Carb Selection Help

[PNJSNAK]

Currently I have a 351 W .030 over, cast iron heads with a Blue Racer Crane Cam 204/214 at .050" lift, .030" over Federal Mogul Flat top pistons, hydraulic lifter, Edelbrock Dual plane manifold with a Edelbrok Performer Carb model 1406, 600 cfm w/vacumm secondaries and electric choke, Ford Durospark Vacumm advance distributor.
Never had it dynoed but told approx 325 HP.
The engine has been bullet proof, only changed the plugs and oil in 9 years, 15k miles. Runs great with no issues, plenty of power for me.
I am not interested in going for big horsepower change but when people look under the hood, they seem dis appointed with the Edelbrock carb. "What no Holley!" Also, I really don't think I need the choke, never take it out under 50degrees here in Northern Ohio.
I am looking for some suggestions on a new carb.
Choke, no choke?
Electric or Manual?
Mechanical or vacumm secondaries?
Holley model 4150 650 cfm #4777S or #82651
Barry Grant Speed Demon 650 cfm model 128201

Looking for suggestions and why.
I like the idea of the Holley 82651 with mechanical secondaries and no choke.
Is that a good idea, if no why not?

Thanks in adavance.

Jim

[ERA Chas]

Forget about what people think when they look. You've got a combination that is maintenance free and works to your satisfaction.

Your heads, cam and intake are basically as weak as OEM and will not support a 650 and you especially don't need a Speed demon.

"I like the idea of the Holley 82651 with mechanical secondaries and no choke.
Is that a good idea, if no why not? "

Forget mechanical secondaries because you have no capacity or velocity to handle an instantaneous throttle application. You need to co-ordinate the whole induction system-can't just bolt on racy eyewash and expect it to behave as it does now.

If you only change a carb put on a vac secondary 550 or 600 cfm 1850 Holley-but I believe the bolt pattern is different than your Ede and an adapter or mainfold change is necessary.


If you alter your present combo-do it all or forget about disappointing viewers-you will screw up a good thing and never stop playing with 'adjustments'.

[mpanten]

I agree with ERAchras. It seems like a lot of money and hassle just to impress someone at a car show who probably wont be any more impressed by a holly. If it is running well and you are happy dont mess with it. Put the money into somethig you want to change.

[fastd]

If you stay with the carb that you have (which should be fine - I have a 351w that puts 350 at the wheels = around 425 at the crank and I recently changed to a 600 cfm with mechanical secondaries from a 750 with vacuum); you should:
1. Get it dynoed for sure - it will take the guess work out of what you a trying to do - worth the $100-$200 to know that you are getting it right.
2. Make sure you have the right size vacuum springs.
3. You can add a secondary metering block so that you can change the jets if the dyno tells that your mixture is off.

[SuperHart]

Just my $.02 but I am pretty sure I recall the bolt pattern of the Edelbrock carb and the Holley carb to be the same. Everything said thus far has merit. Mechanical secondaries use more fuel because of the secondary pump shot and don't really offer any concrete benefits especially on the street. For a 351W anywhere less than in full race trim, a 600 cfm Holley with vacuum secondaries will work great and be plenty of carb. Use the 1850 rather than the #80457. You don't need emissions calibration and the idle circuit on the 80457 is, in my opinion a little too lean. Let's face it, Holley carbs just "LOOK" better on your Cobra. Nothing at all wrong with Edelbrocks' performance, though. Most Edelbrock intakes I have seen are drilled for two sets of studs so mounting the Holley should be no problem. Only minor rerouting of the fuel line will be required.

[*13*]

No one cares if your getting 35gpm & It's all about the Sex Appeal of the car. That's why we build these cars, right? Put the 600 Holley DP on it & have some fun! The Demon is a nice carb but looks just as funny on a Cobra as an Edelbrock, IMHO.

[Randy Rosenberg]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it... If you want to hide the edlebrock carb, then get a large, drop air cleaner, and no one will be able to see your carb.

[jhv48]

I understand where you are coming from. An Edelbrock carb just "doesn't look right" on these cars.

I had one on my last cobra and it performed ok but I never liked the idiosyncracies of that carb. Mine would attempt to stall under hard braking and would fart whenever I cornered hard. Couldn't make those problems go away. That plus the fact that it just didn't "look right".

Bought a BG Speed Demon and eliminated the previous problems and improved accelleration and throttle response.

Could have done the same thing with a Holley. I just wanted to try the BG.

So, it's your car, and if you aren't happy with "the look", swap it out. You can always put it back on if the replacement doesn't work out. I'm never happy unless there is something to futz with.

[Xavier]

I had a similar motor same situation, I did not like the look of the Edelbrock, as I was saving up money for a double pumper someone purchased me a Summit Racing carb double-pumper, better performance than the Edlebrock, not as good as the Holley. Since then I went to a 408 and 48 IDA Webers. The Summit Racing carb is sitting in a box, it was on the car for less than a year, perfect condition, and trust me, everyone looking at it will mistake it for a $500 carb. It is tuned for your engine (close anyhow). This is not a plug for selling the carb, just seen your post and your going through the same thing I did.

I will give you the double-pump SS fuel hose and everything, 600cfm with electric choke. How about $75 bucks? Just pm me if you are interested.