[hduff]

I need to use an adapter to mate a square bore carb (Edelbrock #1406) to a spread-bore manifold (Edelbrock #2161) and I purchased Edelbrock's adapter #2696.

The interior passages on the adapter are rough at the edges (looks like casting burrs) and the supplied gaskets don't line up with the holes.

Regardless of the debate on the quality of the product (worse than I would expect from Edelbrock), is this really something of no consequence and it won't matter what I do? Or is it worth the small effort to do it?

I realize that the easy answer is "It probably won't hurt" and I'm doing it anyway, yet the engine 'seemed' to run OK without the adapter (came to me that way) and I know that just bolting a square bore carb to a spread-bore manifold is 'wrong' on many levels. So is it really worth the extra effort to do this better?

Hoyt

[curtis73]

Actually, putting a square bore carb on a spread bore intake is quite common. No worries. Skip the adapter.

The problem is adapting a spread carb to a square intake.

[burnt olds]

you can't skip the adapter when the front flaps hit the intake , so use it .
i went through this myself trying to put elderbrock on a olds spread bore last week .

[1BAD80]

Match the gasket's to the opening.

[price]

I just bought an Edelbrock 600 square bore and it fits my spread bore manifold (Edebrock Performer)with the supplied gasket. The manifold has holes tapped for a double set of studs. I won,t need the adaptor that I also bought when I thought I might need it. I will put it with the other adaptors I will probably never use. LOL
Clint

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by burnt olds

you can't skip the adapter when the front flaps hit the intake , so use it .
i went through this myself trying to put elderbrock on a olds spread bore last week .

If the throttle blades are hitting the intake, then something is wrong. Almost every spreadbore intake is drilled and designed for BOTH carbs. I've never had a problem putting a square on a spread. Putting a spread on a square is a different story

[onebadmerc]

On some spread bore intakes you have to use a adapter to use a square bore carb. I know that on my Ford 460 I had to use a adapter and reroute the EGR to a different location. I also cleaned up the casting on the adapter. The adapter was so bad that the front throttle blades hit the rough casting and wouldn't open all the way up.

[curtis73]

Originally Posted by onebadmerc

On some spread bore intakes you have to use a adapter to use a square bore carb. I know that on my Ford 460 I had to use a adapter and reroute the EGR to a different location. I also cleaned up the casting on the adapter. The adapter was so bad that the front throttle blades hit the rough casting and wouldn't open all the way up.

I learn something new every day

[hduff]

Just a follow-up . . .

With no changes other than adjusting the idle, using the adapter makes the engine run smoother and no longer bogs down on acceleration. I consider this to have been worthwhile. Thanks for all your comments.

Hoyt

[TheCiscoKid]

there are different size square bore gaskets.I ran all over trying to find two,seems hard to get.With one gasket I had to enlarge the secondardies,but I couldn't find any other gaskets.And the price $5to $7 seemed high.

[ScoTFrenzel]

Originally Posted by hduff

Just a follow-up . . .

With no changes other than adjusting the idle, using the adapter makes the engine run smoother and no longer bogs down on acceleration. I consider this to have been worthwhile. Thanks for all your comments.

Hoyt

Thank you for reporting back. This is most beneficial to all concerned.

YES, smoothing the turbulence below the carb bores helps significantly.

[hduff]

Since then, I've installed a 1" carb spacer I had in the parts bin. The low-end response feels a little better. I did have to adjust the TV cable for the 700R4 transmission. While extremely important - at first it wouldn't shift out of first gear - it was easier that the HOWTO instructions make it out to be. I did have to spray the assembly with Kroil to get it to move, however.

700R4 TV cable adjustment:
http://www.tvmadeez.com/article/index.html
http://www.73-87.com/7387garage/drivetrain/tvcable.htm