Replacement Carb

[Grizzly]

The Holley on my 327/300 has given me trouble on and off since I bought the car. Yesterday the float stuck shooting gas all over the engine an scaring the day lights out of me. I'm just going to wrap it up and put it on the shelf for the next owner. This is the peak of the season here in PA and I don't want to miss much of it.

Have any of you had experience with Holley's Street Avenger or Barry Grant's Road Demon? I want as near to a "bolt and go" as possible. The car is a driver so that is what I'm looking for, driveability.

Any votes for either one, or something I don't know about?

 

[JohnZ]

Both the street avenger and road demon have dual-feed, two metering blocks, and center-hung floats, so you'll need to fabricate a new fuel feed setup, neither one will fit under your air cleaner base due to the extra rear metering block and longer fuel bowls, and they have electric chokes instead of the remote choke you have now.

If your Holley is the original List #3810, it's rare and valuable, and is trouble-free when properly set up; I'd put a Holley #1850 "universal replacement" on it temporarily (which will fit under your air cleaner base), and send the 3810 to a reputable professional rebuilder to be freshened.

 

[magicv8]

I put a 65 manifold and a Cater carb on my SB - just because Holleys frequently leak fuel. I believe Edelbrock sells a Carter like carb that will fit in place of the Holley.

 

[Ron Miller]

For trouble free, I agree with magicv8. I have the Carter and Holley both (on my 65 & 66, both 300 hp), and over the years I have had a lot less trouble out of the Carter. Just start & go.

One item to consider is the choke, the Holley as you know heats the choke from a well in the intake manifold, while the Carter is a hot air choke, pulls air thru a hot air tube passing thru the exhaust manifold. An electric choke is an option to consider. The Edelbrock carb is essentially a clone of the Carter AFB, I believe.