What carb to get?

Discussion in 'The Mixing shop.' started by The Big Guy, Sep 21, 2020.

  1. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    My '65 Biscayne has a 454. It's not a hi-po 454, but one out of a truck (so I've been told by someone who ran the casting numbers). It has an Edelbrock carb that is worn out. What kind of carb should I get?

    Edelbrock seems popular, but I don't care for the look.

    I had Holley on a 442 when I was a kid and hated it. They say the new ones are better and easier to tune.

    Q-jet is how I'm leaning, but it's hard to find anyone who knows how to tune one.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

    Q-jet - several folks here can build you one. You may have to change the intake manifold tho'.
     
  3. DEADMANSCURVE

    DEADMANSCURVE my first word : truck

    Good point Bill . Yeah you should pull the carb and see if it is a square bore ( Holley edelbrock ) pattern or a spread bore pattern ( quadrajet ) . Depending upon what it is will determine if you need an adapter . If you'd rather not use one then that will decide for you .
    I wouldn't trust your Holley history , so I'll suggest either that or a quadrajet ( depending upon intake situation ) .
    Ken or mark and others on here can do your quadrajet . Do not get a generic rebuild from Napa , AutoZone etc .
    Depending on engine mod's 750-850 cfm would be a good starting point .
     
  4. lemmy-67

    lemmy-67 Platinum Level Contributor

    I had a 454 in my '74 cheyenne 20 pickup. Chirped the tires & spun out all the time driving it, fun engine. A properly rebuilt Q-Jet was on it at all times.

    My friend put a horry 650 DP on his 64-1/2 mustang with the 289 v8 in it, and blew out both his mufflers trying to start it. I've had brand-new horry Q-Jets on my 1980 van, and they all ran like crap.
     
  5. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    I'm not all that literate on carbs, so how so I know if it's a spread bore or square bore?
     
  6. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    Is this ph0to of any help?

    [​IMG]
     
  7. DEADMANSCURVE

    DEADMANSCURVE my first word : truck

    normally 4 mounting bolt locations = square bore . 8 mounting bolt locations = spreadbore . but that is for aftermarket aluminum intakes as they are usually set up as "dual pattern" , spread or square .
    if the intake opening is symmetrical ( oval shaped , even front to rear ) then square .
    if the openings are bigger in the rear ( kinda kidney shaped ) then spreadbore .
    edit - couple pics . aluminum intake is dual pattern edelbrock . pic #2 is of a oem 455 cast q-jet intake .
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 22, 2020
  8. The Big Guy

    The Big Guy Nailhead Nation

    So if I look at where the carb mounts on my intake, it looks like there are two sets of mounting holes. So it’s dual pattern and I could use a Q-jet?
     
  9. 12lives

    12lives Control the controllable, let the rest go

Share This Page