Carb vs. head question

Joe Toller · 03-23-2013, 10:26 AM

A thought popped into my head, primarily thinking smaller motors, like small V8s and 6's, if a hypothetical combination had a better carb one year, but the next year the carb was different and less cfm, yet the head flow was improved, which way would you go? Better carb or better heads?

My thought is carb size in this instance may be so small it would have no effect on head flow, and the valve lift is probably low enough to not even matter. What say you?

Billy Nees · 03-23-2013, 11:10 AM

You have to have enough carburetor to fill the volume of each cylinder no matter how many cylinders you have. Buick found that out in the 70s when they started playing with their V6s. In other words, you would ideally want the same sized carb on a 231 V6 as you would have on a 306 V8.
Find the restriction in the motor and make everything else work around that.
I don't think that you'll get much argument on going with the better carb unless the carb is too big to begin with. You can pay people to make the heads and intake work.

Phillip marvetz · 03-23-2013, 01:13 PM

Go with the bigger carb.

03-23-2013, 10:26 AM	#1
Joe Toller Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lewistown, Montana Posts: 550 Likes: 78 Liked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Carb vs. head question A thought popped into my head, primarily thinking smaller motors, like small V8s and 6's, if a hypothetical combination had a better carb one year, but the next year the carb was different and less cfm, yet the head flow was improved, which way would you go? Better carb or better heads? My thought is carb size in this instance may be so small it would have no effect on head flow, and the valve lift is probably low enough to not even matter. What say you?

03-23-2013, 11:10 AM	#2
Billy Nees VIP Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: On a hilltop in Pa. Posts: 4,481 Likes: 3,579 Liked 7,642 Times in 1,726 Posts	Re: Carb vs. head question You have to have enough carburetor to fill the volume of each cylinder no matter how many cylinders you have. Buick found that out in the 70s when they started playing with their V6s. In other words, you would ideally want the same sized carb on a 231 V6 as you would have on a 306 V8. Find the restriction in the motor and make everything else work around that. I don't think that you'll get much argument on going with the better carb unless the carb is too big to begin with. You can pay people to make the heads and intake work. __________________ Billy Nees 1188 STK, SS I'm not spending 100K to win 2K

03-23-2013, 01:13 PM	#3
Phillip marvetz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lynden ,WA Posts: 820 Likes: 0 Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Carb vs. head question Go with the bigger carb. __________________ 2009 V/SA Record Holder