A Holley-Edelbrock debate

gliderider06 said
My Ramcharger currently has a 1406 eddy on it. Been great actually. First one I have used and pleased thus far in the 10,000 miles that I have on it. Just came across the new Holley 80457 and was thinking about switching just to see and for something to do. My only complaint on the Edelbrock is the choke when I first start when cold. It needs a mid step from high idle to low idle. This is where the Holley may have the advantage.
Maybe I will go change it today and then again I should just leave well enough alone...

First, let me say that I only run original Carters designed for our high performance engines on street cars. Second, I hate vacuum actuated secondaries, power valves, fuel bowls that bolt on sideways, fuel leaking over your engine when you make jet changes, fuel transfer tubes, and accelerator pumps that leak fuel over your engine when they fail. I can get original Chrysler/Carter choke systems to run almost as well as fuel injection. My two friends that race, run Edelbrocks on their street cars, one of them even sang the praises of how well the AVS 2 ran on his street rod after swapping out the Holley.

I have never taken the time to dial in the electric choke on any carb. It should be as simple as making sure the choke is closed when you "set" it on a cold engine. As soon as it starts, it should open a set amount as measured with a drill bit. From there you adjust, usually by bending the correct linkage rod, a smaller opening for too lean a condition or a larger opening if too rich a condition. Also adjust the fast idle. When the temperature reaches operating level, the choke should be fully open. Repeat as necessary until you are happy with the way it runs. If you don't need a choke when starting cold, you are running way too rich.

As for tuning Carter/Edelbrock with larger than stock cams, I don't have a problem. I even ran the stock 273 AFB with a 284 duration cam in the 64 Barracuda no problem after pulling and selling the 600 Holley.