Doing a search would yield you many answers. But for what it's worth I used to run a Performer on my 66, and when I switched to a Weiand Stealth I noticed the car was more responsive in every RPM range.

The Weiand is a more modern design with more technology built into it. The Edelbrock Performer is a pretty old design. However, I noticed Edelbrock has released a newer design of the Performer which they claim makes more power than the old design.

I would still pick a Performer RPM/Stealth over the standard Performer any day now. I also like the idea of the growing room it would provide should you decide to make other mods such as heads/cam/gearing etc.

 

I was thinking a 500 CFM carb would be better suited for your driving needs.

 

.. I am in complete agreement with 2Ba. I switched to a 500 CFM from a 600 and I much prefer the 500 CFM unit. Much better throttle response, and everything runs fine and pulls to 5k RPM, as i don't go beyond that.

I didn't catch the fact that you are running a 600 at first read.

 

I did play around with rods and jets, yet I am not perfectly happy with the throttle response. I guess the 500 cfm will have a better throttle response?
I have been following a lot of threads discussing this very issue, yet it seems like half of the people think that the 600 cfm is a good choice for a 289/302, while the other half prefers the 500 cfm. Tough call, without actually testing a 500cfm and being able to compare both, I guess.


The Weiand Stealth sounds good. Any more of you that prefer it to the Performer?

 

I agree with the 500 cfm. Your throttle response will definitely improve.

On a mild 302 a 500 cfm carb is good for about 5000 rpm. If you aren't planning to rev it more than that then a 500 will be superior to a 600 in every way.

 

Just a thought...I noticed on your website that you have a 1" phenolic spacer under the carb. You would bring your power band down some by removing it.

 

You won't beat a Performer 289 for torque up to about 4,000 rpms. About 2 years ago, I read a manifold test in Muscle Mustangs on a stout 302 that was making about 425 hp with the Air Gap. Just for the heck of it, they tested the Performer 289 on this engine. With the Performer, it managed to make 400 hp and had the highest torque production of any manifold up to 4,000 rpm.

I also say 500 cfm. if you can, try to get an old Autolite 480 cfm, 4100 carb. another excellent carb.

 

I don't think you can gain much low-end torque with the change of intake manifold. Torque is pretty much determined by displacement with some rpm range adjustment with cam.

However, I would check the rear gear and make sure they suit your driving habits and area (street vs highway).

Another check would be cam. Maybe not a marine/RV cam with often too high torque peak rpm (like M50 cam from FRPP had torque peak of 3000rpm) because they designed to labor at 3000rpm on the highway for hours. 80ies stws had torque peak at 1600rpm for street stop and go driving. If you like you could have 1.7 ratio rockers to gain some lift.

You could also check if cylinder head work would be in order. Not the size of the runner but the shape of it which works also at low rpms. If money is no object, swap the AFR165 heads .

 

Just a thought...I noticed on your website that you have a 1" phenolic spacer under the carb. You would bring your power band down some by removing it.

This is assuming it is an "open" spacer. If it is a "four hole" spacer the inverse result is more likely.

- Gord

 

Gord, You're right. Re-checking his site, I see that it is a 4 hole. My mistake. :wall:

 

Yes, the spacer is a four-hole. As far as Ive read it should help with low end torque.

As for the 500 cfm carb, I do consider it. Id love to test it in advance though, but that may be a problem. Oh well, I guess I could still sell it off again, if it dosent help with the desired throttle response.

Money is in fact an issue. Besides, I am still toying with the idea of building another, slightly more serious, engine. So I dont really want to drop too much money into this one. An intake and carb (maybe cam) are as far as I want to go at this time.

Thanks for the responses. ::

 

For what it is worth, I picked up a 480 CFM Autolite 4100 off ebay for about $50, so you are not talking about a lot of money. It is one of the 1.08s, but off a Thunderbird 390 so it needed to be rejetted. Someone had pulled it off their 302 to replace with a 600 cfm Holley, and it was so fresh I don't even think the rebuild was necessary. It even had a brand new Holley electric choke. It is sitting on top of a Weiand manifold right now. A nice step up from my 2100.