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If you have the dual carb pattern, the Q-jet will be the most versatile. An Edelbrock 1406 electric choke carb will work great right out of the box until you get it tuned properly, and they are simple to work with.
600 cfm would be marginal and at the top end of adequate for your motor. The E-brock carb is a hunk of dung and would not be a good fit. It is nothing more than a cheap AFB knock off. The primary side of these carbs is very tuneable and E-brock provides good instrucions on how to tune it, but the secondary side provides NO means for controlling the air valve. You can change the jets - but you are hosed if tuning the secondary opening rate is needed (and it will be). There are tons of these at swap meets, on Craigslist and on ebay for a reason. Holley has several options - I like the Street Avenger because it requires very little after you bolt it on and I would recomend a 770 for you. The secondary opening rate on these carbs can be changed in seconds.
I agree that the Edelbrock 1406 is a piece of junk. If you want one, I have one on the 400 in my Pontiac LeMans that will be available as soon as my Quadrajet comes back from being rebuilt. It only has a few thousand miles on it. It transitions very poorly when the secondaries kick in, requires adjustment whenever the temperature changes and gets horrible gas mileage. A Holley or Q-Jet would be a much better choice for you.
Anyone have a different carb in mind, that would work well to give me some options.
Thanks
I am very happy with my Holley Street Avenger 670 CFM with electric choke on my ZZ4 350 cid crate engine. Starts well, no hestiation on light or hard acceleration, good MPG.
Terry
The car has a Speed Demon VE series 650/no choke on it, and I was fishing for a different setup with a choke or get the Demon choke kit. Thats the great thing about the forum, a wealth of knowledge and the ability to share it. Thanks for all the input.
Looking for some advice from the pros here on the forum.
Here's what I have: 77 L82, 4 Speed, 3:70 rear
Trickflow alum heads, 270 Crane Cam, Edelbrock performer intake, Ele fuel pump, headers to dual flowmasters.
Question is with this setup what carb (model and size ) would you use?
Would prefer one that has an ele choke.
Thanks in advance for any help,
ScottSuff
Lets see you have a set of trick flow heads they will flow air better
then any of the crap chevy used yrs ago, I will assume the 270 crane is at least as good maybe better then the factory cam for helping your airflow you have headers better exhaust. the car came with a 750 cfm Q- jet for airflow even though the heads were poor back then.
Would you then dump the 650 demon for a 1406, 600 that edelbrock says is calibrated for fuel economy another words set up very lean on fuel, if you do that you have now cut down both your airflow capability and your fuel to the engine. Why would you bother to go with better heads cam to draw in more air/fuel then downsize even further the main part (carb) the engine is trying to get its air/fuel from. think about it.
Last edited by Little Mouse; Dec 14, 2008 at 02:56 AM.
Not a carb expert, but I have had a holley 4175 spreadbore vacuum secondary replacement on my 78 L-82 4 spd for 23 years with zero issues, no bogs, no hesitation, and no starting issues. I did replace the vacuum secondary spring with holley's lightest spring ( very easy to do). The engine is all original internally except roller rockers, no emissions at all (no egr, no AIR pump, no cat, etc). On the exhast side I have 2.5 in true duals, shorty headers, and very free flowing mufflers. Engine idle is surprisingly smooth for an L-82 with the holley and the power is much better than a totally stcok L-82. Just a thought for you. The 4175 is 650 CFM.
Not a carb expert, but I have had a holley 4175 spreadbore vacuum secondary replacement on my 78 L-82 4 spd for 23 years with zero issues, no bogs, no hesitation, and no starting issues. I did replace the vacuum secondary spring with holley's lightest spring ( very easy to do). The engine is all original internally except roller rockers, no emissions at all (no egr, no AIR pump, no cat, etc). On the exhast side I have 2.5 in true duals, shorty headers, and very free flowing mufflers. Engine idle is surprisingly smooth for an L-82 with the holley and the power is much better than a totally stcok L-82. Just a thought for you. The 4175 is 650 CFM.
I had the Elderbrock 1407 pieces of crap. Put the Holley 4175 on and it and its been running great ever since.
dont you just think its funny that so many people have totally opposite opinions on the same carb.
one guy says its great an other says it sucks
yes I do, I also find edelbrock carbs to be a PIA when it comes to tuning, If you are looking for an out of the box carb you might like the 1406. I myself prefer barry grant demon carbs, easy to tune, great customer service, and to me an all around better value.