Throttle body crate engine

[kalbert]

It sounds easier on the surface, but I've gotta say, the TBI is as simple as it gets.

I converted to a factory TBI system 15 years ago, in my garage, with common hand tools. I bolted it on and it ran like a top. I set the timing, that was it. No adjustments. None. Ever. It doesn't have to warm up before I put it in gear, it doesn't start hard when it's hot. It howls when you get on it, and it sips (relatively speaking) fuel when you don't. Doesn't get a lot easier than that!

Don't be afraid of the EFI, but for the money, the Holley system in that combo just isn't worth it.

[y5mgisi]

Thats pretty effin cool!

[Mv7fd]

Well I decided on carbureted because it's alot cheaper I'm going with a 350 long block that jegs or summit offer and then a Holley intake and holley street avenger carb and just a plain distributor

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by Mv7fd

Well I decided on carbureted because it's alot cheaper I'm going with a 350 long block that jegs or summit offer and then a Holley intake and holley street avenger carb and just a plain distributor

Did you buy the holley street avenger carb yet? If you didn't then don't. I am a huge fan of holley carbs but their avenger series carbs need alot of work out of the box. The holley ultra carbs besides the avenger are the best carbs holley sells. If I where you I would go with a quick fuel slayer series 600cfm vaccum secondary carb with a fairly stock-mild 350. Quick fuel's carbs are about the best carbs you can get. They are basically the same as the holley ultra's but come in a larger variety. You can tune about everything on them including the air bleeds with replaceable jets and they come almost right on out of the box. I highly advise you to stay away from any of the holley avenger series carbs and all of the demon carbs.
Here is a link to the quick fuel carb. http://m.summitracing.com/parts/qft-sl-600-vs

[Mv7fd]

The Holley intake is a street dominator and the carb is 670 cfm hopefully it's a good combo

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by Mv7fd

The Holley intake is a street dominator and the carb is 670 cfm hopefully it's a good combo

If you didn't buy it yet I would seriously look into that quick fuel carb. Quick fuel took the holley design an improved it. Then holley came out with the ultra carb to match the quick fuel's. If you did buy it already you can still return it.

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by Mv7fd

The Holley intake is a street dominator and the carb is 670 cfm hopefully it's a good combo

If you want more than 600cfm then this quick fuel ss 680 carb is even better than the 600 I listed. I just think 600 would be a little crisper. http://m.summitracing.com/parts/qft-ss-680-vs or this one. http://m.summitracing.com/parts/qft-hr-680-vs

[Mv7fd]

The only reason I picked the 670 was that's what the guy from summit recommended I haven't ordered anything yet

[dfrank]

Originally Posted by Mv7fd

The only reason I picked the 670 was that's what the guy from summit recommended I haven't ordered anything yet

Trust me the avengers need a lot of work to run right. Every one thats been used by my neighbors engine shop has needed a ton of work. You will be much happier with the quick fuel and I am a holley guy.

[Mv7fd]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not changing the cam because it's one of those gm crate 350's with the warranty I'm not looking for big power just looking as maybe a daily driver and to haul wood and a tractor. I want a carb that needs little tuning and jetted properly and get the most power and nice clean response

[kalbert]

You definitely don't want a Holley then. I'd steer clear of them and all the similar knock offs. The Edelbrock/AFB should get scratched off the list too.

For daily driver and good response you can't go wrong with a Q-Jet. The tiny primaries sip gas and give great part throttle performance and economy. The gigantic secondaries make great wot power, and only come on as much as the motor can use. You can get nuts tuning it with various different metering rods and such, but really all they need is the slow speed fuel screws set, idle air set, and choke set. They get a bad reputation because they're ugly and don't look fast.

[rich weyand]

Get the 350/260 crate, not the 350/290 crate. If you want to know why, at length, let me know. BTDT.

If you go with the Edelbrock 1406 (which a lot of people here will tell you not to do, but mine works fine and they were standard production for a long time; they're easy to tune and there's no seam below the fuel level so they don't leak), I have the tuning parameters for that engine. I can get you very close on tune.

[Mv7fd]

260 has more torque but to get that you have to go with jegs carb and intake set up because they are all the same base motor just different add ons

[rich weyand]

Yes and no. The difference between the /260 and /290 is the cam, not an add-on.

To get the 260hp, you don't need to go with jegs carb and intake setup, but you do need a competent induction system and headers. That's a GM rating for max hp attainable with it, so it's a best case number, for sure, at least without changing the cam.

[Mv7fd]

Summit offers a base 195 and a 290

[rich weyand]

It's the same two engines. 195 hp in stock configuration, up to 260 hp with improved induction and headers, for one, and 290 hp with improved induction and headers for the other. JEGS says 260 and 290, Summit says 195 and 290; same two engines, same two part numbers.

[Mv7fd]

Ok. So now I just gotta figure carb and intake combo. This is all starting to make me go crazy

[rich weyand]

Choice is good.

Get the 260/195/whatever 350 base crate engine, GM part number 10067353. $1500 and free shipping from multiple locations.

You can use the stock intake manifold off the old motor and a rebuilt Qjet.

Better is to use a dual-plane manifold and a rebuilt Qjet. Edelbrock 2101 manifold is the common choice and it's a reasonable manifold to give a little extra to a stock engine. For a high-quality rebuilt Qjet, it's hard to beat Sean Murphy at SMI. Get the Stage 1. When you call, sean will ask you what you are putting it on and will fine-tune it to your setup. Expect to wait a couple months.
https://www.smicarburetor.com/produc...2/productID/18

Use new bolts for the flex plate and torque converter. Get a new torque converter with a stock rpm lock. Use a new water pump. You also need intake manifold gaskets and exhaust manifold/header gaskets.

Use the original thermostatic air cleaner. Resist the urge to go to an open-element air cleaner: you'll regret it.

[gchemist]

I tune my 1406 with an RPM air gap with a simple $15 vacuum guage. Read this: http://www.centuryperformance.com/fo...a-Vacuum-Gauge

The ZZ4 can manage 18.5 MPG in street/cruise configuration. ~13 MPG in the city which drops fast with a lead foot.

[Mv7fd]

I like those quick fuel carbs