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Off Road Carbs

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fire4j15

Registered User
Location
Springville
Has anyone had experence with either the Holley off road carb or the edelbrock off road carb. I need to buy one because I can't afford EFI.
Do they work as good as they say on there website. Thanks any info is greatly appreciated. Going on a Chevy small block 350, CJ-7
 
spencurai

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
You may not be able to afford a brand new TBI setup but everyone can afford a junkyard conversion. You just have to know where to look. Don't waste your money on a carb, save your money and do it right.
 
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fire4j15

Registered User
Location
Springville
Spencurai, where do I find something like that? Can you lead me in the right direction? I would still like to know if anybody has run a off road carb.
 
anvil

anvil

Registered User
Location
Idaho Falls
After about 300 HP even TBI can start getting expensive ($1000 +). I have some experience with the Holley Truck Avenger. It took a lot of tuning, but I'm happy with the way it is running now. If you don't plan on spending a decent amount of timing setting it up you probably won't like it. I haven't tried Edelbrock's off road carb so I can't comment there. I've used the old Edelbrock performer series carbs, and I definitely like the Holley TA better.
 
spencurai

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
Hit up the pirate forums in the chevy section and do some research on what you need. If you want to keep it cheap I would shoot for a TBI setup meaning a throttle body. The throttle body is cheaper to get into because it is more like a carb setup in that it mounts to a traditional style intake manifold.

You are going to need

Throttle body
Computer
Wiring harness
misc sensors (o2 sensors and whatnot)

Probably the easiest way is to pick up an old busted pickup that is fuel injected and strip that system off it. The resources are out there you just have to do a lot of reasarch.
 
spencurai

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
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F

fire4j15

Registered User
Location
Springville
Thanks Spencurai, My only problem is I only have $500 bucks right now, and I need something to get me buy. This spring I will have the money for a MPFI. I'm going to check out that e-bay tbi though. thanks again.
 
spencurai

spencurai

Purple Burglar Alarm
Location
WVC,UT
If you just want to get by...then get a Q-jet used and build it to suit. Don't spend good money on something new that you are just going to toss in the parts bin anyway. Just avoid your run of the mill holley....they are the worst offroad.
 
S

scoutabout

None
I have a Holley 2300 2-bbl that I just converted to an "off-road carb" by making some modifications and replacing some components. I've been very happy with the performance. It's performed well on steep inclines/declines, side hills, and bouncy terrain. It's true that Holley carbs are a little finicky and can be harder to tune, but I've been using them for a while and have become comfortable with their operation. I think the Edelbrocks are a little better design and would work well for a 4-bbl manifold.
 
Dart

Dart

Banned
Location
Utah
have you looked up propane conversion? You can do it kinda cheep. as WJzuke I know he has LPG onhis Zuk.
 
ChestonScout

ChestonScout

opinions are like Jeeps..
Location
Clinton, Ut
I am running the Holley truck avenger on my Scout. I am very happy with it right now but I hated it when I first bought it. My Scout ran like crap and I found a rebuilt motor that I swapped in and bolted the carb to and I didnt have to touch it. It hasnt cut out on me in any angle that I have had my scout in so far. I had my back bumper buried on a ledge in Moab, I figure around 50 to 60 degrees so for fun I shut the motor off. It started again just like I was sitting on flat ground. I havent been dissapointed with it at all since the motor swap. I think my first motor was just to tired. I went from the stock 2 barrel to the TA.
I have heard of a bunch of people that have had to tune them a ton to get them to run right.
You can get a edelbrock performer carb and buy the off road needle set for not to much and I think that would be cheaper and easier to tune. Just depends on what you want.
If you are looking to get a carb for now......get one and post it on ebay when your done with it. The truck avengers usually go for quite a bit.
Hope this helps.
 
anvil

anvil

Registered User
Location
Idaho Falls
My Holley TA runs great up steep angles and idles fine. I looked really hard at running TBI, but with a 330 horse GM crate engine the cost was too close to a multi port system. I would have needed a big block throttle body and big injectors or really high fuel pressure to keep it from leaning out at WOT. Both of these would have made tuning things at idle nearly impossible. 2 injectors just isn't enough for high horse power if you also want the bottom end to run smoothe. If you plan to go multi port in the spring I like spencurai's idea. Find an old quadrajet for $25 and make it work. Qjets can be very capable, but IMO they are a little more difficult to tune and find parts for.
 
7

78mitsu

Registered User
I run a quadrajet(puke) Modded for offroading,
Bent float arms added a 1.25# spring to the needle and seat,
Super Modded metering rods, larger jet disparity,

One of the big problems with Running a carb is a mechanical fuel pump, lots of people block off the return side. it causes an increase in fuel pressure, because it's figured in when they build the pump, so an additional fuel pressure regulator is needed to keep the pressure down.


as far as TBI goes, with the proper injectors the stock big blcok tbi (670 cfm) unit will support a 350 up to 7400 RPM at 90% VE (which is a smokin small block) it's all about fuel pressure and injectors. the Gm Big block injector at 13.0PSI will produce 85 lb/hr which will support a 300Hp eingine. It can be done with stock parts (usually a 350 hp engine is only 350HP @~6k) so if you drive within reason you can run a zz350 crate motor with tbi.
 
D

dunatic67

It's all about the HP
Location
Lehi
spencurai said:
If you just want to get by...then get a Q-jet used and build it to suit. Don't spend good money on something new that you are just going to toss in the parts bin anyway. Just avoid your run of the mill holley....they are the worst offroad.
Click to expand...

I'm with Spencurai. Build a Q-jet. It is the best off road carb when set up right. ALL of my friends who crawl and don't have EFI run Q-jets, mounted backwards on the intake manifold. I can help you with more info. Very cheap
 
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fire4j15

Registered User
Location
Springville
Thanks Guys, So should I get a Q-jet carb or go with a truck avenger carb? Are they the same price? The motor will be putting out 320hp and 400lbs of torque. Thanks Again
 
7

78mitsu

Registered User
for the money I'd do TBI, find a big block tbi unit and get the adapter plate for it. either way you're about $500.
 
timpanogos

timpanogos

Push to the Peak
Location
Heber
I have a brand spanking new Holley that was on the beast ... seller of the beast bemoaned it was an $800.00 purchase, last april, used only the one time at moab. I'd sell it for a song
 
Tacoma

Tacoma

Et incurventur ante non
Location
far enough away
If you're dead set on a carb "to get you by", get a Qjet off a 70's GM and rebuild it. Should cost you about $250 if you take it to a shop, or much much less if you DIY.

However, I have to join the chorus and urge you to get a TBI setup. No, they don't really stay cheap if you're dealing with big power, but for your average stockish budget crawler, they're damn near bulletproof and easy to set up. Standalone computer and only about 4 sensors, and should be doable under $500. I'll be running GM TBI on everything I own, because I have had zero issues with it and I won't be running any crazy race motors.

the 454 throttle body is the hot upgrade for hotter small blocks I guess.
 
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