Carbs on the cheap?

[FBRXMIKE85]

Hey guys so I see a lot of guys running carbs that came stock on other cars but that flow more fuel on lots of carb'd cars as a cheap alternative to buying a webber or holley. What would be some cars I can get a bigger carb than the Nikki that will fit my stock manifold? That way I can squeeze a little more power out of her but with a budget. A guy told me he fitted a ford v8 carb from the junkyard on his cars 12A for $75 but couldn't remember what kind of car he pulled it off if and it fit his stock manifold for the Nikki.

[myatt1972]

It will be a load of hassle to try to get something else to fit, the nikki isnt bad with a few tweeks.
Have a read of this before you do anything.
http://sterlingmetalworks.com/the_nikki_carburetor.htm

[FBRXMIKE85]

Thanks that was really inciteful!

[FBRXMIKE85]

Still not sure if the modded Nikki would give me the power I am wanting?

[ian65]

a few little tweeks here and there will make a big difference........ wire your Nikki carb to mechanical secondaries, change the factory viscous coupled fan for an electric fan, fit a performance air filter and the main one, drop the stock exhaust and air pump off and put a set of headers and a performance exhaust on it ( check out the racing beat catalogue) ...... obviously, as you're in the US, your state laws might prevent you from removing the emission control crap.
With a stock engine and stock exhaust, swapping the carb will only give you minimal improvements.
Think of the engine as a big pump....... it's no good getting the mixture in if you can't get the burnt gases out fast enough...... ideally, you need forced induction (turbo or supercharger), a ported engine and a free flowing performance exhaust..... then you're getting the mixture and gases in and out as fast as possible and you'll be really rocking.

[FBRXMIKE85]

Yeah I was thinking of doing a bridge port eventually and running a racing beat header and exhaust. And yeah you are right about the emissions crap. It hass to stay unless I move out of the city limits.

[codge]

Nutbush.......Good Song. My era.

[DB RX63]

Dave,

Stay on topic !

but yeah good song.............

DB

[FBRXMIKE85]

Yeah don't know about the whole nutbush thing lol, but yeah those are my eventual plans, unless I can get my hands on s weber sidedraft carb...

[mullins]

You also might like to invest in a good fuel pressure regulator and uprated pump to ensure you're getting the best out of your fuel system. Some good race plugs (B8EGV or whatever) and thick silicon leads are also a good idea. Depends what your plans are really.

I've run a 12a bridgeport on a nikki and it went OK. Was nothing fancy - small bp and Elford's finest pea shooter system. The Secondaries in the carb weren't opening, but still made 145 on the dyno. Anything more than that and I recomend an IDA, which is what I moved to once I realised said carb was munted.