carb tuning blues

[montecarlofast]

Ive got a Edelbrock performer 1460 carbeaurator that will not run right. I did a full rebuild, set my, float levels, even went through it all again and to no avail. It does have a elec fuel pump and I have a fuel pressure regulator comming in the mail. First off any clue on what im doing wrong? and second what should the fuel pressure be for a big block 454? thanks

[youngster]

It might be getting too much fuel just wait for the regulator to come that should help it out alot. It might not even be the carb.

[mtperformance]

I am not aware of the 1460, do you mean 1406 (600 cfm) ? You should have 5 psi steady and 7 psi max . What kind of a pump are you running ? What is the engine and whats been done to it ? What is it doing that it shouldnt be?

[montecarlofast]

The motor was rebuilt before I bought it. but I when I pulled the carb to rebuild it, inside the intake manifold it was spotless so I really doubt the car was driven at all. I bought it with 4 broken wheel studs and no wheel on the front. (someone used metric lug nuts on a SAE stud) and I bought it from my buddies tow yard. from the head casting I found out the heads and block are from a early 70s car. I will try the fuel pressure regulator and see what i can come up with. as for the carb it is a 1406 sorry for the typo, and its some off brand fuel pump that was on the car when I got it. I did notice it surges quite a bit. (have a Russel Clear View filter.

[mtperformance]

The motor was rebuilt before I bought it. but I when I pulled the carb to rebuild it, inside the intake manifold it was spotless so I really doubt the car was driven at all. I bought it with 4 broken wheel studs and no wheel on the front. (someone used metric lug nuts on a SAE stud) and I bought it from my buddies tow yard. from the head casting I found out the heads and block are from a early 70s car. I will try the fuel pressure regulator and see what i can come up with. as for the carb it is a 1406 sorry for the typo, and its some off brand fuel pump that was on the car when I got it. I did notice it surges quite a bit. (have a Russel Clear View filter. Is this carb under a 454 because if it is that is a pretty small carb for that much cubes ? Is your pump electric or mechanical most mech. only put out 5-7 psi . If you think its not getting enough gas the a regulator aint going to solve your problem you might want to step up to a bigger carb like a 750 cfm ,if your running a big block. Alot of the people I know that are running carbs are really falling in love with the Demon brand carbs. A good friend of mine has a 340 in a duster that has quite abit done to it and he had a 750 Holley dp with mech. secondaries that he tuned for about three years on and off and then he went to the demon and just with some minor tweaks he dropped .4 so there's definitely something there.

[montecarlofast]

Its actually a Electric Fuel pump. Its kindof a cheap pump. you could be right about the small carb too, but I would think it would at least idle right with this carb. it doesnt even do that. Im gonna get a Fuel pressure guage and put on the regulator. It cant hurt, and then ill know how much fuel. Ive heard good things about the demon carbs too, I was thinkin mabey a Street avenger 750 cfm if this doesnt work out, but I hate to let a carb kick my A** when Ive tackled fuel injection complete swaps and making my own harness. I appreciate all of the advice I get on here. this forum is awesome. and I appreciate you guys and your experience.

[96slow6]

The problem might be as simple as a vacuum leak. You said it was surging right? Get a few pictures up if you can so we can see your setup.

[montecarlofast]

I don't even have vacuum hooked up to it yet. just from the port on the carb to the advance on the distributor and then just into the brake booster. I have to re plumb all the lines for heat and so forth. Its a pretty tight fit since the G body was never meant to have a big block put into it, In the Jegs catalog they had some special distributor wrenches so I can get at the bolt to loosen it to turn back timing a little and see if that helps, but I haven't tried it yet cause its snowing down here.

[OWN3D]

what is will not run right?
Edelbrock carbs suck.
Demon has been having a TON of problems with their customers latley, would you want metal shavings in your fuel bowls if you paid $700.00?

Junk the edelbrock and invest in a Holley 650cfm vac secondaries.
650 or even 600 is plently for a stock mild rebuilt 454.
Just because somthing has big cubes dosn't mean it needs to be over carbed with 750.
Almost all Q-jets are 750 cfm even on the small small sbc's but rarley was the full 750 applied.

[montecarlofast]

It will try to run for like 20 seconds then stall out. Ive tried rejetting the carb, tuning the idle mixture, setting float levels, making sure timing and advance are working, and still the same thing.

[mtperformance]

It will try to run for like 20 seconds then stall out. Ive tried rejetting the carb, tuning the idle mixture, setting float levels, making sure timing and advance are working, and still the same thing.
That sounds more like its not getting enough fuel . Does it have one of those little p.o.s Mr Gasket tiny ass fuel pumps on it and where do they have this pump on the car.

[mtperformance]

what is will not run right?
Edelbrock carbs suck.
Demon has been having a TON of problems with their customers latley, would you want metal shavings in your fuel bowls if you paid $700.00?

Junk the edelbrock and invest in a Holley 650cfm vac secondaries.
650 or even 600 is plently for a stock mild rebuilt 454.
Just because somthing has big cubes dosn't mean it needs to be over carbed with 750.
Almost all Q-jets are 750 cfm even on the small small sbc's but rarley was the full 750 applied.
I personally think edelbrocks/carters are the best carb you can put on a daily driver / mild cam street and strip car or truck but to each there own. I have several buddies that got the Demon carbs (Mighty and race) and that have had no such problems and even got a friend that works at a local parts store and they cant keep the damn things in stock and nobody has had any return issues . But lets not turn this into a thread about Demon carbs . If you have a 454 in a Monte and you want to see any kind of performance with it than I wouldnt go with nothing less than a 750 cfm no matter what carb style your running . As far as Q-jets go thats a love /hate thing there.

[montecarlofast]

my 454 is in a 79 elcamino. but I think your right. I like the design of the Edelbrock. I allready put money into it. I put an electric choke conversion kit, and the rebuild kit, so im gonna try the pressure regulator first. I know the fuel pump Is a POS one and have plans on getting a jegs pump with all the fittings (holley makes them for jegs) and if it still doesnt run then its time for a 750 cfm. allthough ill have to decide which brand. Its funny that technology from the 50's 60's is kickin my ass. Thank goodness 12v is my profession and fuel injection doesnt mess with me like this.

[mtperformance]

my 454 is in a 79 elcamino. but I think your right. I like the design of the Edelbrock. I allready put money into it. I put an electric choke conversion kit, and the rebuild kit, so im gonna try the pressure regulator first. I know the fuel pump Is a POS one and have plans on getting a jegs pump with all the fittings (holley makes them for jegs) and if it still doesnt run then its time for a 750 cfm. allthough ill have to decide which brand. Its funny that technology from the 50's 60's is kickin my ass. Thank goodness 12v is my profession and fuel injection doesnt mess with me like this.
I just figured you had a Monte from the screenname my bad. If you decide to go with a holley pump I would recommend the Red pump its a good street pump . Freaking 454 in a elky thats gota be a tight fit , knew a few people that had them in late 70,s early 80's Malibu's basically the same front end but still a tight fit . Good luck :thumbsup:

[montecarlofast]

lol it is a very tight fit. Especially with all AC and power steering hooked up. but it should be fun to drive if I ever get it done. The red pumps the one I was looking at. as for the screen name, i used to have a 78 monetecarlo with a stroked out 350, but alas..... too much rust. i figured my screen name that I use on Starion Conquest forums and the BMW forums (my screen name is V12powers) probably wouldn't go great on here. lol Im gonna try the fuel pressure regulator tonight though. and I hope its fixed.

[mtperformance]

I had a 78 and a 79 Monte both had 355's, 79 had a hard top and the 78 had T-tops both are missed.

[OWN3D]

Now that I know what your problem is.
It sounds like a timing issue.
Make sure your vac. advance line is connected to the port on the drivers side, it should have suction at idle & retime your motor accordingly. if your rpm increases when advanced your total timing is way off.

Edelbrocks are not designed for banking or turning, take too sharp of a turn near idle and bam your dead.
The holley type design is so much more efficient & tune able.
A lean condition would be several pops and not wanting to rev.
you really have to drive it to tell weather or not it is lean/rich.

[mtperformance]

Now that I know what your problem is.
It sounds like a timing issue.
Make sure your vac. advance line is connected to the port on the drivers side, it should have suction at idle & retime your motor accordingly. if your rpm increases when advanced your total timing is way off.

Edelbrocks are not designed for banking or turning, take too sharp of a turn near idle and bam your dead.
The holley type design is so much more efficient & tune able.
A lean condition would be several pops and not wanting to rev.
you really have to drive it to tell weather or not it is lean/rich.
You want your vacuum advance on the Carb vacuum side not the manifold side ,basically you want the vac. line for the advance on the passenger side / right side / curb side on a Edelbrock. And if you car is stalling out in a turn or heavy braking then either your floats are not set right or you got your timing to far advanced. But like I said I love Holley's for the track but Edelbrocks fit better for a dd IMO.