**Dual Carburetor 4 Barrel Set Up VS 4 Barrel Single Carburetor**?

Question

I currently have a 289 ford small block with a 2 barrel carburetor. I want to upgrade. I will need to change the intake. I have seen some good kits for sale but wonder if going with dual carbs really makes a difference once on the road... What do you think? Please let me know. Thanks!!

Answer 1

a properly tuned four barrel will perform just as well if not better than dual quads.

Answer 2

Given the advances in technology, I would suggest going to fuel injection, using 302 parts.
Or do a swap to a 5.0, this is easy considering that it is a direct bolt in, unless it is a pre 65 (some 64) 289.
Unless you want to build an engine that will run at 10 grand RPM don't bother with the duals.
I switched my 2 barrel over to one off a 390 2barrel engine, worked great on the low end and didn't need an after market manifold. Beat 5.0's with it in street racing.
Looked stock too, and the Mustang owners never did figure out what I did to beat them.
I also had a mild (torque) cam in there too with anti pump up lifters.
If you can keep your foot out of the secondaries, a small 4 barrel is better then a 2 barrel. If you aren't planning on needing to kick in the after-burners, why bother with the 4 barrel?

Answer 3

Forget about the dual quad set up. With the technology now, you can get a single 4 barrel to do all you will need and more. With the price of gas just getting higher, you might want to leave the 2 barrel on it.
good luck.

Answer 4

Dual carbs will cause you much missery.Your car will be hard to start and flood out.It will not idle well at all because it will not have enough intake vacuum to match two carbs.Your wallet will also suffer.The two barrel carb.,if you leave it on will allow a little extra spending money at the end of the week.Life is to short to through money into the wind.

Answer 5

no.......a small block ford does not need ...nor could it handle that much carbureation......it,s a stretch to think that even a big block would need this....unless it was built to the max.....a stock small block will due well with the 2bbl..... a 600 c.f.m. 4 bbl. would be all it could handle...without some other improvement,s.....larger valve,s larger ported head,s-larger cam shaft,exhaust header,s,dual exhaust,etc......you need to increase the flow all the way through to gain real h.p.