Recommendations on a new Distributor and Carb.

[oldretiredafguy]

Just finishing a rebuild on the 350 (Also the TH400)in my '86 C20. Looking for advice for replacement Dist/Carb. Engine is basically bone stock, except for a RV cam to provide a little more umph for towing, since it will be used mainly to pull hay+stock trailers. Added an Offenhauser aluminum intake manifold. Also, thoughts on plugs: original copper or new platinum?

 

[75gmck25]

For a distributor I would just look for an aftermarket model HEI with good reviews. I bought one from Pace Performance years ago and it’s still working fine. Try to find one with adjustable vacuum advance, and then plan to use a weights kit to tweak the mechanical advance so it comes in earlier to get better response.

The carburetor I would like to try to replace my Quadrajet is the Edelbrock AVS2. My Quadrajet works okay but they are so adjustable that it’s a PIA to keep track of it all. And for most tweaks (for example, change float level) you need to pull the carb onto the bench, or risk losing some important small parts in the process.

The review comments on the AVS2 consistently say how well it runs out of the box, and that the throttle feels as responsive as fuel injection.

I use stock Delco plugs, gapped to .040-.045 for HEI. Don’t use .060, which was specified by GM at one time.

 

[Curt]

I have had good luck with DUI distributors.Also,the module by DUI.AC Delco spark plugs and MSD wires.Works for me

 

[Craig Nedrow]

Holly 750, vac secondary electric choke, 4150 as close to fuel injection as you can get. Carb in pic is at least 30 years old. was a 4160 (plate, not block) that I upgraded to a 4150 (block type has replaceable jets.) manual choke. I have an AEG AF gage and it runs about 14.50-14.70 cruse, 12.5-13.5 with the foot in it. On a 454. Excellent, but you will need to change jets to get it just right.

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[Southcoast85]

2x on the AC Delco plugs & MSD wires, keep it simple.

 

[Raider L]

A good HEI, MSD plug wires, and the MSD 6A multible spark box, fires each plug 6 times at idle and one less up to 3000 rpm, MSD Blaster 2 coil. I would suggest the MSD HEI dist. but you need to have a million bucks handy. Get the HEI like @75gmck25 has. Pace is good! Go Holley 600cfm, NOT the double pumper 1450, I think the p/n is 1850 or something like that, I'd have to look it up, vacuum secondaries, but has a manual choke. I have a Lunadi dual pattern cam in my 350 and it's really a RV cam with lots of low end power. It'll pull up to 5500 rpm.
Plug? Splitfire's maybe? I can't use any of those new plugs, my heads are off a '70 Z28 and take that big plug. I guess any of those new one's would be fine.

 

[Dave M]

If the Offy' is spread bore pattern, stick a rebuilt Quaddy' w/electric choke on it, and the standard HEI dizzy. This will be fine for what you want to do.

 

[GMFORLIFE]

Just a standard hei..unless you need firewall clearance then go with msd etc.
All state carb us my goto carb shop.
They can REBUILD yours or sell you a new one.
They test everything on an engine..just bolt it on and smile on down the road.
The Holley I ordered looked like a brand new unit.
Don't believe they have any cores at the moment.

 

[82sbshortbed]

I went with quadrajet and skip white dizzy. No complaints.