The Ford Barn - View Single Post - any advantages to downdraft carb & header..??

Jim Brierley · 09-18-2019, 10:30 AM

When I bought my tudor many years ago, it had a stock 'C' engine with A manifolds. I ran it at a hill climb in Auburn, CA. to get a "base" time. At a second hill climb 6 months later I had changed to a 6:1 Winfield head, gained a full second in e.t. on the hill. That same day I switched to a downdraft, Stromberg 81, carb, another full second was gained. At the next climb I switched to a 97, slightly larger than an 81, another 3/10 of a second quicker! All was with the stock B cam and A exhaust manifold. A bigger carb and more compression are the 2 quickest and easiest ways to increase power. Fuel mileage is better too as the engine is more efficient. I run three 81's on my speedster and on tour get better mileage than anybody else on the tour! A header may also help a little but not much at touring speeds, racing, yes, and they look cool!

09-18-2019, 10:30 AM	#8
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,092	Re: any advantages to downdraft carb & header..?? When I bought my tudor many years ago, it had a stock 'C' engine with A manifolds. I ran it at a hill climb in Auburn, CA. to get a "base" time. At a second hill climb 6 months later I had changed to a 6:1 Winfield head, gained a full second in e.t. on the hill. That same day I switched to a downdraft, Stromberg 81, carb, another full second was gained. At the next climb I switched to a 97, slightly larger than an 81, another 3/10 of a second quicker! All was with the stock B cam and A exhaust manifold. A bigger carb and more compression are the 2 quickest and easiest ways to increase power. Fuel mileage is better too as the engine is more efficient. I run three 81's on my speedster and on tour get better mileage than anybody else on the tour! A header may also help a little but not much at touring speeds, racing, yes, and they look cool!