Pick a carb, pick any carb...

[JLine]

Hi all, after rescuing my ranger 2.8 from a storage unit where it had been sitting since 1991 where the original owner left it with 60k miles on it,
I have begun improving it mechanically every chance i get. Started with an electric fan and exaust now have my sights on the carb. I live in the foothills and with the 6" lift and tires the constant up and down grades just seem to suck the power from the 2.8.

This being my first carburated engine I am far from expert and would appriciate your suggestions as far as high performance 2 bbl carbs go.
I have read alot about Webers and Holley 350's and even came accross the Jet modified Holley 350's, there is just to many out there for me to choose with my lack of carb experience.
So pending the Duraspark conversion what carbs would you experts recommend as far as around 500$ give or take...
Thanks

 

[The_Dealer]

i have the holley 350 cfm and it works pretty good. doesnt like cold starts though, i vote for this http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HLY-64-5242/

2150 non feedback from a 79 pinto. wish i woulda go one instead of the 350

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yeah I would go with a non feed back 2150 carb, don't remember the jet settings or venturi opening specs but you want to stick with it I think. I hear you get bad fuel mileage with the 350 Holley.

Also have you thought about maybe the gears? looks like your running 33's which stock gearing will definately slow you down. I would say 4.88's would be optimal for power but you might be able to get away with 4.56's. But if you already have those gears then yeah carb.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Go with the 2150 with 1.08 venturies and use the jets out of the stock carb #48 or #50s. You will need the carb spacer felpro #60529. Are you having any problems running it with the computer those engines run pretty good with a good computer system and if it has been in dry storage chances are you may just need a good tune up plugs, wires ,cap and rotor, PCV and breather filter, fresh oil and motorcraft filter, and a carb rebuild. Drain the tank and add 4 ozs of acetone to a full tank of gas for the first couple of fill upsor a good fuel system flush then run some seafoam in the brake booster to clean up the cylinders and valves. I`d love to have found something like that to play with.

 

[The_Dealer]

my gas mileage sux with the holley. about 12 if im lucky. hell i was getting 15-17 before the d-spark. tried playing with the jets, but anything lower then the stock #61 it acts like crap. could go with a 60 but its not gonna make that much difference

 

[Kozanatos]

my gas mileage sux with the holley. about 12 if im lucky. hell i was getting 15-17 before the d-spark. tried playing with the jets, but anything lower then the stock #61 it acts like crap. could go with a 60 but its not gonna make that much difference

Really? wow, what carb is more highway oriented? Don't care about offroading ability.

 

[The_Dealer]

it might just be my tires though, i did it all at the same time so i dunno. holley isnt great for offroad. gonna be selling it soon if interested

 

[JLine]

Yeah I would go with a non feed back 2150 carb, don't remember the jet settings or venturi opening specs but you want to stick with it I think. I hear you get bad fuel mileage with the 350 Holley.

Also have you thought about maybe the gears? looks like your running 33's which stock gearing will definately slow you down. I would say 4.88's would be optimal for power but you might be able to get away with 4.56's. But if you already have those gears then yeah carb.

Yea it has 4.56 gears already in it the problem is first gear is like a granny it doesnt give much acceleration before shifting to second and so on and if its a stop on an incline its a major drag to get any speed up

 

[JLine]

Go with the 2150 with 1.08 venturies and use the jets out of the stock carb #48 or #50s. You will need the carb spacer felpro #60529. Are you having any problems running it with the computer those engines run pretty good with a good computer system and if it has been in dry storage chances are you may just need a good tune up plugs, wires ,cap and rotor, PCV and breather filter, fresh oil and motorcraft filter, and a carb rebuild. Drain the tank and add 4 ozs of acetone to a full tank of gas for the first couple of fill upsor a good fuel system flush then run some seafoam in the brake booster to clean up the cylinders and valves. I`d love to have found something like that to play with.

Yea the guy i bought the truck from was the one who got it out of storage and the first thing he did was a full tune up and re-built the carb and it smogged no problem after i got it home i was looking closely at the carb and noticed 1 of the 4 bolts that connects it to the spacer and intake manifold had some JB weld on it where that corner of the carb had cracked maybe from being bolted down to tight. Thats why I just decided id better get a new carb. I dont know for sure yet exactly how bad it is, i dont want to get into it until i get all the parts together.
What kind of HP increase do you think i could expect by getting the Offy intake manifold and a 4 barrel?

 

[schmoo]

i wouldn't expect much power increase from just a 4v.
this engine is not under carbed with the 2150.

 

[strvger]

as all the above... stick with a 2150 carb.

and, WELCOME to TRS !!!!!

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Yea it has 4.56 gears already in it the problem is first gear is like a granny it doesnt give much acceleration before shifting to second and so on and if its a stop on an incline its a major drag to get any speed up

Yeah I know what you mean, my 84 had troubles getting up hills that were long and steep all the time even before I upgraded from the stock tires. I usually go up in 4th until it bogs down enough to go to 3rd and leave it in 3rd till I'm over the hill.

Yea the guy i bought the truck from was the one who got it out of storage and the first thing he did was a full tune up and re-built the carb and it smogged no problem after i got it home i was looking closely at the carb and noticed 1 of the 4 bolts that connects it to the spacer and intake manifold had some JB weld on it where that corner of the carb had cracked maybe from being bolted down to tight. Thats why I just decided id better get a new carb. I dont know for sure yet exactly how bad it is, i dont want to get into it until i get all the parts together.
What kind of HP increase do you think i could expect by getting the Offy intake manifold and a 4 barrel?

The offy intake and 4 barrel carb are not worth the money IMO, I don't know how much they would cost but you would probably not feel a noticable difference in power, I do however have a 4 bbl converted intake for the 2.8L i think if you are interested. the guy had a machine shop mill the intake portion of the stock intake so that a regular 4bbl would fit up top.