Carb suggestions

[68is4me]

I know, I know another carb suggestion thread.

My boss has a 72 c10 with a 350 330hp turn key gm crate motor. The motor came with holley 600 cfm 4160. That carb is absolutely nothing but problems. Been rebuilt 2 times and still leaks fuel, it runs ok but not the best he complains of hard start and off idle stumble. Tried talking him into a quad but he said NO. So now I am looking for recommendations. Fuel inj is also not an option.

It will get replaced, just a mater of what to get. What do you guys recommend? Needs to be reliable easy to tune and almost bolt on.

So far looked at quick fuels but don't know a lot about them.

[un4gvn!]

I use Quikfuel on all my engines. They are great out of the box. Very minor tuning. A little more pricy. But they already have the improvements done to them(billet metering blocks, billet base plate, jet extensions, air bleeds, etc). And they are lighter aluminum. USA made with USA parts.

[truckster]

I would get a quality remanufactured Quadrajet. In my opinion, it's the best carb ever made.

[jocko]

same; Q-jet. I always thought holleys were 'the thing' when I was younger (edit: and they ARE good carbs ), had several of them, sometimes several on the same engine! (dumb) but I have to say I prefer a stock Q-jet these days. Pretty reliable carb, and your best chance at fuel econ if you don't floor it a lot. But when you do, it's there for you!

[streetstar]

Originally Posted by un4gvn!

I use Quikfuel on all my engines. They are great out of the box. Very minor tuning. A little more pricy. But they already have the improvements done to them(billet metering blocks, billet base plate, jet extensions, air bleeds, etc). And they are lighter aluminum. USA made with USA parts.

Vote #2 for the Quikfuel

[weim55]

Edelbrock AFB equivalent. Just pick the one that suits your CFM need, electric or manual choke and you're good to go. I have probably run a couple dozen of these things on all various drop in motors over the years. Almost always run perfect right out of the box. Just an idle screw adjustment, and idle metering adjustment and ready to run. There are no gasketed components below the fuel level so fuel leaks are nonexistent. A particularly good carburetor to run on vehicles that sit for long periods of time. No gaskets to dry out and leak like on a Holley. Reliable, simple all mechanical throttle linkage for the rear barrels. A great deal for the money as well.

Steve weim55 Colorado

[68is4me]

I am going to check out the quick fuels a little more tomorrow.

Like I first said no Q-jet. I wish it was as I could actually dial that in really well. But than I would also be married to it. I love the quad but in this case it just will not happen.

[bw46]

I have a strong preference for holley.
That said, the best carburetor is the one you know how to tune.

[68is4me]

How about this Carb any try it?



https://www.holley.com/products/fuel...parts/SL-1957E

[Coley]

well...if he said no to a properly built and set up Quadrajet....leave the problem with him to solve.

There is a reason they worked very well for a lot of years on a lot of vehicles....and still do.

Coley

[68is4me]

Boy do I wish Coley. The problem is he is my boss and the owner of a couple GM dealerships. He don't have the time to worry about the little things like that, he makes me do that kind of stuff. That being said I told him to put on a Quad, exact answer was not going to happen. Which is also ok with me because if he did go with the quad I would be the one stuck making it work right and I don't want to get involved in his toys. I can at least give him some good suggestions that way it will be his decision not mine.

[68is4me]

I have used demon carbs in the past and have had good luck with them, but don't think that would be a good fit for this truck. I also have used edelbrocks but to me they were a little finicky, and holleys well just don't know a lot about them to come to any conclusions.

I am hoping for something to bolt on, adjust a few screws and be done. As long is it does not stink up his fancy garage, and starts and runs. I think I he would be happy.

[Z10]

So your boss say's not to a Quadrajet, no to Holley, and no to Fuel injection? Throw an Edelbrock on it an call it a good day.

If it where me..........Fuel Injection, so many good options out there I'm running a FiTech on a ZZ4 crate and love it. My 72 is running a F.I.R.S.T. TPI on another ZZ4 and now has 12k trouble free miles.

[HO455]

Sounds like a guy who is never satisfied. Steer clear or you may be the next thing he hates.

[68is4me]

no, he is a super nice guy, I have worked for him for almost 20 years. He ordered out the quick fuel last night so will see how it works out.

Here is a pic of his truck, and couple of his other toys. I am just jealous.

[68Gold/white]

Originally Posted by Coley

well...if he said no to a properly built and set up Quadrajet....leave the problem with him to solve.

There is a reason they worked very well for a lot of years on a lot of vehicles....and still do.

Coley

Reminds me of the Wendy's, Where's the Beef commercials...

[Jcfcamaro]

1st of all where does it leak fuel? I've had lot's of Holley carbs and never once have they leaked. A rebuild kit is very cheap from Summit or Jegs. Every carb I've ever ran all I had to do was adjust the fuel level in the bowls and set the air mixture screws then it ran great. But like in the post above buy what you feel more comfortable working on.

[El Dorado Jim]

I run edelbrock 1406 carbs, they have electric chokes, on my chevy's , they run awesome right out of the box and are very simple to rebuild, which is almost never.....Summit has them as do many auto parts stores, Autozone carries them....around $300.00.........I hate holleys,always leak and or flood over.....quadrajets are hard to rebuild , great carbs as long as they are working properly,just a pita to try and rebuild yourself....I wont try....

[kwmech]

I am an absolute Q-jet lover. I used to fine tune them for years and had many years of reliable service from them. With that being said, lately I've been leaning towards the Edelbrock 1406 and the 1407. I have relatively no problems from them and they are easy to fine tune. The q-jets now-a-days are pretty rough in that they have been out of service since the early 80s. The cores and the rebuilds are pretty worn out in my opinion.

[dave6672]

Interesting to hear......I installed the same engine in my 57 Chevy (GM crate 350cid/330hp) about 10 years ago and it came with the Holley carb. It never ran correctly until I got rid of the Holley and replaced it with an electric choke Edelbrock (I believe model 1406). Have had no problems since.

[68Stepbed]

I still can't figure out how so many people love their Edelbrock carbs. Every one that I've had have been terrible and never ran right. I had a Holley Street Avenger that ran great for years, and still would've served me well if I hadn't changed engines.

My dad had the same engine in his Monte Carlo SS. The only issue it ever had with the Holley it came with was the electric choke would stay closed even after warmed up and cause a slight hesitation if punched quickly while the choke was still on. Otherwise, it ran great. I agree with the above statement that the floats may have been set too high.

Let us know how the QFT carb works out.

[rockyrivermark]

I'll 2nd the edelbrock 1406
Love mine. No issues.

[OregonNed]

My Edelbrock 1406 works great for me - I think there is always going to be successes and failures on either side of the debate - Like Canon vs. Nikon, Ford vs. Chevy..

[berch 69GMC]

I swapped my leaky quadrajet for a demon 1901 625CFM. Had it a year now and love it. Felt like a 30% increase in power and response.

[nikwho]

If he's got the money and wants easy tuning, id steer him towards a FiTech fuel injection setup. For a carb, I'd also reccomend a 1406 Edelbrock. Electric choke, easy to tune and rebuild. But, I'd have no issue running a professionally rebuilt Rochester, holley or any Holley variant (Proform, Quick Fuel, etc.)
Nik