Going from Edelbrock to Holley

Steve Bisson · #1 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 04:11 PM

The time has come to get rid of my Edelbrock carburetor. For all of last year I have fought trying to eliminate a persistent stumble as the rpm approached 4800. At first I thought it was an ignition problem. Spark plugs were changed, the fuel filter was replaced, the coil was replaced and the timing was rechecked. A check for vacuum leaks proved negative. As I was also getting a “stumble” during high g turns, I suspected the carburetor may be the culprit.

The current carburetor is a 600cfm 1406 Edelbrock with vacuum secondaries. Per a few knowledgeable folks over at the FF5 forum, I reset the floats, increased/decreased jet size in both the primary and secondaries and tried different metering rods; all to no avail. Another camp in the carburetor debates suggested disconnecting the fuel line, remove the air cleaner assembly and throttle linkage then label and disconnect the vacuum lines. The next critical step is to carefully remove the Edelbrock carburetor and deposit same in the garbage can. After that, I was to go online and order a 600cfm Holley double pumper 4150 which I did.

It should arrive by the end of the week at which time I’ll wait for some rain free weather and head on over to Jim’s (race-it) place to install and set-up. Jim promised he would not polish the new carburetor.

I’ll keep you posted on the results.

G.R. · #2 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 04:35 PM

I went just the opposite way. I spent almost enough money on "tune-up" parts and carb mechanics for the Holley 4150 as I would've for a new carb...and I never did get rid of a low rpm stumble...it would be fine one time then ran like crap the next.
I tried everything I could on the Holley...all the "tricks" etc. people would tell me...

Finally I bought a 4106 Edelebrock (manual choke). Put it on, went for a test drive, came back and did one rod and jet change an never touched the carb again until I pulled it off to change to Webers.

Good luck, hope you have better luck with Holley than I did

Steve Bisson · #3 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 10:13 PM

G. R.

It really seems like a coin toss. If I started with the Holley like you and had problems, I'd switch to an Edelbrock. If this Holley does not work out I may consider fuel injection.

HighPlainsDrifter · #4 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 10:24 PM

Steve,
A tip on this trouble;
Sometimes a simple plug gap can fix this stumble, reduce the spark plug gap to .035 , our crappy gas is to blame for the most part.( not fair we pay more for this watered down junk.) In 1970 premium was 102 octane and reg was 95 octane, our cars wouldn't run on 95 then and still won't now on poor 91 premium.
Perry.
ps- the douple pump will lose 5 mpg.

1blackbb66 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 10:31 PM

Same thing here Steve. Had a Holley on mine and it ran like crap. In all fairness I could have probably tuned it and made it work, but I've never liked Holley's. Got myself a Edelbrock 1407, called the tech line and asked them how to set it, and haven't touched it since. Runs great.
Hope it takes care of your problem though.

Ray

Fred Hamilton · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008, 11:12 PM

The real story is Steve just wanted a bigger carb to cover up his smaller engine.
Remember last winter when I was on the receiving end.

CobraV8 · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 03:54 AM

Instead of blaming one manufacturer or the other it would make more sense to install a wideband O2 meter to see what the problem actually is. Making changes to the carb and not knowing if it's too rich, too lean or not a carb related issue at all leaves a lot of guesswork.

However sometimes the Edelbrock carbs cause unsolvable problems due to the non- adjustable "flapper valve".

Simon

race-it · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 06:07 PM

Steve, I think Fred just asked for a refresher course on "Dont Pick On The Little Guy's.

Jim

7968Jim · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2008, 08:12 PM

if you like the look of the holly but want fuel injection take a look at the Bossefi unit by http://www.retrotekspeed.com/
i have been investigating the unit for 8 months now & have talked to several guys who have had great results with the unit.

Steve Bisson · #10 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 11:33 AM

Perry, Simon,

Good tip on the plug gap. I removed and inspected all the plugs and every one showed the classic light tan color of good air/fuel ratio. A resistance check of the plug wires was also OK. I am aware that mileage will suffer with the DP but I only put about 3,000mies a year on the car so a few more $ is not a major concern, however that was a consideration in going with the 600cfm rather than he 650.

And now for you Fred,

You have seen my car. It's a car that is driven. It's not pretty but it's not beat. Everything that has been installed adheres to the concept of FFF.....Form Follows Function. If a Holley DP is larger than an Edelbrock, than so be it. Who is going to notice the difference? I don't have a hood hinge. To view the engine bay, I have to remove the hood pins, undo the latch handles and find a safe place to rest the hood. Unlike you, when I get together with the group I don't open the engine bay and announce to everyone within earshot "Hey! look at my Big Block". I might add that those two carburetors take up a lot of space. By the way, what brand are they?

Enjoy the sun in AZ and let us know when you are returning to the Northwest.
I need more material for another Fred story.

Silverback51 · #11 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:26 PM

I have twin 660's on my BIG BLOCK.

Sorry, I just couldn't resist.

I have been a holley person ever since the late 60's. I know them and what to do to make them work. Other people are comfortable with the Edelbrock's. Go with what makes you happy and works for you.

jhv48 · #12 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 01:29 PM

Make sure you have the new carb completely disassembled and all the nooks and crannies blown out.

There can be some nasty little pieces of metal lodged just about anywhere.

Holley and BG are notorious for this!

Fred Hamilton · #13 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 04:33 PM

Steve

They are called Weber's. Just to let you know Steve when I had the SB with a Holley and then the dual Edelbrock and even after I went with the BB and dual Edelbroks I had a stumble in the curves I ran out of ideas to fix it and just lived with it. My stumble was more so at a low RPM and not the higher. What we do with all our free time if we did'nt have these cars to tinker with.
I'm not down in Az yet, still in Kansas, will return on the 24th spend the month of April working and then start enjoying the retired life in May. Plan to be back in the Northwest in late July where we will stay until around Oct. I'm sure in that length of time you will be able to get plenty of stuff on me to write about. I enjoy every one that you and Jim put on paper.

Fred

Andrew Teal · #14 (**permalink**) 03-13-2008, 11:59 PM

Steve,

My son Tyler does not live to far from you, and is a very good crab guy on all kinds. He does love Holleys. Last season he work on a funny car team that won two national title. The car runs out of K. Falls Oregon on the national tour. He does work on the side, let me know if you want to talk with him.

Andy 360 731 2258

race-it · #15 (**permalink**) 03-14-2008, 07:21 PM

Andy, I have not forgot our talk. Hope we can get together soon and collect some cobra vidios.

Jim