Hello all, I am building a 292 Ford for my 57 F-100 and am wondering about 4 barrel carbs. The 292 will have a mild cam, "G" heads with high ratio rockers, cast iron "B" intake and a set or rams horn exhaust manifolds. I like Holley carbs, their website recommends around a 450 CFM based off cubic inches. I asked on the face book Y block group and got all kinds of recommendations and variances from 390 CFM-600 CFM. I know everyone has an opinion, but there are a lot of carbs out there with differences. Does anyone here have a specific carb they like? Just bench racin….
It seems like as you dip below the 600 cfm size the choices get fewer and fewer as far as 4bbl carbs go. I'm was looking for a good small size carb for my mildly hopped up 215 Buick and found that the smaller carbs can get big-time expensive, look at the price of a new 390 Holley! I would probably go for a 450 Holley or a 600. To me they just look right on a Ford engine and I'm sure either could be tuned to work well. Me being a cheap ass, I'd probably find me a used older 1850 (600 cfm) and rebuild it like I did for the 302 in my old F100.
Chris, You want 600 cfm. ideally a vac secondary carb. I raced Y blocks when I was just starting out they take a pretty deep breath if you don't choke 'em down.
I'd use a 390 holley given the option, being in a truck it's probably not going to see a ton of rpm, and Ford's generally don't like a ton of fuel. That said, like bchctybob said a 600cfm 4160 would probably do okay and be a much more affordable carb.
Here's Ted Eaton's carb test. Maybe a little more motor than yours, but it's a start. http://www.eatonbalancing.com/2012/09/25/four-barrel-carburetor-testing-on-the-y/
Which ever you decide on I always lean towards smaller rather than larger on a street driven vehicle. Better mileage, throttle response, with a smaller carb.
Not that my setup is ideal, but I run an Edelbrock 600 on my worn out stock 292 on a B manifold and it seems to work just fine. I am more of a Holley guy typically, but the Edelbrock was cheap and easy since I got it used from a friend. Everyone said use closer to a 500, but the 600 seems fine for what I do.
I have a 600 Holley 4010 on my 292 and it runs great. These carbs are now sold as the Summit Carb and are just about the cheapest new carb you can buy. They are not traditional but under an air cleaner no one will know. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I'm a big fan of the 450 CFM Holley on 300" street motors. Gives a noticeably better throttle response at slower speeds over a 600 which can translate into better fuel economy. They are expensive new, but you're a swap meet guy, Ford sold a lot of them as 'service replacements' for worn-out Autolite 4100s so they're out there in rebuildable condition. You can identify them by their 1.5" diameter throttle bores, the 600 is 1.5625" (1 9/16). For less money (under $300 new and with good reviews) is the Summit 500 CFM carb. Basically a heavily upgraded copy of the Autolite 4100, it now uses all Holley small parts.
That was an interesting read. I believe that the 2" exhaust as tested was not big enough. I'd use no less than 2.5" dual (3" single) exhaust at those power levels. All small exhaust does is choke power and make the thing "blatty" on deceleration.
I think I would listen to Tim and Ted who currently are doing more work with Yblocks than most of us will ever see. Sitting in the pits at Bonneville listening to Ted talk engines was a mind blower.
Stock 4bbl FoMoCo for 312 or 292*****,but not any teapots. Do not try too use FE carbs 352/390,the jetting is way off on a Y=will run,but big flat spot.
Summit 600 @ $330. A copy of the Autolite. High praises from Y -block owners. Works right out of the box by what owners say. If I remove my dual quads I’ll use a Summit on the Mummert high rise I already own...
600 cfm Holley WITH vacuum secondaries. No need to get complex, the vacuum secondaries will keep you from over carbing (IF you adjust the diaphram spring and power valve and jets) S'why I like an Eddy carb (but you didn't ask about them)! 6sally6
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