Thread: Best Carb for Gas Mileage

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OK, I was thinking of building a 383 for my truck, but I've decided not to do so as this will probably be a daily driver for awhile.

My question is:

What's the best carb for gas mileage? I currently have a edelbrock performer 1400 on my 305 which is a 600 cfm carter clone. Should I go with a holley spreadbore? I'm not a big fan of q-jets just because they aren't really made new and as such parts that are subject to wear will be hard to find.

I plan on running vortec heads, 9.0:1 compression, edelbrock vortec manifolds, 350 block with stock crank and .030 pistons.

I've thought about getting some aftermarket fuel injection but a lot of it is like motorcycle fuel injection, premapped and doesn't remap on the fly like it does with factory fuel injection, which makes it too expensive.

Should I just stay with the edelbrock or is it worth picking up a spreadbore? I think the vortec manifold from edelbrock is a squarebore carb tho. Yikes, ideas?

What I like about AFB's and Edelbrock's, is the metering rods are easily changed, and readily available. You can set them easily for mileage, and keep the slightly richer set to swap in for a weekend of fun and games. It takes some monkeying around to sort them out, but it can make a few mpg difference.
Keep in mind that it's the second, fatter part of the rod that determines cruise mixture, and that weaker plunger springs delay the richening action.

I would suggest a properly prepped Q-jetwould be best overall

Try the old Holley vacume secondary spread bore carbs that were an ideal economy replacement carb used for motorhomes in the 70's and 80's

Originally Posted by stepside454

I would suggest a properly prepped Q-jetwould be best overall

i concur