Tzvi wrote:
Thanks Griff for the information. I will call Napa on Monday. I hate to appear foolish but what did you mean about staying out of the secondaries in reference the improved gas mileage?
Most four barrel carburetors have two primary barrels (venturis) and two secondary barrels. During normal cruising conditions, the two secondaries are closed and only the primaries are being used. The secondaries are there to provide extra fuel when the engine needs it, such as during hard acceleration or while climbing a steep hill.
It's possible to rely almost exclusively on the primaries, provided you adopt a more leisurely driving pattern. (i.e., no trying to see who can get to the next stoplight fastest.)
Two barrel carburetors require larger barrels to allow for all driving conditions, including heavy loads and hard acceleration. The two primaries on a four barrel carburetor can be sized closer to typical driving conditions because the secondaries provide extra fuel for exceptional situations.
The two primaries on an Edelbrock Performer four barrel carburetor are probably smaller than the two barrels on your existing carburetor. In theory, this should translate into less fuel consumed during cruising conditions.
Four barrel carburetors have an undeserved reputation for high fuel consumption because too many people use all four barrels too much. (i.e., they 'get into the secondaries' a lot instead of relying mostly on the primaries.) Also, some four barrel carburetors are very, very large -- as much as twice the size of the Edelbrock Performer. (Such carburetors are intended for race cars and trucks ... using them on a street vehicle is a waste and serves mostly to puff up the owner's ego.)
BTW - did your uncle also ask you to pull on his finger? Maybe he's talked about a great deal on oceanfront property in Arizona?
