Intake and carb

[R.Smith]

I'm looking to put an aluminum intake and 4bbl on my 390 and would like to know where to find the best deal. I'm not looking to make a hot rod and a friend who knows more about these things than I do has suggested an Edlebrock 600cfm carb with an Edlebrock daul plane intake.

But he's a die hard chevy guy and I don't rally trust him!

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[fitzwell]

Edelbrock & a holley 01850

[Dragon]

Used Streetmaster 390 off the Internet. 600 Holley you don't need a bigger carb unless you change the cam. The secondaries on my 750 do not open all the way on a car 390. So the extra money was a waste.

A 390 with a Streetmaster 390 with peak hp at 4800 rpm comes to. 390/2=195 195* 4800rpm/1728 = 541 cfm before VE correction. A Streetmaster or a more expensive but less power producing Dual Plane will give you a VE of 85% 541 * .85 equals 460 cfm. If you have to tune the Edelbrock carb it has a steep, real steep tuning learning curve. Go with a 600 Holley check this bad boy out http://www.holley.com/0-80457S.asp

[My427stang]

I agree with Dragon 100%, and you can add the Holley Street Dominator too, almost a twin to the Streetmaster.

I ran mine with a 600 Holley for years and its a great combo for a truck.

[R.Smith]

I've ben told that the Edelbrock carb is better for a daily driver because the Holly needs constant tweeking. True? or just bad advice?

[willowbilly3]

Some people like Holleys, some Edelbrocks. I have had Holleys run a long time without tweeking. My 350 2 bbl does idle erratically on today's crappy gas.

[Banjo]

If I had a 390 and money wasn't a concern, I'd watch for some of those combo deals where you buy this and that and get a free air cleaner or whatever. I've had Holley and Edelbrock both (intakes and carbs) and they're both fine. If you did select too large on your vacuum secondary carb, it'll only use what it requires anyhow. If $ were any issue, I'd search out a used local intake and not pay more than $50 and buy a new carb to go with it, just make sure which type carb your intake cast for (square or spreadbore) or you'll get into adapters and such. Most folks would say buy a used carb and rebuild it, but I've never had any luck rebuilding carbs or having local experts rebuild them (over and over). I have had luck with reman carbs you buy through chain auto stores (some are reman by Holley), but even those are kinda hit and miss. I insist on new carbs, but I admit maybe I've been unlucky on the used carb deal. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a used intake if I saw no cracks or anything odd.

[R.Smith]

It was suggested that I go with the daul plane intake for better low end torque?

Maybe it would help if I explained what I'm trying to do. The truck is a Camper Special. I'll be using it as a daily driver (so gas gulping is an issue) and occasionally pulling a big smoker. It has plenty of power for that now but, I've got a bad lifter and since I'm going to have to pull the intake, I might as well replace it with something sporty...and since I'm replacing the intake, I might as well put a 4 bbl on it. (Following the "might as well" process, I'll eventually end up with a jet engine in it)

I went over to the Summit Racing site and found an Edelbrock performer intake and Edelbrock 600cfm carb for $550.00...not including gaskets and such. The price for the intake is $285.00....about the same as they're going for on ebay.

Now I'll go back and look at Holley stuff.

[bumpside]

R smith,

I like the jet engine idea. No tailgaters

[Dragon]

i don't tweak my Street Holleys the last time I checked the floats was 5 months ago when I switched fuel grade.

[fitzwell]

Dual plane will be much better for the street. snappier, better throttle response. I wouldn't use a street avenger on anything, but the 01850 600 cfm is as about as basic as they get, and tunable for damn near any application. If you can find an older one, i'd do that before i bought an 01850-4

[Dragon]

There is a link on this site that shows the Streetmaster single plane out performed at low and mid range any dual plane/

[My427stang]

As a rule, a dual plane is better for the street

However the Street Dominator and Streetmaser are different, they are small plenum, small runner intakes that are designed for low end.

They work as good as anything else down low and are actually better than a dual plane as RPM rises.

I have had a 428PI alum intake, an Edelbrock Performer, an iron intake, and the Street Dominator. The two that ran the best were the PI and the Street Dominator, and there was no noticeable difference between them.

Just to put you at ease, whoever told you single plan is for top end, isnt wrong, just not correct for THIS manifold in THIS application.

[george worley]

What is the benefit of a non-adjustable needle and seat,why would that be better? Ialways liked the feature of being abel to adjust the fuel level easily. By the way I posted a while back about my holley carb leaking fuel out of the secondary idle ports . It was plugged air bleeds ,works great now.Thanks guys for all your suggestions and patience

[Dragon]

No benefit it reduces the carb cost and in a few years will raise the maintenance cost over a regular Holley.