[hollywood2k]

Okay Hotrodders...so what's the deal? What is really the difference between Edelbrock and Carter AFB? I'm thinking of purchasing an Edelbrock 1406, but my buddy is swearing by Carter! he says they are the same carb but with different stickers. If this is true, what is the Carter AFB equivalent to the Edelbrock 1406?

[454C10]

Don't buy either.

Both carbs are identical junk.

Buy a Holley.

[XNTRCI-T]

My Edelbrock 1405 (same as 1406 except with manual choke) has "Weber" cast into the carb body!?!?!

[matt167]

Carter AFB's are the same thing as the Edelbrock Performer series carbs, Carter made them first, but edelbrock bought the design.

[hollywood2k]

I'm having trouble finding model numbers for Carter...i need a model number equivalent to Edelbrock 1406

[XNTRCI-T]

Here's a pic of my Edel 1405 Performer Series carb...

[XNTRCI-T]

Aha! Did a little googling and found that the Edel/Carter AFB is actually being produced by Weber USA, thus the "Weber" cast on the carb body. Here's a good site with some info...

Carb Doctor

[Centerline]

Both carbs are manufactured on the same line at Weber the only real difference is the metering rods. The Edelbrock has a slightly different step sequence than the Carter. Both are excellent carbs and require very little tinkering to get them to run right, unlike Holleys that require a whole lot of adjusting to run correctly.

[302 Z28]

I do not agree with the junk analogy about Carter/Edelbrock carbs, they are very good carbs that I have had great service from over the years. Also I have had good service from Holley, so much so that I chose to go with one on my street rod project.

Vince

[cool rockin daddy]

The company that actually owns Weber is called Magneti Marelli. They have a plant down south where they make the Edelbrock carbs under contract.

[redsdad]

Originally Posted by 302/Z28

I do not agree with the junk analogy about Carter/Edelbrock carbs, they are very good carbs that I have had great service from over the years. .

Vince

I have to agree. 426 Street Hemi, 425 HP 409 just to name two of the legendary engines that used the AFB.

[projectjohn]

I have a 750 cfm edelbrock carb with the electric choke. I have been extremely pleased with the performance with it. Decent fuel mileage, good performance. It is on a mild 454 that was built for a daily driver. If it was me I would go with a carter/edelbrock/q-jet for some heavy street/ light strip performance. But if it is going to only a strip car Holley. Remember that all carbs do the same thing and the difference is in your ability to tune the carb to do what you want.

John

[cool rockin daddy]

John,

Your last line is absolutely great! Killer! That statement about carbs and tuning cuts right to heart of the matter. It could probably be said for a number of things we do in rodding. Well done.

[454C10]

I had two Edelbrock carbs on two different engines and they both vapor locked in the summer and they both had sticky accelerator pumps. It seems to me that the aluminum bodies not only cool down quicker but also heat up more. Also, both accelerator pump seals dug into the soft aluminum accelerator pump cylinders, causing the throttles to feel jerky. After less than a year of use, I threw both relatively new carbs in the trash can and bought a couple of holleys and had no more carb problems for the last 5 years.

Edelbrock makes great intakes but they should be embarrassed about that carb. They are selling a cheaply made carb for little money, and in this case, you get what you pay for. It looks like they decided to spend more money on advertisement than building a better carb.

If you don't what a Holley than get a Q-jet. But stay away from edelbrock/carter carbs.

[Irelands child]

I have had at least 6 Edelbrock 600 or 750 CFM versions and have found them to be a great carb. The only problems that I have had is dirt. Since the carbs don't make dirt, it had to have come from my fuel system. My solution to the dirt problem is to take off the dinky in-line fuel filter and install a professional racer catridge type.

While the Edelbrocks run well right out of the box, to get optimum performance you have to spend a few hours setting up the various spring rates, jets and metering rods - NBD - part of the process of making a performance engine reach its potential. You need the manual choke version of the tuning kit for enough choices

The carbs that I have used have never been affected by vapor lock, but in all cases but one, I had no carb heat (the one exception was on my ancient F350/460cid) plus I always run a 1" phynolic manifold spacer for isolation from engine heat and performance enhancement (dubious value).

Also, many years ago, I ran a 401 cid Buick Carter carb on my
'53 Ford w/312 - an it ran great. My '64 Grand Prix had a Carter as well - and this car was a bear after a bit of surgery on the secondary air operated throttle plates.

To sum it up, I have sold all my Holley leakers but two, and they will be gone shortly. I got tired of screwing around with float levels, power valves, accelerator pumps and secondary springs and diaphragms, plus leaky(air) throttle shafts and base gaskets. I will agree that for full out competition they work well - I really dislike them for a daily driver.

Dave