I just purchased a Ford intake manifold (ECZ 9425B) and was wondering what would be the best carburetor to install. The engine is a 292 with a Fordomatic. It doesn't need to be period correct, just good performance and trouble free. I will be installing dual exhausts and a petronix ignition. Maybe a mild cam, but that will come later. I was thinking about using a 450/500/CFM Holly. What have you found that works best?
You'll get a bunch of answers on this. I built mine with a few goodies (Jahns pistons, good sized Comp cam, ported,shaved G heads) and tried a couple carbs on it. I put a 600 Holley on it and it runs liked a raped ape. Also tried a 4100 Autolite (w/a homemade secondary on it) and it runs and idles good. I'm not a big fan of Carter/Edelbrock carbs so I haven't tried one of those. Going with your statement "good performance and trouble free" I would go with the Autolite 4100. That's the one I ended up running. Been on there over a year and has given "good performance and trouble free". All that said, I'm working on a 3x2 set up for it now. Just can't leave things alone. Won't run as good or be trouble free, but it sure will look cool.
Agreed, a 4100 Autolite or small 500 Holley is all you will ever need on a 292. I'm using a 480cfm Holley, electric choke, vacuum secondaries which is actually an off road carb and it runs flawlessly..
+2 on the 4100....500 CFM Holley great second choise.
+3, Tom S talked me into a Autolite 4100, and I love it. I got the 1.08 venture version instead of the more common 1.12, I think the 1.08 is a 390 cfm carb.
Tim :unitedstates:
I have the Autolite too. But I am kind of a Holley guy.
The Autolite is maintenance free though. Nice carb.
I had a 4100 on my 292, it had a dead spot on the bottom. Like accelerating off of a turn, we rebuilt it and still had the problem. I got a newer looking holley 600 for nothing, and a $30 rebuild kit = problem solved. We did change the jets and squirters to fit the car better. I figured if it didn't work on the 292, I'd use it on the 351, Mark
I wanted to correct my info. the 1.08 Autolite 4100 is 480 cfm, it was my 351W according to the cfm chart on summitts web site that was 390 cfm.
Tim :unitedstates:
Thanks for the information. I appreciate all who replied. i had forgotten about the Autolite 4100. I will start looking around for one. If not it looks like the Holley isn't a bad second choice.
One thing to remember about a Holley.....they love clean gas. Make sure you have a very good filter in line and change it once a year. I like my filter before the fuel pump. Many many people bad mouth Holley carbs, most of those with "issues" have dirt problems. Once set up and tuned properly they will provide great service for years. The 600 CFM on my 351C powered 36 has been in place since 1979. Been rebuilt once after an unfortunate vandalism incident and that was in 1987.
Bill, maybe the result of a bowtie guy not liking your engine choice?
Could be.....doubt it, they hit a dozen cars with green paint and dirt/junk in the gas tanks. It was parked outside because I was in the middle of a top chop on a 48 F-1.
I can't count the number of Holleys I've used over the years with no problems. The earlier ones did have one weakness, a good backfire through the carb would blow the power valve. The newer ones don't do that but I don't remember what year the change in design was made.
I still have a 4100 Autolite on my 66 mustang that has worked great for years..
I went towards the holley because we had lots of parts and knowledge left over from the racecar days. I had a couple guys ripping on me on the y-block site for ditching the autolite, hey its my car.
Quote from: Frankenstein57 on 2014-03-27 19:43
I went towards the holley because we had lots of parts and knowledge left over from the racecar days. I had a couple guys ripping on me on the y-block site for ditching the autolite, hey its my car.
Amen to that!!!
The 57/312 Holley is 410 cfm. A 600 cfm will work but, throttle response will be a bit soggy on a 292.
A carb with annular boosters is best on the street.
Goodluck,
Ron.
Quote from: Frankenstein57 on 2014-03-26 18:32
I had a 4100 on my 292, it had a dead spot on the bottom. Like accelerating off of a turn, we rebuilt it and still had the problem. I got a newer looking holley 600 for nothing, and a $30 rebuild kit = problem solved. We did change the jets and squirters to fit the car better. I figured if it didn't work on the 292, I'd use it on the 351, Mark
I recall something my dad mentioned to me years ago about 2100 & 4100 carbs. When they first came out they used a check ball in the passage behind the accelerator pump diaphragm. You can tell if your carb has one by the big screwhead just behind the pump diaphragm housing. You remove that screw & the check ball comes out. Problem was that check ball would get a flat spot on it and the pump circuit wouldn't work right. Later model carbs use the red neoprene check valve that just pushes into the carb body. Pump circuit was just about trouble free after the change.
The carter 4 barrel on my 312 is well worn so I'm thinking of going to a Holley as they are much simpler to understand and work on but I'm not sure if I should go to a 600 or a 465. Purely on cost basis I am leaning toward the 600 as it's about $120 cheaper (in New Zealand). Would the 600 work ok on the 312?
Choosing the right carb is all relevant to many things, cubic inch, cam, rpm etc. and what you plan on doing with the car. When I did the carb calculations for my street/highway none racing 292, mild cam and figuring a max of 4500 rpm it only requires about 300 cfm. I'm using a Holley 390. A 600 is probably more carb then you will ever need..
I'm a Holley guy but, the Carter on the 312 works well on a car that doesn't get driven daily because there
are no bowl gaskets to dry out.
BTW- You will need to make up new steel lines as the 3 carbs use all different fuel, vacuum and choke lines.
Goodluck,
Ron.
Ron, are you referring to the old cork type bowl gaskets? Those haven't been used on Holleys for quite some time. I don't know what the new material is but its even reusable, I've changed jets twice using the same bowl gaskets..
I recommend the Autolite 4100 , that's what I have on my 57 and am totally pleased with it. I also have a 4100 on my 65 Mustang , I removed it and put in a kit last week , the first time the carb has been touched in 26 years that I have owned it.
For what it is worth I have a 302 ci and I'm running a Holley 390 cfm and it has more than enough flow for a 302. It's funny how back in the 60's and 70's everyone wanted a 600 or 700 double pumper carb not knowing a much smaller carb would work better.
Jim,
The new material is much better but, in cars that are not driven much the drying/filling
cycle w/alcohal based fuels still is a problem.
The 57 312 Holley is 410 cfm so a 390 should work great.
Annular boosters are a big+ too on a small engine. Autolite 4100's all have them. Ford had the patent
on them so Holley got a late start.
4100's are very durable and economical street carbs.
Ron.
Quote from: SkylinerRon on 2015-02-12 00:43
Jim,
The new material is much better but, in cars that are not driven much the drying/filling
cycle w/alcohal based fuels still is a problem.
Ron.
Thanks Ron I didn't know that. I assumed the new material was made for todays fuels. My car probably has never sat for more then 3-5 days so I hadn't experienced a problem.
I'm thinking of going to the 4100 but not that easy to get over here, will just have to keep looking.