Carburetor Question

[Guest]

Hello, guy working on my 59 Convert says the car runs 'sluggish' with the original carb on there. We replaced the original 352 with a 390. Should i get a new Carb? If so what do you reccomend? Or should I buy a kit and soak this original and replace?

[DKheld]

My new engine is quite different for the old as well - much less get up and go (but a whole lot less smoke too - ). Since my new engine has PCV etc I believe mine is all just adjustment. I moved my carb over but used the new engines intake. Haven't had time to fool with it - getting decent gas mileage so just enjying it - may work on it this winter.

Depending on when the carb was rebuilt last - maybe yours just needs a good adjustment so that the secondaries and kick down happen at the right times?

Are you using the same intake and carb spacers?

John and Dave will have some good thoughts on the subject I'm sure......

Eric

[Guest]

Yes

all original carb we put on the 390.

[jopizz]

If you are going to replace the carb I recommend an Edelbrock 1406. Very easy to install with just minor adjustments. I've had numerous issues with the original Ford carbs recently, even after rebuilding them. I chalk some of it up to the Ethanol in the gas. Also make sure your vacuum advance is working. That will cause it to be sluggish.

John

[Guest]

Thanks

Guy says he has one on there now that is his and it runs much better however he says he believes them to be unreliable as he has purcahsed 5 from O'reiley autoparts that have been duds. Have you had this problem with the 1406?

[jopizz]

I haven't had any problems with the Edelbrock 1406 carburetors that I've had. Same with the Carter AFB which is the same carburetor. They are a very simple design so I'm not sure what can go wrong with them.

John

[Guest]

ok

Thanks, I'll try it!

[Yadkin]

The factory carb is an Autolite 4100. It's better than any after market, IMO. These were built in many throttle bore sizes and configurations, so yours probably has a smaller bore size than the bigger 390 needs.

Here's a picture of the symbol on mine that stats the bore size as 1.12" (for my '64 390). Check and see what yours is. It's on the passenger side, behind the choke.

Lots of guys replace these with after markets, so good old cores are readily available.

[Yadkin]

Guy says he has one on there now that is his and it runs much better however he says he believes them to be unreliable as he has purcahsed 5 from O'reiley autoparts that have been duds. Have you had this problem with the 1406?

I doubt that all five were duds. Carburetors have to be tuned to the car, and this requires at least partial disassembly to be done correctly. You can't expect to bolt one on out of the box and have it run perfectly.