TECH | 25 BIG-BLOCK BUILDING TIPS
CARB CONTROL
With its large displacement, it’s easy to over-carb a big-block
engine, but Cook urges restraint. “The old adage about
doubling the engine displacement to arrive at your carb size
doesn’t work for a 440,” he says. Go with something smaller,
like the Edelbrock 750-cfm carb seen here, or even a little
smaller. “Your idle and midrange will be tremendous,” says
Cook, who likes the Edelbrock carbs for their easy adjustabil-
ity. Also, if there’s sufficient hood, it’s a good idea to run at
least a^1 ⁄ 2 -inch phenolic spacer, which serves as a heat barrier
to keep the fuel in the carb cooler.MANIFOLD DESTINY
When it comes to intake-manifold selection for a deep-
breathing RB, it’s hard to beat the Edelbrock Performer
RPM dual-plane aluminum manifold. It was also produced
for Mopar Performance, with the “Wedge” label, as seen here.
It’s still in production, but used ones are pretty easy to find
online and at swap meets for around $150.BUDGET BALANCER
Here’s another way to save a few bucks. Unless you’re
building a racing engine that will require an SFI-approved
damper, a factory balancer works fine for even high-powered
street engines. Used examples are comparatively cheap and
plentiful, too. Check the rubber for cracks, splits, or missing
chunks, and check that the sealing surfaces are good, too.TALKING TURKEY
Whether you call it the turkey tray, turkey pan, or simply
the valley pan, proper sealing is key to preventing leaks. Seal
it under the edges between the block and pan, and use the
pan with a paper gasket when installing aluminum heads.SOURCES
DAN COOK RACING
248-904-2150
[email protected]42 moparmuscle.com