I have an edelbrock 600 CFM manual choke 4 barrel that runs like crap. I know a guy who put a 500 CFM 2 barrel that absolulety flies. Its on a 71 350 chevelle that had the same carb i have on now and it sucked A$$ too. Once he put the 2 barrel on it, he could break the tires loose from a standstill, and still get 20 miles to the gallon, I was thinkin about puttin the 2 barrel on my car, let me know what you guys think.

 

The carb with the smaller venturis will always be more responsive.
that being said, the Edelbrock 600 is a very responsive carb.
You need to dial it in to suit your motor though.
First ensure that your ignition system is in good order.
Then check your carb for fuel pressure (6psi max at idle).
The accelorator pump linkage can be adjusted to alter the pump shot to what ever your motor likes.
The primary metering is probabily a little rich. Get some metering rods and jets and play a bit. KS Auto, in North Tonawanda
stocks this stuff.
If you are using your edelbrock carb on a stock Q jet manifold
or performer manifold with an open adapter, that don't help.
Either use a 4 hole adapter or mount it directly to the manifold.

 

I do have the performer intake to go along with the carb. there is no spacer...I have enough trouble getting the air cleaner in there as it is. The fuel pressure is good, but there it is rich coming out the exhaust, but not on the spark plugs. The plugs look good. Myabe looks can be deciving in this case. I have found the metering rod kit in the edelbrock catalog. It has 6 different metering rods if i'm not mistaken. I'm gonna pick one up and see what happens.

 

Try blocking the heat crossover passage between the manifold and heads. I've found the alumium performer manifold does not need as much under manifold heat as the stock manifold.
This should cure the rich smelling exhaust.

 

I have that blocked already. There was a block plate that came with the kit. This is where the electric choke would sit if it had one correct?

 

No block the exhaust passage at the head so the manifold is not heated. You have to remove the manifold to do this.
Some intake manifold gaskets sets include small metal shims
to lay over the hole in the head between the manifold and head.
A few suitable sized pieces of sheet metal will do in a pinch.

 

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Ahh I see now. Furthermore, I do have headers on it too although I am not sure weather it has any bearing on my rich situation. The mods I do have are the carb and intake, HEI Vacuum advance distributor, headers, true duals, the heads are stock but they are shaved .020" to bring the compression up a wee bit.

 

What cam are you useing. A high performance cam with a rough idle has less manifold vaccuum @ idle. Check the manifold vacuum @ idle while in gear. If it is 5" or less on the guage you'll want to change the metering rod step up springs to one with a lower rating than what you get on the guage.
This will stop the carb from going power rich while at idle and clean up the fuel smell. Be sure to hook up the PCV to a valve cover and have a suitable vent on the other cover. This small air leak in the PCV system is designed into the fuel metering of your carb so without it hooked up your carb will be rich.
While you're in the carb playing around look in the bottom of the fuel bowl for dirt, rust, and sand. You'd be surprised at how much dirt gets into the carb over time event with a good fuel filter.
If you see some stuff in the bottom of the bowl you may have to strip down the carb and give it a good cleaning and blast if air and carb cleaner then re-assemble with new gaskets.
Dirt getting in and plugging the fuel passages in the carb is usually all that goes wrong with 'em other than the gaskets shrinking
from old age. With their main jets in the floor of the fuel bowl
Edelbrock's and Qjet s are a little more susseptical to this than a holley.

 

It is a stock cam. I have one PCV valve hooked up, in the other valve cover i have a push in breather. Also i do believe i forgot to mention that it is a 5 speed.