Rant against Holley 4 bbl vac sec.

[UKcuda]

My 360 came with the ubiquitous 600 VS Holley 4 bbl, so I left it on there (why did I do that ??).

So after I got the car on the road I played with it a bit and it ran OK but it never seemed quite right (Idle was always a bit upsy and I always had a flat spot off kickdown).  Then we got some warm weather and I started getting hard starting when hot.  Then after sitting in hot traffic the other day the idle circuits went all to cock.

So I asked myself - should I spend more time trying to set up this pesky Holley or should I just swap in my spare 625 Carter AFB ?

No contest - I swapped to the Carter.

So straight away the car starts, idles and runs better and all the dumb flat spot and hot starting issues have totally gone.  It feels so much better to drive and I didn't even try to tune the carb yet.  And when I do decide to tune it I can do it without splitting any gaskets or spilling half a litre of fuel onto the manifold.

I've had probably half a dozen Holleys in my time and (apart from a 2 bbl which was actually quite tasty) they have all been dogs to drive and to tune.

It's such a rubbish design I don't know how they still manage to persuade anyone to buy the darn things.

Rant over.

[Moparal]

Some like holley and some dont. What ever floats your boat. I got 3 holleys on my engine and they run fine

[ireland383]

Holley 750 here no problems. Obviously someone or something must have gotten into yours.

[Cooter]

There's a reason Pro Stock cars back in the day and even today run Holley Dominator carb's...
"The Heart And soul of Performance"..NOT drivability..Holley's Are NOT for everyday drivers...Never were designed for it, never meant for it, although some do use them everyday...Yes, there were some that WERE designed for everyday use, but weren't very good performers either...

I've had good luck with Most Holley's if No idiots have been fu*kin' with 'em that clearly didn't know what they were doing....I have had a Dominator that everybody and their brother told me would load up, foul out plugs, wouldn't idle, need constant adjustments, etc., on my stroker for as long as it's been built (14 years) and it even sits for extended periods of time, always fires up and once the cobweb's are out of it, runs like a champ....

[djwhog]

They can all be made to run good, buck I feel after 30+ years and have rebuilt more than 1000+ carbs since I worked for a dealer back in the day, street raced etc. it is hard to beat a AFB and a AVS. They are so much easier to make run on the street and STAY in TUNE. Rods are a 2 minute change etc.

Sure a demon or holley can make more HP etc on the top end, but for low speed all around a AFB is a nice carb and very simple and you dont have to pull the top for minor changes.

Only mjor changes such as jets etc.

The priniciple of rods and jets is more precise and stepped.

Get an Eddy 625 or a 750 and less stress....

[UKcuda]

my holley dominator in my challenger ran great at ALL rpms's out on the street ..........  threads like these just make me laugh! people say mechanical water pumps only! dont run a solid roller on the street! no spool on the street! cant run a dominator on the street! no electric fans. steel rockers only... bla bla bla! I do all those things and yet TIME and TIME again on here in this engine section everyday you read about mild/stock mopars having issues over and over with basic "reliable" parts!  people need to wake up and get out of the stone ages now flame on! 

What's your point ??

[djwhog]

I agree with you for the most part Sledge, but like I said I have done NO BS over a 100 cards, fomoco, carters, q-jets, veriable venturis etc. They can all be made to run great.

But as far as fine tuning goes a metering rod/jet style car for all around tuning is easier for the avg folf.

I can make the holley sing too, but it will in no way get the same MPG and smooth transitions as a metering rod carb.

And not that there is anything wrong with that, it is like a 426 or 440 6 pack lopes etc. That is normal and just fine.

But for this guy the el cheapo vac sec Holleys are not that great.  A nice dual feed DP Holley 650- to a 800 is a great carb when setup correct too. But they do take a little more work and experiance is all.

Points well taken.

I run a dom on my strip car and a modifed avs on my almost 600 HP 416 stroker.. 64 Dart street/ strip ride...

[quapman]

Dominator -vs- Holley 1850

Apples -vs- Basketballs

 

[Cooter]

I will admit, I've had NO luck with Slobberjets and Thermobog carb's(Mainly leaks)...I went into one Q-jet 7 times before I finally gave up..Some people just know how to run these and some don't...I fall under the latter..

[UKcuda]

I'm not saying Holleys can't be tuned to run really well (even the "el cheapo").  I've had some set up pretty good myself.

I'm just sick of tuning Holleys being such a balls-ache I really can't be assed with it any more.

[djwhog]

Get a nice new eddy 600 ish carb with an electric choje and a jet/rod kit. Easy as pie buddy. I here ya...

[73Chally]

What's your point ??

I think his point is that the carb is only as good as the tune, or the person tuning it.  Some brands might be better off the shelf, others might take a little work but will be better in the long run.  I've had nothing but Holleys in our cars, and have never had a problem.  I'm glad you have a setup that works better, but it's not a reason to slam a carb that is used and has had who-knows-what done to it before you got it.

[quagmire]

Ironically, I am the complete opposite.  I despise my Eddy carb.  With a wideband on I have a constant reminder of just how poorly this thing meters fuel.  The very same things that make these carbs simple and reliable also limit there tuning ability.  There are so few adjustments that it makes virtually any combination a poor compromise at best.  Holleys have a whole lot more to mess up and play with, but that ultimately makes them far more adjustable.  I plan on ditching mine for a custom EFI setup that I am going to put together in the not so distant future.

[UKcuda]

I think his point is that the carb is only as good as the tune, or the person tuning it.  Some brands might be better off the shelf, others might take a little work but will be better in the long run.  I've had nothing but Holleys in our cars, and have never had a problem.  I'm glad you have a setup that works better, but it's not a reason to slam a carb that is used and has had who-knows-what done to it before you got it.

Well if that was his point he chose a very obtuse way of making it.

And I'm not slamming Holleys - OK actually I am slamming them - but only because they have stuck with such a dopey way to tune them. 

Holleys can be tuned to go like hell, I know because I've done it more than once, but it really is such a PITA and I'm not getting any younger.

Ironically, I am the complete opposite.  I despise my Eddy carb.

You wanna swap ??   

[DoNotChallengeHer]

I'd give you my Eddy but I just sold it. I went with a Holley.