How to select carb?

[Bandit130]

I have a 72 C10 LWB 350 auto. What is the smallest carb can I get for this PU? This is an occasional driver. Not wanting to race. Had PU for 6 mo. Still working to fix up. Currently is a driver, has a holly 750CFM that I do not like at all. Wanting to know what carb would give me good running and performance.

[Maggro]

X2 on this help a newbie out

[MAC71]

Originally Posted by Bandit130

I have a 72 C10 LWB 350 auto. What is the smallest carb can I get for this PU? This is an occasional driver. Not wanting to race. Had PU for 6 mo. Still working to fix up. Currently is a driver, has a holly 750CFM that I do not like at all. Wanting to know what carb would give me good running and performance.

A 600 cfm Holley would be better. What do you not like about the Holley?

[Bandit130]

This carb was on PU when I purchased in July 2014. Does not run as good as I think it should and really sucks gas.

What is X2?

[SS Tim]

A quality rebuilt Q-jet is hard to beat for drivibility. Not talking about a cheap parts store off the shelf "replacement" carb but one done by Cliff Ruggles.
http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/

[Maggro]

Originally Posted by Bandit130

This carb was on PU when I purchased in July 2014. Does not run as good as I think it should and really sucks gas.

What is X2?

x2= me too

[R.L.]

MAC71 is right, a 600 cfm is about right for a 350. That's what I run on my Nova, as long as I don't open up the rear two barrels it does just fine economy wise.

[Bandit130]

I am just so confused on this. Some say Holley, some say Q-jets, some say Edelbrock. I am wanting one that is not difficult to adjust and is good for cruising around.

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by Bandit130

I am just so confused on this. Some say Holley, some say Q-jets, some say Edelbrock. I am wanting one that is not difficult to adjust and is good for cruising around.

As much of a holley fan as I am for you I would say go with an edelbrock 600. Reason being is they arent as finicky and holley's can be a pain in the ass if you don't know how to tune them. When holley's are tuned right I think they make more power than an edelbrock. What ever you go with than go with a 600 vaccum secondary if all you want is just nice cruising around.

[Sicklajoie]

All the brands have their pros and cons, but for a stock 350, anything in the 600 cfm range will be a huge improvement over that 750.

[newmexicosaint]

Originally Posted by SS Tim

A quality rebuilt Q-jet is hard to beat for drivibility. Not talking about a cheap parts store off the shelf "replacement" carb but one done by Cliff Ruggles.
http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/

They have a 12 MONTH waiting list!! HOLY COW!!

[aotte1]

Q-jet, that are not trashed or rebuilt by some aftermarket genetic rebuiler are nice carbs. As an alternative, I use QuickFuel hod Rod series built by Scott , an associate of QuickFuel of Bowling Green, KY. They work really well for me.

Good Qjets are getting hard to find, also todays ethanol blended fuels can be hard on them too. IMO, Ethanol has its problems in certain every day driver vehicles.

My car has a Qjet, and truck a QuickFuel. Good luck selecting your carb.
Les

[truckster]

I'm going to add my vote in favor of the Quadrajet. GM just got it right with that carburetor. There isn't a better all-around carburetor out there. A light foot rewards you with economy, and a heavy foot will reward you in the seat of the pants.

While Cliff Ruggles is the best in my opinion, there are plenty of guys on the board who have bought from other rebuilders and have had a good experience right out of the box. A search should give you some ideas.

For my Vortec build, I'm going with a later model Q-jet (78) because I want the electric choke.

[Kenfuzed]

Maybe you could post in the sell/trade section to trade your 750 for a 600, or at least sell off your 750 to offset the cost and buy a new Edelbrock.

I personally like the 1406 for good fuel economy on a stock or mild SB350.
Something like this:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/1406/10002/-1

Thats not to say there's anything wrong with a well tuned Q-jet, but "well tuned" is probably the operative term.

[kcsa75]

My truck had a Quadrajet when I bought it. I had it rebuilt and bought another and had it rebuilt and neither one were right. The guy that works on for me recommended a Holley with electric choke and vacuum secondaries.

I was little skeptical at first as I had always heard you had to constantly mess with a Holly and I don't have the skill or understanding to do that. But I took his advice and could not be happier. This is what I bought. http://www.jegs.com/i/Holley/510/0-80458SA/10002/-1

[alltexan]

You can go to the Holley website and it will ask you a few questions about your motor and direct you to the right cfm for your application

[DeadheadNM]

My vote - keep it original and go Q-jet. Member Roger Koop has recenty listed some rebuilt Q-jets for a reasonable price.

[imjeff]

I vote Q-Jet as well. The primaries are smaller and you've got on-demand secondaries for the occasional need.

Jeff

[88fordf150]

Originally Posted by dfrank

As much of a holley fan as I am for you I would say go with an edelbrock 600. Reason being is they arent as finicky and holley's can be a pain in the ass if you don't know how to tune them. When holley's are tuned right I think they make more power than an edelbrock. What ever you go with than go with a 600 vaccum secondary if all you want is just nice cruising around.

What he said.

[69SWB4X4]

Here is a chart that will help you determine the CFM best suited for your needs.

http://www.4secondsflat.com/Carb_CFM_Calculator.html

[geezer#99]

I luv these carb debates!!
For one simple reason!!
99% of the time it's not the carb.
It's usually a timing issue.
Do the simple things first.
Optimize your timing.
So the ultimate question is:
What's your initial timing?

[69SWB4X4]

You are right. However he did state he has a 750 CFM carb on a 350 engine... Over carbed.

[Hubscrub]

I love Q-jets i bought the book on them by cliff haven't finished it great info in what i've read. My dad always built our Q-jets and they ran fine (40+year technician) never a better carb for power and economy. Saying all that if you want simple edelbrock is more for you i rebuilt the one on my wife's 67 (my first carb rebuild ever) to edelbrock specs, and it runs like a fuel injection engine so simple and also a 600cfm works good on my 350's.

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by 69SWB4X4

You are right. However he did state he has a 750 CFM carb on a 350 engine... Over carbed.

Maybe not!
I ran an 800 dp on a stock cammed 350 that had a streetmaster intake and headers.
Optimized the timing first.
That carb gave me better mileage and power than the 465 holley off my pop's 440 or the 625 carter I had.
It's all in the timing.

[69SWB4X4]

Larger CFM carbs have larger jets. Granted they can be rejetted but the fact remains a larger jet will deliver more fuel at a given manifold vacuum creating a rich mixture and poor mileage. You might make some headway by over advancing the timing but keep in mind... Small blocks like total timing of 36* without vacuum advance. Get much away from that point and your torque will suffer greatly.