I learned a few lessons today on attempting to fit an Edelbrock 1403 carb onto a factory 4v intake (Ford) for a 1966 289 engine. The Ford intake is 4 equal diameter, equal-distance holes. The Edelbrock has larger diameter butterfly valves in the secondary. Guess what? Yup, can't open those secondaries if the carb is bolted onto the intake. In addition, there is something about the shape of the primary butterflies that they also will not open more than a few degrees, before hitting the intake. Also, the throttle linkage is too "long" and hits up against the factory valve covers. Finally, the "hipo" style chrome air cleaner base will not clear the Edelbrock "straight" fuel inlet pipe and also will not clear the automatic choke housing.
Here is what I did to fix all of that. First, I bought a carb spacer (TD brand, part number 2280) which is a 4 hole 1 inch spacer made out of aluminum. I thought it was a pheonalic material, but it was just poor packaging which made the aluminum spacer look non metallic. The holes in the spacer are slightly larger than the Edebrock primary openings, but not as large as the secondary openings. I clamped the spacer down and using a die grinder, I chamfered the leading edges of the secondary holes, on the top side of the spacer. This created room for the secondary butterfly valves to clear the spacer. The added height allowed the throttle linkage to clear the valve covers. I replaced the original fuel inlet with a banjo fitting and pointed it straight down. I still have a problem with the air cleaner base not clearing the auto choke housing. Edelbrock makes a spacer that fits on the top of the carb and lifts up the air cleaner base. That should do the trick.
I used a Mr. Gasket brand throttle return spring set up bolted to the intake, using the intake to block mounting bolt around cylinder number 7. For throttle linkage, I took the stock rod and flipped it so that it mounted on the accel pedal linkage on the driver's side and not the passenger side. This lined it up so that is perfectlyi fit into the opening in the carb throttle linkage. Just have to insert one of those teflon or metal rod retainers, like used on the door handle and door lock rods. What is a bummer is that Edelbrock will sell you a carb for a 289 but does not make an adapter so as to use the stock manifold. They have adapters for GM and Chrysler intakes, but not Ford. That bites. Guess they want you to buy a performer 289 intake.
Well, there it is, about 4 hours of chasing parts and fabricating stuff to do a 20 minute carb mount project. Hope this helps someone.
Here is what I did to fix all of that. First, I bought a carb spacer (TD brand, part number 2280) which is a 4 hole 1 inch spacer made out of aluminum. I thought it was a pheonalic material, but it was just poor packaging which made the aluminum spacer look non metallic. The holes in the spacer are slightly larger than the Edebrock primary openings, but not as large as the secondary openings. I clamped the spacer down and using a die grinder, I chamfered the leading edges of the secondary holes, on the top side of the spacer. This created room for the secondary butterfly valves to clear the spacer. The added height allowed the throttle linkage to clear the valve covers. I replaced the original fuel inlet with a banjo fitting and pointed it straight down. I still have a problem with the air cleaner base not clearing the auto choke housing. Edelbrock makes a spacer that fits on the top of the carb and lifts up the air cleaner base. That should do the trick.
I used a Mr. Gasket brand throttle return spring set up bolted to the intake, using the intake to block mounting bolt around cylinder number 7. For throttle linkage, I took the stock rod and flipped it so that it mounted on the accel pedal linkage on the driver's side and not the passenger side. This lined it up so that is perfectlyi fit into the opening in the carb throttle linkage. Just have to insert one of those teflon or metal rod retainers, like used on the door handle and door lock rods. What is a bummer is that Edelbrock will sell you a carb for a 289 but does not make an adapter so as to use the stock manifold. They have adapters for GM and Chrysler intakes, but not Ford. That bites. Guess they want you to buy a performer 289 intake.
Well, there it is, about 4 hours of chasing parts and fabricating stuff to do a 20 minute carb mount project. Hope this helps someone.
