Help with Build Please

[hilandr452]

Hi Guys. I need some advice on my build. I'm pulling the 454 out of my 83 dually and will be installing it into my 71. This is the longhorn 3500 so it's pretty heavy, but I want to have more power to pull the boat and speed for flying around town so I'm going with the 454. I have a turbo 400 with 411 rear end.

I want to run a new carb/intake setup to help achieve this. The motor itself was rebuilt 20k miles ago with rv cam and stock everything else.

What carb/intake setup do you recommend?

Thanks,

Dan

[msgross]

I think you'll get a better response in the engine section, thread moved... if it doesn't get posts then I can move it back in a few days...

I'm no engine pro but it sounds like you need a manifold and carb for low end torque, if they go with that Cam...

[82swampthing]

holley 750 vacuum secondary and a edelbrock performer intake.

[Ticker]

Originally Posted by 82swampthing

holley 750 vacuum secondary and a edelbrock performer intake.

[hilandr452]

I've always heard that Holly carbs are constantly needing adjustment. Any truth to that?

[Ticker]

Probably the start of the carb wars, but...

Every carb is going to require some level of tuning out of the box. Once set, unless you change something there is no further tuning required.

Most of the street-type carbs (Holley Street Avenger, Edelbrock Performer, etc.) will be reasonably close for a near-stock configuration out of the box. Most of the performance type carbs (Holley non Avenger, etc.) will require pretty decent tuning to be right on.

You just need to include the cost of the tune in the project.

[hilandr452]

I'm just trying to figure out the best possible set up. I've heard good things about carter afb, and edelbrock, but you can't believe everything you hear, so I want to get as many opinions based on personal experience with big block setups as possible. I can't afford to make a mistake, once I buy one I will be stuck with it. Another consideration is that I live in a climate that gets 10-20 below in the winter and 100+ in the summer and is 6000 feet above sea level.

I have 2 quadrajunk carbs and an edelbrock that looks like a quadrajunk.

Thanks for the help.

-Dan

[andyh1956]

i will offer a little help. figure out what the rpm of your engine will be at the speed you plan to drive when you are towing your boat. then the cam manufacturer can recomend the proper cam for your application. as for carbs, i like holley but that is just me. the most problem free carb is the q jet you probably already have. having said that, your intake is a trot line wieght. i have never had a two plane aluminum intake on a 454 but a single plane old edlebrock torquer really made my engines turn on, enough to say wow! day & night difference. but if your gonna go buy one just for towing i'd say the others are right & would get a two plane. oh yeah loosen the spark curve up in the dist & use a set of headers also. hope this helps!
andy

[scooter122983]

A single plane is not going to help his torque while towing a boat, additionally he never asked about a cam. But to answer your question Hilandr452 a dual plane like the Edelbrock Performer or a Wieand stealth Is going to help build your torque and may aid in upper HP. Carb size for a 454 is a easy 750-850 size carb. Brand is up to you. Holley is a modular style with gaskets below the fuel level(that is where most problems with Holley come from) or the edelbrock which doesn't have a gasket below the fuel level(less leaks). Me Im a Holley guy based on tuneabilty(everything is on the exterior of the carb).

[Shyguy]

Which carb to use has been asked a bunch of times on this forum and the answers seem to vary quite a bit.

My brother likes Holleys and my son likes Edlebrocks and I am undecided.

I have heard that a 600 cfm carb is plenty for a near stock 454 to get low end torque. Others have said that a 750 is better if you want higher rpms.

Since I am new at these old trucks I am torn between which brand and cfm to buy for my near stock '73 454.

[hilandr452]

These are good suggestions. Please keep them coming!

[snj8198]

A single plane is not going to help his torque while towing a boat, additionally he never asked about a cam. But to answer your question Hilandr452 a dual plane like the Edelbrock Performer or a Wieand stealth Is going to help build your torque and may aid in upper HP.

Hey scooter, i agree.

Carb size for a 454 is a easy 750-850 size carb.

but this i disagree.

A 600-650 cfm carb will feed a close to stock 454 just fine. Infact I would suggest that if hilandr452's bb only gets the basic bolt on's and keeps the cam within a couple sizes of stock he should use no more than a 650 cfm carb. The motor characteristics and driveability will be much more user friendly for towing and daily use.

-steve

[hilandr452]

OK, I ordered summit racing headers and glasspacks, am leaning toward an edelbrock performer air gap with edelbrock performer 750 cfm carb with electric choke. I'm hoping there will be a noticeable difference from the current stock 402 with quadrajet.

[getbent]

holley 770 street avenger electric choke vacuum secondaries

[getbent]

just my 2 cents