The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop 292 - recommended carbeurator?

Hello Bolters.

I've got a '66 292 that runs well but I want it to run better. Got a stock carb on it now.

Got any ideas for a better, after-market carb?

Thanks!

---Scoob, Tucson

There are lots of options, but you'll have to swap manifolds. there are a number of small four barrel carbs that will work good; the holley 390, and edlebrock 500, are two favorites. If you are not interested in swapping to a 4 barrel, you may want to check the numbers on your present carb, and make sure it is actually a 292 carb. A lot of those engines ended up with the smaller 230-250 carb on them. I can't recall the numbers for each, and I don't think I have the info anymore, but I'm sure one of the guys on this board can help out. With a 292 I'd plan on swaping to a small 4 barrel. One other option is a Holley/ Weber 5200 2 stage 2 barrel. You can get an adapter to mount it to the stock manifold. It is a much better carb than the stock one, but it is not big enough to make any real difference on perfomance. I did notice a little better acceleration and about 5 mph on the top end using one on a worn out 250. The main improvements were cold starting, and all around drivability.

Boo

Boo's got it right, sorry to hear about the 5200 though. I have a 63 with a 292 and I played with the Rochester one barrel and replaced it with a Monojet. Didn't get as much performance increase as I did dropping in an HEI and playing with the advance. Still not much, got 11 mpg. Carefull though on the advance curve, best have a shop set it up to match the original dizzy.
Boo any comments on mileage between the 1, 2, and 4.
Thanks, Larry

There are Zenith and Stromberg single barrel carbs that will improve the performance.

Jon.

I run a Carter 625 AFB on an Offy manifold on my 292. Runs great. I love the electric choke.

People told me I'd lose low end power and mid-range throttle response...but that hasn't been the case. It's a very driveable, fun combo, especially with split headers and Cherry Bomb glasspacks. It's not very subtle, tho.

I'm just going fuelie with my 250...

Believe it or not the best mpg I got was with a new-rebuilt monojet from NAPA! But I have 4:11 gears so I spend a lot of time in the upper rpm range and way into the secondary with the 2 barrel. With the monojet holding to around 55 mph on the hiway I got 16 mpg.

Boo

Thanks Boo! I've got a 4.11 and I'm hauling a Big Camper. I like the Monojet. You get to the power valve fairly easy. Now if a Zenith or Cater were to show up on my door step I'd like to play with them.
Larry

I've thought a lot about trying duel monojets. You can buy a new-rebuild for $139 from NAPA and $99 from JC Whitney. However, I don't like the long warm up time, and I HATE that stumbling just off an idle that every one I've seen has. I asked my Dad how to cure that, and he said, "Throw it away and buy a carburetor."

Boo

Boo - your Dad gave you excellent advice!

ChevyAsylum - the Carter 625 will certainly run better than the Rochester one barrel (so will pouring gas into the engine out of a boot); however, experience tells me you would like a Carter 500 (Carter number 9500s) better than the 625, and would just be estatic over a Carter 400 (Carter number 9400s).

Jon.