2 barrel , 4 barrel, whose got the answer?

palani said
bear with me please: 1983 318 stock, in a b250 van (concversion). because it is a lean burn (that doesnt work any more) it ios being converted to a hei ignition system with vacuum advance ( the gm hei module). the present carb (2 barrel) doesnt have a vacuum port to run the vacuum advance. so the coice is to either replace the 2 barrel (2280 holley or carter bbd), pull manifoold and change to a 4 barrel, or some combination. in a ideal worl i would change to a spreadbore and run either a thermoquad or quadrajet (550 cfm). since i havent started taking anything apart im open right now to considerations. this will be low rpm use (4500), hoping to gain better mileage (arent we all) as well as more power.
to summereize.\, a stockk two barrel on stock two barrel manifold, a four barrel on that 2 barrel manifold, or a 4 barrel with a 4 barrel manifold.
interested in your thoughts if you please. i also appreciate your time in responding, thanks
palani

my thoughts are to KISS on the whole thing. you already have the pigtail/whip for the electronic ignition, why not just get a stock electronic ignition distributor (non lean burn edition) and snap that puppy in. then just plop on a carter BBD and be done with it. it's basically factory, you'll need to modify practically nothing. all of that stuff is cheap and widely available.

going from a 2bbl to a 4bbl will net you more power but likely at the expense of fuel mileage. and the power may not be where it is most useful or useable for your application. i'll agree a dual plane with a small square bore or a spread bore tuned in nicely is a hard combo to beat, but you're gonna have to work to get those mpg numbers. also, i wouldn't put a 4bbl on a 2bbl manifold; except for rare instances it's just a solution to a problem that nobody really has.