Any opinions on what make and size carb I should consider for a 1969 Camaro 454, automatic, daily driver? I currently have a holley 750.

 

No where near enough information.

How is the motor built, What is the RPM range you would like to optimize?
Does slow speed drivability matter?
Smooth Idle matter?
Max RPM you wish to use?

750 is a good everyday carb size for a stock or almost stock BB. It is about the smallest I would put on a 454.

 

I have a 454 block with 396 heads,
Headman Headers
Eldebrock Performer Manifold
Mallory ditributor
I'm not sure what the cam is, the engine was built before I bought it
Harland Roller Rockers

As a driver car I would like to get the max performance, but have a smooth idle

Could you explain the RPM question? Just so I can get a little education.

Holley, Eldebrock, Summit, Demon?

 

creck im gonna guess without seeing more engine specs that your 750 should be well matched to your combo. the rpm question has to do with airflow thru the engine. the higher the rpm the more air the engine will require to run thru it. and thus potentially bigger carb. there are some formulas out there to help determine proper carb sizing to engine but a good rule 550-600 for small block chev and 750-850 for the big blocks. this will depend of course on your tuning preferences and how the motor was built. alot of people tend to over carb and this makes for a tuning nightmare as well as poorer fuel mileage and lost petential in horse power. the engine is an air pump plain and simple so maximum efficiency the parts should be well matched. kurt

 

When you build a performance engine you do so with an RPM range in mine. Normally you decide a max RPM and an optimal power band area.
Examples.
A circle track car come out of the corner at about6200 RPMS at the end of the straight a way it’s at 6800 RPMs. You would build a bottom end that was rated for 7500 RPM (just incase) and design the valve train and carb for max power to kick in at 6000-7000 RPMs. You then adjust the rear for track condition to stay in you power band.

4 wheel drive truck. . Since they do not know where they will need power they would design a motor that might not spin more then 5000 RPM. Their power band is much lower. Since most of these engines require tons of torque they will have a lot of stroke. Long stroke mean more air.

Drag Car. These cars are all aboutHP. Most drag engines do this with high RPMs 10,000-12,000 is common on drag motor.

Withyour engines Volume (454 Cu in) and the Max RPMs you can figure out the size of the Carb you need. Too bigyour fuel mixture will not be the best and the carb will not respond as well too small and you will starve your engine of air and rob yourself of power.

I have never used a Summit carb.But the Holley, Eldebrock and Demon are all good carbs. IMO the Demon has an advantage as an all out race carb. Elderbrock has nice drivability (smooth idle, smooth acceleration) Holley has several different models on one hand they carb right at Demon heels and they have the new Avenger series has beaten Eldebrock out for drivability. In the right hands anyone of these carbs can work nice for you but if you want to take a carb out of the box, bolt it on, throw the kids in the back and go for a ride get the Holley Avenger.

 

You can do the Math.
454 Cu In = .262731 Cu Ft (1728 Cu In, in a Cu Ft)
5500 RPM’s has 2750 Intake strokes so (One intake stroke every 2 revs)
.262731 Cu Ft X 2750 Cyc Per min = 722.51 CFM

This is a basic. There are many factors that can change this. Air density, Humidity, any kind of forced air system even a ram air system will change things around.

 

Thanks for the feedback

 

[&:] gorn thats the formula i was looking for but keep in mind that this one doesnt take into account that the majority of engines are not 100% volumetricly efficient.( something this one assumes) most are around 80% so as we can see a 750 cfm is more than enough for this application kurt