i have the set up listed in my signature... my car seems to eat ALOT of gas... is this normal? the carb was just recently(2weeks ago) rebuilt but even before then it seems to chug gas.. is there something i need to check or anything i can do to help the situation? im not all the great with carbs. in fact this is my 1st carbed car so im new... so you'll have to be very detailed on what i need to check and where its located... thanks for the help

 

Tell me about your distributor. Does it have a round can (vacuum advance) on the outside with a vacuum line on it, or just wires (one connector going to the distributor cap, the other with 4 wires going to the wiring harness near the firewall)?

I get about 16-18 MPG commuting without trying to baby it.

 

Ahhhh...welcome to the wonderful world of the carbed V-8 engine! You think you were surprised? Imagine MY surprise after driving my Camaro for about a week...up until now all I have been driving were Escorts. V-8's suck gas anyway. Carbs can be tuned to get decent milage, but in general you get better milage with fuel injection. One thing you can do is stay out of the secondaries. Should help a little.

 

a properly tuned carb will have the same mileage as a properly tuned FI motor. Just a matter of doing some reading and some experimentation to get it that way. I got 18-20 mpg out of my Holley carbed 305 with a cam and lots of bolt ones.

If you r mileage is really bad check for some mechanical problems. Make sure the timing is right, you have a vac advance distributer, make sure the float level is right, andf your power valve isn't blown.

 

My '97 Escort gets considerably worse mileage than my Firebird, despite regular plug changes, wire changes, carbon cleaning, oil changes and transmission fluid changes.

Ever notice how on an e-test print out, they estimate fuel economy? The Escort was almost TEN MPG lower than the firebird.
The Escort was estimated at 17MPG (Split Port Inducted 2.0L), and the Firebird at 26 MPG (TBI'd 305).
Just figured I'd add that for anybody that thinks V8's are automatically gas guzzelers.
The above guy is right, tho. Definitely stay off the pedal, so the secondaries don't open.

 

gas is a liquid it can not be eatin only drank lol. well yea they drink more gas but u get more power so who really cares

 

not that bad i got 9.8 my first tank with the carb tuning to be done. and i know if the primaries were open the secondaries were ope for that whole tank

 

well like i said... i have no idea in hell how to tune this thing... i had it professionally rebuilt... the shop asked me what engine it was going on and stuff before he rebuilt it.

i have a hane's manual but they only talk about the stock LG4 carb.

what i need is "Carbs for dummies" book.

on a side note... how do i know if the cam i have is stock or not without pulling it from the engine??

i hear people say the idle is a little rough or stumbly.. but the reason why im asking is because i bought the car from a family whos dad died, it was hi car, they have no idea what he did to it but they said he was always screwing with it.

so far i know he changed out the entire rear axel for an 87 with disk breaks, not sure about the gearing, the engine came from a 86 Firebird LG4. but this car is FAST!!! the only mods i know of i have listed in my sig, but its got some serious *****.


example.. took it out 2 days ago to get some parts.. was in 3rd doing about 40... decided to punch it.. and i know i chirpped the wheels for a good few feet. its power is really felt from 2500-6000 rmp.