K20 upgrades. EDELBROCK AVS II. Why so negative ?

[Nasty-LSX]

The issue is rarely the carburetor; it's usually the person setting it up. I have Q-Jets, AFB/AVSs, and 1450s running in my fleet right now. Just about anything can be made to work anywhere, as long as you have physical room for it, and roughly sized fuel/air for your motor.

The only thing I've had problems with on AFB style carbs is heat soak/vapor lock. You can cure it with a thermal gasket (usually) if you have hood clearance. The 800/AVS and my '69 Corvette didn't get along; there wasn't hood clearance for a thermal break, so it got hot, and the throttle blades were too far open (too much cam) to get it to idle; the transition circuit was too far exposed. None the fault of Edelbrock/Carter. I could have made adjustments (drill plates, fab up a heat reflector), but went with a Holley 1450/HP instead.

That AVS has been on several cars in the interim as a "runner" carb, and works great. The adjustable secondary tip-in is great for dialing in how hard/soon those big bores hit. That's one huge advantage.

Personally, I do love Q-jets, but good cores are getting rare. I too have been stocking up on clean(ish) cores, even though I'm running out of spreadbore manifolds to put things on...

Good Info!

 

[ali_c20]

I run a 500 cfm AVS2 on my K5 with a Goodwrench crate and TH350. Imo the best carb next to the Quadrajet. Easy to tune and great throttle response.

 

[75BEASTK20]

Nothing wrong with a really good tuned quadrahog. I just find the AVS so easy to tune. Change jets and metering rods in 5 min or less. Very easy

 

[bucket]

Nothing wrong with a really good tuned quadrahog. I just find the AVS so easy to tune. Change jets and metering rods in 5 min or less. Very easy

You can change jets in a Holley in 5 minutes too. The difference is, fuel dumps everywhere lol.

 

[Fat 454]

Roads - have a buddy in eastern Kansas that sent photos of deep snow and heavy ice this week. I know the I25 used to suck between Trinidad ( Co. ) and Raton ( NM ) when the wind blows down from Wolf Creek Pass, so I would keep away from that route.

Carbs - I "scored" a Holley 84017 at a swap meet this weekend. I am going to try an AVSII on a BBC build, however want to play with this also. Its a double pumper, mech choke, spreadbore, however unlike all other Holleys it has an Edelbrock / Carter type removable top plate so all the jets and gaskets are above the fuel level ( no having to rely on o rings to seal and having to take fuel bowls off to tune ). Holley made them for a while, and then Summit made a copy. RE-build kits are available still.
Yes - people bag them, however design wise they look like they have all the features required for a reliable streetable carb .. time will tell

( mind you I bought 4 x thermoquads with an original Carter strip kit a couple of weeks ago also - so must be lookin' for punishment I guess ) - maybe I'll post a thread. Going to build up a BBC and muncie 4 speed for my current work truck, and then try different options.....