Looking for Carb Suggestions

[farmtruckman]

Restoring my 72 F100 4x4. Previous owner dropped a later model (80?) Ford Bronco 400 c.i. V8 with a Quadrajet that just doesn't like to run, plus it leaks from everywhere. What suggestions in regards to a 4bbl carb can people make. It has an Edelbrock manifold on it but I was thinking of a Holley 600. Am open to suggestions though. Whatever I put on it, a choke is a must (this QJ doesn't have anything on it). What suggestions can anyone make. Fire away!!! Looking for something that gives as decent economy as you can expect from an older V8 that I know nothing about inside but also can push the weight of this truck.

Thanks,

FTM.

[flyboy2610]

A 600 CFM Holley would be just right for that truck.

[farmtruckman]

Would you go mechanicals or vacuum secondaries? Holley offers both in that CFM.

Thanks for suggestion.

FTM

[DuckRyder]

A quadrajet is a perfectly good carb, you could probably fix it...

That said, Holley and a big heavy truck with an automatic calls for a Vac secondary.

[71HANKER]

I had a 390 cfm holley vacuum secondary carb on my 71 f-100 4x4 and it sucked. I bought an Edelbrock 600 manual choke and put it on. It came with a dvd to show you how to make the proper adjustments. I have a 460 in the truck and that carb makes that truck scream. All i had to adjust was the accelerator pump stroke and set the air fuel mixtures and idle. The one thing i would say is i like the electric choke models better, i have one on my 57 chevy pickup and its really nice. The edelbrocks are mechanical secondaries but they kick in just fine on my big heavy truck, and ive got 38's with 5.13 gears.

[mr_josh]

I also have a '72 F-100 with a 400, and I plopped an edelbrock aluminum intake on top of it with a new Edelbrock 600 with auto choke, and it truly is a "one pump and go" affair. I like Holley stuff too, but I've certainly had good luck with my edelbrock. (FWIW, my '70 Chevy w/ a 350 has a remanned Edelbrock 600 with manual choke, and it works okay, too.)

It's cool that people have offered up such level-headed suggestions for carbs. Seems like folks are inclined to go way overboard when it comes to these things, but even 99% of the stock 460s out there run great with a 600 or 650.

[mrtleavitt]

Do not go with vacuume operated secondaries. I bought a 670 Holley Truck Avenger and the dang thing never worked right. I had every tuning kit available and could never get it to run like it should. Go with mechanical operated secondaries.

[sideoilerfe]

Do not go with vacuume operated secondaries. I bought a 670 Holley Truck Avenger and the dang thing never worked right. I had every tuning kit available and could never get it to run like it should. Go with mechanical operated secondaries.

Truck Avengers are junk. Poor carb choice was the problem, not the vacuum secondaries.

I had a 390 cfm holley vacuum secondary carb on my 71 f-100 4x4 and it sucked. ... I have a 460 in the truck...

Again, poor choice of carb for your application. I prefer Holley myself over the Edelbrocks but to each his own. 600 CFM with the vacuum secondaries for a 400 CI is a wise choice.

[71HANKER]

in my defense the holley 390 was already on the truck when i aquired it. Since ive always had luck with edelbrocks, and i know how to tune them, thats what i went with. plus when you got buddies at the parts stores that sell parts to you at cost when the boss is out, you grab what you want. know what i mean? i am also in the process of rebuilding my holley 600 double pumper, and it will go on the 460. whichever one works the best thats the one i keep.

[mrtleavitt]

For the truck avenger holley it ran good as long as you didn't want to go fast. In the 6 months of running it I don't think my secondaries came on once, so I'm blaming the vacuume secondaries. Other than that it was a good carb, I loved the spring loaded needles and valves. Hill climbimg/starting was awesome! With mechanical you can always see whats going on.

[sideoilerfe]

Vacuum secondaries are good on a heavy vehicle. If yours weren't opening then there was a problem that was not addressed. Don't blame all vacuum secondary carburetors. On a lighter vehicle mechanical secondaries would work great.

[mrtleavitt]

All I'm saying is mechanicals are nice because you know they open when you hit the gas, it's connected to the linkage so there are no questions. Vacuum secondaries should give you a bit better fuel mileage but if you want power and speed, you can typically get a mechanical secondary to perform better

[sideoilerfe]

... you can typically get a mechanical secondary to perform better

In a lighter vehicle I agree. But in a heavy truck, not so much. To each his own. They both work great depending on the application.

Farmtruckman, 600CFM is all you need. Edelbrock or Holley will get the job done. I prefer Holley.

[DuckRyder]

I'm with sideoilerFE on this one.

I would not put a mechanical secondary carb on a heavy vehicle for street use...