Predator Carbs: Anyone got one or heard about 'em.?
 

This question is just out of pure curiosity. I've always thought that these carbs looked neat. I was wondering if they were worth a damn, and if they were a pain in the butt. thanks

james

Heard of 'em and seen pics of them...sure. They're not at all streetable from what I understand...pretty much a race car/novelty showcar thing. Course...I speak from no experience.

The constant velocity carb isn't a new idea. Harley started using CV carbs around 89 and Predator was using it before that. The old SU carbs from the 50's also used the idea. Instead of a butterly it uses a slide that opens and closes the venturi. This allows a variable apature depending on fuel demands.

I've seen some on a few race cars but that's about it. I'm sure it has advantages over a typical Holley but more people know how to work with a Holley than a Predator.

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Stephen's racing page

87 IROC-Z Pro ET Bracket Race Car and knocking on the SuperPro ET class
383 stroker (carbed) with double hump cast iron heads and pump gas
454 Big Block buildup now in progress for the 2001 racing season

Best results before the 383 blew up
Best ET on a time slip: 11.857
Best corrected ET: 11.163
Best MPH on a time slip: 117.87
Best corrected MPH: 126.10
Best 60 foot: 1.662

Racing at 3500 feet elevation but most race days it's over 5000 feet density altitude!
Member of the Calgary Drag Racing Association

87 IROC bracket car
91 454SS daily driver
95 Homebuilt Harley

My auto body/painting instructor has one just setting around his garage... he's thinking of putting it on his 350 blower motor for the hell of it. Engine is going in a 37 chevy coupe he's working on https://www.thirdgen.org/messgboard/smile.gif

I hear that theyre tricky to tune from a guy that has one.

They seem like they would be easier to tune than most carbs, because they seem simpler. What makes them tricky or not as streetable? Isn't there a 'street' design?

He is right the Predator carburators are probably the easiest to tune. Because you require no tuning at all for them. Ive put one on a mild 350 without any problems.

In power they are comparable to Holleys WITH THE RIGHT MANIFOLD. They are ugly but get the job done.

Which manifold is the right one? This may be my backup plan if I get frustrated during my TPI swap.

Anyone got any ideas? I'm seriously considering this.

I've always thought about getting one of those...they look taller than standard carbs though...anybody know about this? I've got a 4" cowl hood, but with an RPM intake, 1" carb spacer and 4" filter it's a tight fit.

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The '82Z
Hugger Orange
383 4 bolt main
3000 lbs
Bad cornering
NOS Sportsman Fogged
10 bolt braker

Coming to a street near you in the spring...
The car's website

I had a friend that had one on a 383... every thing we tried was in vain... then we were told that if we got a blower it would work great... we put a holley on it and went out and had some fun...

zroc

Don't quote me on this but from experience any manifold that doesnt respond well with holleys will respond well with a predator. Specially single plane manifolds.

They tend to work great with little to no vacuum

My mechanic had two on a 6-71 blower. 600 horsepower 350 I believe. It was a pro-street car, an 87 Camaro. I believe these carbs are 1-barrel designs.