[Steve C.]

Patrick James at Pro Systems method of choosing a carb size is a bit different. Posted before and again here for interest and noted the information provided does not represent any endorsement of the method..............



Choosing A Carb Size

One of the most asked questions we receive at PRO-SYSTEMS is, how big will my carburetor be, how much will it flow? Most customers are expecting to hear big numbers. They want to hear that their 4150 will flow 1150 cfm or that their 2 inch throttle blade Dominator will flow 1400. Unfortunately, that’s not going to happen. In all the designs I’ve flowed, designed, calibrated and tested, it’s just plain physically impossible. Builders will give out dry numbers (meaning cfm ratings without the disturbance of the fuel cone) but these numbers are not what the engine actually sees and are for reference only. Some builders still use the inflated cfm creating 28 inch rating used by an aftermarket manufacturer. Enough has been said on that subject.

But really cfm is not the main level of importance. Fuel shear, atomization properties and fuel curve are your main areas of concern.

To size a carb for the application, you’re looking to achieve minimal restriction at the finish-line yet have enough signal at launch as to be sure that the booster is atomizing the fuel and supplying the proper air to fuel ratio.

Horsepower equals air flow (of course). Launch rpm/trap rpm equals a reference of the range of the air flow.

If the carb is too big or signal/curve is too poor at the launch rpms created airflow, the fuel does not properly atomize and plates out (turns back to raw fuel) on the intake. Losses of 10-12 percent of available torque at launch can easily be recognized without a lean cutout or backfire. Then as rpms increase, the plated fuel is picked up and alters the air to fuel ratio down-track as it is cleaned out of the intake. More loss of power. So you jet it down to compensate for the plated fuel being picked up and the launch gets even worse. See the dilemma.

The wider the range of rpm you’re going to subject the design to, the more you need to look at the range of airflow and available options.

I’m sure you remember this old formula:

CID x RPM x V.E. / 3456 = CFM

Well that formula is still being quoted by magazines and companies etc…but times have changed and carburetors are operating on almost immeasurable amounts of vacuum. 10 years ago a carburetor would require 10 inches of water to pull signal and shear fuel. Now they can can pull and shear fuel at only 3. Remember 20.4 inches of water (wet) is the cfm rating guide with reputable designers so we aren’t looking to match cfm requirements with cfm ratings.

20.4 = 1.5 hg.

You can see that going from 10 inches of water as a requirement at launch to only 3 inches as a requirement really allows a serious increase in cfm size. This removal of restriction really pays off in cylinder head flow numbers and hp of course. Imagine altering this upstream restrictor when flowing your heads.

Because, most of you have specific application designs, a custom shop/unit is typically the plan.

In the future, use this calculation as a general rule on a modified carburetor:

CID x RPM x V.E. / 2820 = CFM
350 x 6600 x .9 / 2820 = 737 CFM

Now you’ll be a little closer.

A .9 Volumetric Efficiency (V.E.) number represents a pretty good combination and a 1.1 V.E. number represents an all out assault on the engine blocks stress handling capabilities.

Remember, if we have a heavy vehicle and a two speed we will require a slightly smaller carburetor, than a light vehicle and a stick. Also, if we have a booster/emulsion/air bleed configuration designed to operate and shear fuel at lower rpms we can increase the cfm. An increase in cfm is usually a guaranteed increase in power, but it takes a design that’ll still pull and shear fuel at launch to pull that off. That’s when the builder starts altering the entry and exit angles of the booster, the emulsion layout, air bleed configuration/well diameter, etc. All in an effort to fan the fuel cone to increase impact, supply the proper air to fuel ratio throughout the rpm band and emulsify the mixture prior to decrease plating for the air speed being encountered. All those mods cost money and they’re not easy to do.

But return on investment is the deal when purchasing a carburetor. Oftentimes a customer is thinking of purchasing a this or a that, when the same money spent customizing his current model will yield more performance.

Remember, as we talked about earlier, the loss of torque we record at launch and the subsequent rate of acceleration you lose at the start of the race will be carried throughout the rest of the shifts. So a good leave (excellent fuel shear and proper air to fuel ratio at launch) is getting the reciprocating mass to carry this rate of acceleration to reduce E.T.’s. But if you have too much restriction at the finish-line, the mass will be slowed as a result and E.T.s will increase and none of us want that.


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[ejw]

Are any of you running alcohol using a fuel pressure reg w vacuum port ( vacuum reference) running to carb
Pro systems said I need one when using electric pump to help at idle and wot.
APD said do not need one and magnafuel said dead head reg w pro 500 pump would be fine

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by ejw

Are any of you running alcohol using a fuel pressure reg w vacuum port ( vacuum reference) running to carb
Pro systems said I need one when using electric pump to help at idle and wot.
APD said do not need one and magnafuel said dead head reg w pro 500 pump would be fine

I have a magna fuel 500 pump and a aeromotive regulator, I only use return line from the regulator....the one at pump is removed and blocked off. I don’t use the reference/vacuum port on the regulator and it idles fine



GTO George

[ejw]

Thanks George
I never ran one w reupert 4150 carb and little bg280 pump but this seems to be what a lot recommend when using electric pumps - supposed to idle cleaner and allow pressure increase on top end.
Carb w fuel reg from pro systems around $200 cheaper than just carb from APD

[GTOGEORGE]

Originally Posted by ejw

Thanks George
I never ran one w reupert 4150 carb and little bg280 pump but this seems to be what a lot recommend when using electric pumps - supposed to idle cleaner and allow pressure increase on top end.
Carb w fuel reg from pro systems around $200 cheaper than just carb from APD

I had my carbs rebuilt at APD $625 each, don’t know if there any good yet I still haven’t fired it up .....let alone take it down the track.


GTO George

[Probird]

Originally Posted by ejw

Are any of you running alcohol using a fuel pressure reg w vacuum port ( vacuum reference) running to carb
Pro systems said I need one when using electric pump to help at idle and wot.
APD said do not need one and magnafuel said dead head reg w pro 500 pump would be fine

Nope, My Aeromotive A2000 has a bypass at the pump that returns back to the tank. I send it to the front at 28 lbs, then its deadheaded with the large Holley regulator set at 8psi to the carb. Idles clean and has plenty at the big end. I believe in the KISS method if it works.