Questions on carb upgrade

[Rotten 1]

Hey there - finally getting around to spending some time working on a 1974 C10 pickup, and it has been a minute since I've really gotten dirty and into an engine. Engine is the 350 V-8. I'm the third, maybe fourth owner and one of the first items on my list is to replace/upgrade the carburetor. I'm thinking of going with the Holley Street Warrior but have a few questions. Note - I'm mainly after a reliable work truck - but as I upgrade and replace I'm keeping an eye towards adding a bit more performance - just enough to feel comfortable getting up to highway speeds.

1) Going from a 2-barrel to a 4- barrel; do I need to replace intake manifold or anything else? Or just swap out the carb?
2) is there a better choice for a new carburetor?
3) while I've got the carburetor pulled, anything else that should be a no-brainer to do?


Thanks everyone

 

[rchcep_ff]

i have been seeing some good things with the Holley sniper EFI, easy to install and run. Add bonus of fuel injection, more power and of course more economical in the long run. You will most likely have to upgrade your intake manifold unless you go with their 2 bbl sniper. Con is they are a touch pricey but are plug and play. Hope this helps you

 

[Rotten 1]

Thank you rchcep_ff, I'll take a look at this option. Previous owner installed an ACCEL HEI Super Coil - does this influence the path forward?

 

[Ricko1966]

On a stone stock 74 350. I'd save my money until ready to build an engine. If I was set on changing intake components right now,I'd be looking for used factory quadrajet intake,and a rebuildable quadrajet, or a used performer manifold and a 600 holley,and some swap meet headers. Before I thought about spending a bunch of money on intake on that truck,first I'd make sure the bottom end was very solid,with good ring seal,if so,then a camshaft,and decent heads and headers would be on my list. When you can use the added airflow of a good aftermarket induction system, is the time to add it. You'll get more bang for your buck with a cam, a cheap manifold,a cheap 4 barrel and headers.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Edelbrock aluminum dual plane intake. Quadrajet or Holley. And the distributor you have should be okay.

 

[hey mister]

If interested, I have a couple of Q-jets from the 70's. They are for 350s and have been cleaned and rebuilt. They just need tuned. I believe all of mine are for automatic tranny.
I can provide numbers if interested.
And if the collective will suggest a fair price, we might go with that.
I can post photos, if interested.

 

[bucket]

On a stone stock 74 350. I'd save my money until ready to build an engine. If I was set on changing intake components right now,I'd be looking for used factory quadrajet intake,and a rebuildable quadrajet, or a used performer manifold and a 600 holley,and some swap meet headers. Before I thought about spending a bunch of money on intake on that truck,first I'd make sure the bottom end was very solid,with good ring seal,if so,then a camshaft,and decent heads and headers would be on my list. When you can use the added airflow of a good aftermarket induction system, is the time to add it. You'll get more bang for your buck with a cam, a cheap manifold,a cheap 4 barrel and headers.

My '73 Chevelle still has a stone stock (well, mostly stock now) 2bbl 350. Looks like it's never been apart. I put headers and duals on it because the stock y-pipe was rusted and crushed. There was a definite power increase, but a large part of that was likely due to the restricted stock exhaust. I later removed the Rochester 2-jet that I had fully gone through, bolted on an adapter and then installed a 500cfm Holley 2bbl. I was shocked at the amount of mid range and top end gain after the carb swap, with no loss in bottom end power.

The used headers I got in a trade with other stuff, figure 50 bucks there. I bought the used carb for 20 bucks, then overhauled it with parts in stock, maybe 20 bucks invested there. Then the adapter to mount the Holley was new, I think around 35 bucks. Oh, and there was about 100 bucks wrapped up in the home-brew exhaust that dumps at the axle.

If I were to end up with another car or truck with a 2bbl 350, I'd do the same thing again. It was so much improvement for so little money and effort.

If I wanted more power with a cam, I think that's kind of wasting money with the stock, small valve heads. I believe they were still the 1.72/1.50's?