it worked out but WAYYYY too much time was spent trying to dial it in. Other projects took precedence so he removed the Demon and tossed an Edelbrock carb on it and while not the performance carb that his engine deserves, it runs perfectly.

While I don’t claim to be a Demon carb tuning expert, I’m certainly not a mechanical moron either. We will get the Demon worked out when the time comes. Again, for the cost, it just shouldn’t be that challenging.
Congratulations! That is exactly the way it should be. Everyone wants to have that same experience!

 

Not even close. I would never defend poor design and am not defending demon's poor quality control which has been there for years.

But for people to say I would go with this because someone complained about that is ridicorous! The Demon design is superior. I believe in superior designs. That's why I bought a vette instead of a camaro.

 

I spoke to Eric several times about this issue, I exchanged two carbs Mighty Demons through Jegs where I purchased them, I understand anyone can have Q/C issues but in this case I just find it hard to believe the "flow tags and checked buy" tags attached, and how can you trust a carb you have to "take apart" first to get running properly.

I went back to my original speed demon that I know doesnt have issues. Again, the carbs are quality products, maybe just got a few bad ones here...however I have heard this before about BG's quality control issues...again, just what I found

71roadster- "Freaking perspective" good choice in words, I always go through a carb before I install one screws, settings, etc. that's how I found other Q/C issues before with the BG carbs....loose screws, sight glass on bowls leaking, small things one checks Before you install it...

 

For what it's worth, I've been wondering why my new out of the box Speed Demon wouldn't run properly. 2 years later and I read this post last month. Had already bought an LM-1 meter to tune it. Just thought it was me that didn't understand the carb. Took the carburetor apart last week and found metal shaving in 3 places. 1 in primary transfer slot, 1 in secondary transfer slot, and 1 in primary air bleed well. Wonder why it didn't run right! At least now when I take it out for a ride with the meter hooked up, the readings make sense. And adjustments do what they are supposed to do. I'm not impressed with the manufacturing process at all!! It sure looks good though. Maybe in the instructions they should state that if your having problems that before you call tech. you should "pull carb apart and check for debris". Probably not the type of thing they want to put in their liturature though. That's my rant after spending double what I feel I should have, Lm-1, jet kit, and other tuning parts which I feel I didn;t need to get it running right. Maybe Barry Grant will reimberse me for the extra expense. Maybe I'll try a Holley next time.
TJ

 

You might get it running OK but you will never get it dialed in perfect without the LM-1, you also need the jets to get it running right, so they just owe you the time to clean it out

 

Well i'm glad you found the problem, my buddie just bought the LM-1 and will try it out soon, it's a quality tuning meter, just wondering how you liked the meter....

 

 

Maybe BG should supply them in kit form like the models we used to build as kids. It'll save a bunch of time disassembling them!

I've worked in manufacturing all my life and can understand how things like this can happen. From the continual comments about the metal shavings and quality issues it makes you wonder if the corrective actions they've taken are having an effect on the problem. Unless distributers have a ton on inventory they're working through.

I can agree to some extent with both sides of the issue but I really have a hard time agreeing that after spending $500 or more for something I should be the final inspector and be required to take it apart and inspect for poor workmanship. Give me a break!

 

Couldn't agree more.

How hard is it/how much time deos it take to take a speed demon apart and check everything out. I've got a brand new speed demon sitting on my motor right now and after reading this I wonder if I should pull it off and check it out. Yet another thing goes on the to-do list...

 

It only took me about an hour to dissasemble and clean the carb. I may have had more chunks in there, cause I started using probably 100 p.s.i air to blow the passages. I happened to see a piece fly out. Then I turned down the pressure to 20. That's when I saw the rest, and started using a white rag to catch any peices that would fly out. Who knows how many flew out before I happened to see the first one. The LM-1 works great. It tells you what the air/fuel ratio the motor is running at. But remember, not every motor runs the same. Some want richer, some want leaner. It will also show, in what situations, you go lean or rich, that was my problem.
TJ

 

We want to thank everyone for their feedback. Both good and bad, it’s the only way to improve a product. Not having had the opportunity to look at the particular carburetors that had problems it’s hard to say specifically what transpired causing them. We are continually upgraded our processes and controls in order to produce a better product. You are correct there isn’t any legitimate reason to have to talk apart any brand new part (although a lot of us do it), and that is our goal. We found issues where our flow testing process had holes, and have more substantial changes to it to eliminate potential problems.

As far as tuning goes the LM-1 Innovate systems are really good. They can make almost anyone a “Tuner”. The only downside you have with them is that each engine may want a slightly different tune-up, and more importantly each hole can be a little different. I’m currently using 8 LC-1 setups so I can accurately measure each hole as I tune.

Technical Support,

Barry Grant, Inc.

 

Doug,
I don't know diddly about carbs, but just bought a Speed Demon 750 w/vacuum secondaries. Can you please guide me on what to take apart and look so that I can avoid the problems listed here. In other words where I should look for debris. Since I don't know much, please be specific as to what the part looks like that I am to remove and the proper way to re install it. Will I need to buy any gaskets, o-rings, etc. to put it back together? Please advise as I'm about to drop my new motor in and would like to make sure my Demon carb is all ready to go. As you can imagine with a new motor I'll have plenty of things to be checking on and adjusting, so hopefully I can go ahead and get that carb squared away in advance. BTW, any picture that you could attach to help explain would be most helpful. Thanks a million in advance!

 

litevette,

Check you PM box.

 

One of my friends bought a Demon recently and had a couple problems with inner gaskets being shot due to poor machining. It has been a month and a half since he first complained and contacted tech support and despite all their promises they STILL have yet to sound out the part I won't ever be buying one.