I posted a question a few weeks ago concerning my Edelbrock 600cfm. For those who didn't see it, here's my problem:

Hey you all! I'm new to the Boards, so let me give this a shot!
I just bought a 71 Camaro SS with a rebuilt 350 out of an 87 Silverado and rebuilt 350 Turbo. It has an Edelbrock Square Bore #1400 Series Performers Carburetor. Edelbrock Intake. I've come across some questions that hopefully some of you could help me out with.

The previous owner put the Intake and the Carburetor on, but was having problems due to irratic idling and over-all horsepower. I took it to a shop for them to scope it, and they found that the Carb. needs to be Blueprinted. But for the Blueprint to work, you need the Metering Rods and Metering Jets. After that, he wouldn't even promise it would Blueprint after that. The other option he gave me is I could get the original Carb (Quadrajet) and a different Intake, it would Blueprint and perform better than the Edelbrock.

I would like to keep the Edelbrock if I could. Has anyone had this problem with an Edelbrock? Is it worth keeping? Any feedback at all would be appreciated.

Thanks!

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Since then, i've talked with a couple ppl with the same Carburetor as mine. They told me that if I have the same mechanical fuel pump (which I do), then I need to buy the Performance Fuel Pump that matches my Carburetor. The Carburetor is starving for gas and the mechanical fuel pump isn't doing the trick. I want to get a second opinion before spending money on a Calibration Kit that I don't need. What do you all think?

Thanks!
Doug

BTW, I have an Edelbrock #1406 600cfm Electric Choke out of the box. No other adjustments made.

I've been funkiling with Edelbrocks for years and swear by them. I've never heard of "blue printing" a carb before so here is some wisdom to try before you have that done(damn that just sounds expensive).

*Is your choke sticking open? or is your electric choke adjusted properly?

*With the carb at idle, look at the primary venturies and make sure fuel is spraying...not dripping. If it's dripping email me.

*To makes sure your metering rods arent up(rich) at idle, use the weakest step up springs (blue ones) to make sure they are down, if this fixes it, work up from there. If this doesnt cure it...

*Take off the top plate and check how far your float bowls drop. I love edelbrocks but havent had a single one out of the box that the float adjustment wasnt pretty off. Also after you get the adjustment right flip it over so the bowls droop and make sure you can see a wee bit of gap between the needle assy and the float. I had this problem this weekend, the needle never closed right and caused the bowls to over fill.

*Use a heat gasket, edelbrock makes em, to make sure your carb isnt percolating.

Could also be a basic problem with too big of a jet or too skinny of a rod. Ever tuned an edelbrock before? If not reply and i'll give you a quick snapshot of how to. BTW pop the carb off the intake and make sure the gasket is good, as well as the bowl gasket, that can cause some evil problems as well.

With a little tuning (lot less than a holley IMHO, and the adjustments are easier to make) edelbrock are friggin great carbs.

Who ever told you, you need a new fuel pump is out of thier minds.

That dont even make any sence. If anything it's backwards.

Ededlbrock carbs are picky about fuel psi. Any more than 5.5 psi and strange things can happen. I run a fuel psi reg on all my eddy carbed engine and adjust it down to 5.25 psi

By "blue printing" (strange wording) what they want to do is dail in the carb to your engine. Dail in the jetting, mettering rods, step up springs, etc to match your engine. You can buy the kit for $55 and do it yourself, and have alot of parts left over

I concur with night rider. I would bet too much (not too little) fuel pressure is 95% of your problem. Get a regulator and set it a 5 psi before you do anything else. And, don't go back to that shop that talked about "blueprinting" your carb. Sounds to me like he doesn't know what the hell he's talking about!

I have the same carb but my problem is whenever I take a sharp corner it tries to die. I'm assuming it's the choke..but have not idea how to adjust it. If anyone can help I'd be really appreciative.

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Tommy

Cats...the reason God created water.

75 Camaro
78 Camaro
80 Camaro
81 Trans-Am
87 Iroc-Z28

Thanks for all the replies!

Yes, the shop who looked at it told me that I would be better off using the OEM Carb (Quadrajet) that came with the Camaro in 71. Right off hand, I knew he didn't know a thing about Edelbrock.

*Is your choke sticking open? or is your electric choke adjusted properly?

- I have the Electric Choke off due to the previous owner placing a HUGE Air assembly on the Edelbrock which didn't clear the Electric Choke, so I took off the Electric Choke until I can get the Triangular Air Cleaner that would clear it. As for the Manual Choke, it isn't sticking.

*Take off the top plate and check how far your float bowls drop. I love edelbrocks but havent had a single one out of the box that the float adjustment wasnt pretty off. Also after you get the adjustment right flip it over so the bowls droop and make sure you can see a wee bit of gap between the needle assy and the float. I had this problem this weekend, the needle never closed right and caused the bowls to over fill.

- A buddy of mine noticed that when we were troubleshooting it the first time. Is there a book that I can purchase that I can refer to? I don't know very much about Carburetors and it's bugging me not knowing =/

Could also be a basic problem with too big of a jet or too skinny of a rod. Ever tuned an edelbrock before? If not reply and i'll give you a quick snapshot of how to. BTW pop the carb off the intake and make sure the gasket is good, as well as the bowl gasket, that can cause some evil problems as well.

- I've never tuned an Edelbrock. The Shop told me that the Carb was running too lean, so I automatically went to Kragen to look up what Calibration Kit I need. After looking up at Edelbrock.com I found what I need (which is the $55 Kit you guys were talking about). I got some exploded views online that I can go by, but if there's a manual I can purchase, that would be better. =)

Correct me if i'm wrong, but "Blue Printing" is a fancy word for Calibrating the Carb with particular Rods, Jets and Springs?

Thanks alot guys, I reallllly appreciate the help. Sorry I don't know very much, but give me time =)

Doug

Specimen... float level is your prob. No question about that. Whats happening to you is a very common eddy carb glitch. Lower the floats and she'll be fine

undertow... The word blueprint gets throwed around oo much. The meaning of the word or term is to macth something to a set record of specs. This cant be done to a carb, cause every engine will need a diff tune.

Best place to find the tuning if you need, is from Eddy. If you have the owner's manual read if cover to cover a few times. It goes step by step on how to dail in your carb. If you don't have it, you can look online at edelbrock's site and download it there.

Don't be sorry cause you don't know about man. We all have to start somewhere. It takes time to learn this stuff.

Some gen info to help you, from my finding.

All eddys are too rich out of the box for stock-ish type engines.

All too lean for built engines

Step up springs are wrong for an engine with a cam that has a nice lobe to it

float level is never set right out of the box.

Most engines likes the pump arm lever in the top hole on the linkage, not the middle hole where eddy puts them.

Eddys are funny about fuel psi. more than 5.5 psi and the neddles hang in the seats

Ok here's a follow-up:

I purchased the Calibration Kit last night and this is what I came upon:

* 7347 - biggest Metering Rods in the Kit
* Orange Step-Up Springs
* 398 - Medium Jets

I placed in Blue Step-Up Springs, kept the same Metering Rods and went down 1 step in Jets. I set the Idle Screws to 2 turns from when it starts to bog down.

It sounded much better than it did, performance was cool, but when I went to the store, it wouldn't start. I pulled the Carb top off, disconnected the main gas line and made sure there wasn't any gas in the carb. Put the top back on, and it started.

I'm thinking that the Floats aren't adjusted right. What is the correct measurement from the Carb to the Float? Any other feedback would be appreciated.

600cfm #1406 EPS
350cid

Ok I just got off the phone with Edelbrock Support. I gave them the rundown of my problem and their telling me that I may need a Fuel Pressure Regulator to control how much psi the Carb is receiving. Sounds pretty logical, but my question is if I get the #1727 Regulator, does it connect like this?

Fuel Pump ------- Regulator ------ Carb

I'm trying to get a visual on how this Regulator works.

Thanks!
Doug

Yep, regulator goes in between the fuel pump and the carb. You should have no more than 6 psi going to the carb. BTW the fuel pressure gauge goes between the regulator and the carb.

[This message has been edited by theflash (edited March 11, 2005).]

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Specimen:
I have the same carb but my problem is whenever I take a sharp corner it tries to die. I'm assuming it's the choke..but have not idea how to adjust it. If anyone can help I'd be really appreciative.

</font>


Lower you're float level Tommy. The instructions are on the Edelbrock site.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Specimen:
I have the same carb but my problem is whenever I take a sharp corner it tries to die.

</font>

I hear all Edelbrocks do this no matter what the float is set at, I know mine did this as well (even running two at a time)

The edelbrocks are picky about fuel psi. I found 5.5 psi to be the MAX they can handle. I set mine to 5.25 psi.

I use the $25 holley reg. on mine

As far as plumbing. You come off the pump, into the reg., out of the reg to the carb.

I put a fuel filter in the line between the reg. and carb.

When useing a test gauge or for that matter a mounted fuel psi gauge, plumb it in line, as close to the carb as you can.

Mine goes like this...
pump, reg, filter, psi gauge, carb

As far as the sharp corner stalling.. It shouldnt do it.

They will 90% of the time though. The fix is to lower the float adjustments. Fixes it every single time

I can take the sharpest turns at very slow speeds, or at speeds right at the breaking point for my tires and never sputters, dies, etc.. It did with out of the box settings though

Ok after a weekend of playing, i've got the Camaro up to par.

I bought a $25 Spectre Fuel Regulator and hooked it up right after the Fuel Pump. After that, the Fuel Filter then to the Carb. I set it at 5psi. What's the minimum psi I can go with the Edelbrock? And can I adjust the Regulator while the Camaro is running?

After setting that up, I started it and ran pretty good. There was still a miss in the timing, but wasn't worried about it since it probably needed to be timed after all i've done with it.
I went to my friends house that same evening. When I was leaving, I couldn't start it for the life of me. I let it sit for about 5-6 minutes and then it started. After staring at it for a while, I checked the Coil in the Cap. Bought a $45 Kragen Coil, put it in and no problem after that. I let it sit for different durations of time, but it started every attempt. So I think that's it, no problems so far. However, the gas mileage is pretty ruthless, that's why I asked about the lowest psi setting on the Regulator, see if it makes a difference. Unless the Metering Rod size I have in the Carb (biggest) would make a difference.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!
Doug

Sounds like you're making progress. My suggestion would be to put the carb back to stock and see how it runs (why not its easy enough). Don't forget the bigger the number on the meetering rod is actually less gas through the jets. The number relates to the diameter of the rod in inches (not the edelbrock part number, but the number stamped on the rod itself) ie: the 7347 rod is .073"x.047". So, the rods with smaller numbers stamped on them will richen up the carb

I would try and keep the psi between 5-6. I would also suggest if possible putting the fuel filter before the pump. You don't want crap from your tank going through the pump or the regulator.


[This message has been edited by theflash (edited March 14, 2005).]

Hmmm, you know that sounds right. I have the biggest Rods and the smallest Jets installed. The way it came was the biggest Rods with 2nd stage Jets. I'll do that tonight after work and see how it does. What about the Step-Up Springs? They were the silver, but put Blue Springs in after reading some previous posts with ppl having the same problems.

I did think of that too, theflash. I just bought this Regulator and no Fuel Filter before it. I'll have to look at the Fuel Lines before the pump and add another Fuel Filter. No harm in that, right?

Thanks for the Reply!

Doug

Well, the problem still persists...

Tried to start it today and it smelled like it was flooding (like before). I popped the hood thinking the Regulator was busted. No, I don't have a Gauge which was my bad on my part. I assumed that a stock Fuel Pump wouldn't be flowing, but evidently it could.
I was turning the psi down a bit (4psi) and tried it then. Still no firing. I let it sit for a while thinking about it, then I tried it and then fired. The timing and everything that happened before I did any work on it was back. My foot steady at about 40mph sounded and felt horrible.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but I think it's the Fuel Pump. It's giving me over 10psi, which is the Regulator's limit, busted the Regulator and giving me free-flow to the Carb.
If this sounds correct, what kind of Fuel Pump should I get (besides the Edelbrock Performers Fuel Pump) should I get that will give me less than 9 or so psi? I checked Kragen, but besides Holley and Edelbrock, none of them gave me a description of what fuel pressure it includes.

I'm thinking of getting a Malory Performance Fuel Pump, but I have one question: The Factory preset is 6-8psi and I only need 5.25psi for my Edelbrock. If I install this and place a 10psi max Regulator and set it to 5psi, it won't do harm to the Fuel Pump will it?

nope, that's what a regulator is for.

Great! Thanks theflash

Doug