Carburetor size question

injuner · Mar 4, 2004

I have finally decided to upgrade my mustang's carburetor and intake manifold. I am currently running a 1966 289 C-Code (2v) with a C4 doing my shifting for me. Everything on the car is currently stock. I am planning on getting th Edelbrock Performer 289 manifold, along with an Edelbrock carburetor with electric choke. I may eventually do headers and dual exhausts and possibly a small cam, but that will probably be in the distant future. The car is a cruiser, and has been in the family since 66.
My real question is do you folks think I should go with the 500 cfm or 600 cfm Edlebrock? I am aware that by the carb formula I should only need a 500 cfm, although it seems lots of folks that I see on the street and on the board are running 600's on their realitively stock 289's. Is this simply a trend for people to over carb their engines or am I missing something? As I understand it, a smaller carburetor will generally give better throttle response but loose out in max power. Since this is a cruiser I am worried more about drivability than all out power.

Any feedback would be appreciated.

65shlbycln · Mar 4, 2004

Go with the standard edelbrock 600cfm carb. BUT, go with the Performer RPM intake manifold, not the Performer 289. The Performer 289 is too close to stock, and isnt as good as the RPM.

Jonstantine · Mar 4, 2004

1000 million dollars says that if you get the 600 youll have a bog...

i recommend the 500

how do i know, cause i was in your exact situation, and when i spun a bearing on my stock c-code; of course i had the motor rebuilt

performer cam, massaged heads, performer intake, 600 carb
(i already had dual exaust and headers)
on a C4 with a stock converter

and i had a bog, and since i had no knowledge of carb tuning to begin with; it took me around 2 years to figure what was wrong (the carb) and how to fix it properly
the car still ran, but i had a bog which led to a 60' time of 2.55 at the track; and that was my best time (which is absolutely flat out terrible)

then, the c4 wore out pretty quick with the new power...
then again, i think it hadnt been messed with since the 70's

also, i dropped the performer intake for a torquer 1
nothing wrong with the performer, good low end; but i have a heavy foot
but you might want to go ahead and get the rpm... cant go wrong with either
definitely get a dual plane though; i lost some mpg when i went to a single plane

so, in conclusion
500 carb - if you have any doubts, call edelbrock and i bet they'll tell you to go with the 500
and either intake... if you think you might hop up your engine later (headers and whatnot) then you should probably go with the rpm

*and ive seen several people with milder 289's have problems with the 600 edelbrock
(i imagine a high stall converter or a standard tranny would be ok)

D.Hearne · Mar 4, 2004

Holley 600 cfm

ratio411 · Mar 4, 2004

Edelbrock F4B or Wieand Stealth intake.
The only aluminum 4v intake Ford or Shelby saw fit to put on a 289 was the F4B.

I highly recommend a Holley vacuum secondary carb. This way you run off the front 2 barrels and the rears only open when the engine needs them to. You must also be willing to pick up a good tuning manual and read it though, or you will be unhappy with the carb. A 600 cfm carb that runs off the front 2 barrels, is only tooling around on 300 cfm... smaller and more responsive than the stock 350 cfm. The Holley would actually give economy in proper tune. There is a really trick 570 cfm vacuum also.
The Carter (aka Edelbrock) opens the secondarys if your engine asks it to or not. Therefore, it would be easy to overcarb.
Good luck
Dave

68RCodeConv · Mar 5, 2004

If you like to mess with it, get a Holley...

it's more tunable and will probably ultimately make more power than the Edelbrock but you most likely will have to work with the Holley to get it to run well. If you just want to throw a carb on it that will probably run fine without any tuning, get an Edelbrock. I recommend a 500 cfm. That's what I have on the HiPo in my 67 GT350 and it works great. A 600 cfm would probably make more power above 5000 rpm but on the street I don't rev it that high very often.

D.Hearne · Mar 5, 2004

I never have to work hard, to get any Holley to run well, unless it's a completely worn out one.

10secgoal · Mar 6, 2004

Go with the Holley. I would say get a book ,too. I ran a Edelbrock for a few years. Awesome carb. But, believe it or not, you can get better MPG out a holley and much better performance with a slight metering block mod. D.Hearne is right, make it a vac. secondary though.

66fastblack · Mar 9, 2004

does anyone know how many cfm the stock carb on a 66 289 4V is?? would you guys reccomend an upgrade? i have the A -code 289 bored 30 over, mild cam, massaged heads, dual exhaust and a c4.Would upgrading a carb make a noticable difference? maybe match it up with an intake manifold? i dont wanna spend the money if it wont be noticable.

D.Hearne · Mar 9, 2004

The stock 4 bbl Autolite 4100 on the majority of 289's was a 480 cfm. The Hi-po's got a 600 cfm carb. The Shelby's got 735 cfm Holley's, or was it 715? I can't recall for sure, but it was one or the other.

66fastblack · Mar 9, 2004

D.Hearne said:
The stock 4 bbl Autolite 4100 on the majority of 289's was a 480 cfm. The Hi-po's got a 600 cfm carb. The Shelby's got 735 cfm Holley's, or was it 715? I can't recall for sure, but it was one or the other.

wow, 700+ cfm on those shelbys, thats huge, didnt think those motors were that hopped up..

coolblue65 · Mar 9, 2004

I would say go with 600cfm's I dont think its to much, but even beyond that, it also allows you room to grow and play with a bigger cam and some headers in the future. I think you will quickly out grow a 500cfm carb.

Asking what brand of carb to get is another issue, because the Edel. vs Holley argument is neverending.

From my experiences and from what I have heard from others, the Edelbrock is the best for out of box install, requires very little tuning and is daily driver friendly. Where as with Holleys you have to buy yourself a book and learn how to tune the thing to get the car to run right.

GaPonyFarm · Mar 10, 2004

Holley's are pretty much plug and play these days, especially the street avenger series. Holley's are the most bulletproof carbs on the market, period.

I'd go with a Holley 600, myself. But you're right, the single biggest problem people make is to over-carb their engines.

I'd agree with a previous post... I'd dump your intake and go with a Performer RPM.

Jonstantine · Mar 10, 2004

well, if you do decide to get an edelbrock... at least call them and get their recommendation on the right size..

65shlbycln · Mar 10, 2004

D.Hearne said:
The stock 4 bbl Autolite 4100 on the majority of 289's was a 480 cfm. The Hi-po's got a 600 cfm carb. The Shelby's got 735 cfm Holley's, or was it 715? I can't recall for sure, but it was one or the other.

715cfm

Carburetor size question

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