Best Carb For Use On A Stock 1989 Mustang 5.0?

[BogBossMan]

Hi,

I've been looking everywhere for information on what carb to buy for my Mustang engine, decided to come to the source and see what is current;y being used.

I have a 1989 5.0 attached to a T5 five speed currently being installed in a 1961 MGA. The engine is stock other than a 1967 298 distributor, an Edelbrock Performer intake, and a pair of block hugger headers.

The time has come to buy a carb for it and I was hoping to find out which one would be the very best to buy for this engine?

I've heard suggestions and opinions ranging from a Holley 600 with vacuum secondaries to an Edelbrock 500 with mechanical secondaries, from a Street Demon to a Summit carb and intake kit, and all the reasons and augments for and against each of those. I'm more confused than ever !

I would LOVE to hear from someone/anyone who has bought and installed a carb on their stock 5.0 and is satisfied with the drivablilty/perfromance and what model and manufacturer of that carb might be

Please !

TC

 

[rbohm]

any good 600cfm carb will do nicely. i prefer the edelbrock 1406 myself.

 

[BogBossMan]

Thanks, is that the carb that you're running on your car right now? Mechanical or vac secondaries?

They've been offered on Ebay for some time now as re-manufactured at a great price.

I'd heard that the durashine body tended to cause the carb to "over heat" wondering what problems you might have had, if any. Also wondering about any off-idle stumble or problems with transitioning from primaries to secondaries?

Interested !

TC

 

[7991LXnSHO]

A used, Holley 1850, rebuilt, with added electric choke and a quick change secondary spring kit is what I ran with the stock e-7 heads and cam. It got 25 on the highway and was quicker than the Camaros of the day. But my current ported and tweaked EFI 302 is quicker and less fuel efficient.

 

[BogBossMan]

I REALLY like the 1850 but wasn't sure if it would work on a stock 5.0, had very good luck with it on an older Chevy El Camino. Do you remember what rate the spring was for the secondaries? From what I read and heard, the spring change is easy, but if you don't know one to use it takes a good while to get it right. Everyone just says to go bigger until it bogs, then drop down one.

Rather not mess around if I don't have to, you know?

Thanks—

TC

 

[7991LXnSHO]

The quick change spring housing makes tuning the secondary opening rate a one screw and don't loose the O ring deal. They come stock on many models for good reason. I can not tell you what spring to use as that can vary by your air cleaner, cam, exhaust flow and how soon you want them to open. I seem to be missing the second lightest one from my kit, and suspect it is still in that car.

 

[jrichker]

How tight a fit is the 5.0 in a MGA? Pictures?

There was a variant of the MGB that had a 5.3 Rover (aka 1963 Buick) aluminum engine.

 

[90sickfox]

I had an edelbrock 1406 on my mustang stock motor for four years daily driven. Didn't have to do anything but adjust the linkage for the throttle valve and adjust the idle bleed screws. Amazingly I got 26mph on the highway. I also used an air fuel ratio guage and an o2 sensor. It helped me keep an eye on stuff. I'd do it again in a heart beat.