Edelbrock 500 for 292?

C

ChadCurrent

Member
I have a non original 56 tbird. 292 with a borg warner t-10 4 speed. Back in the day dad had a Carter wfcb on it but it's been sitting in the barn for 50 years and doesn't look the greatest. Took it apart to clean it and it's a mess looks like a total pain to work on / rebuild so I have been looking new at carburetors .


One that pops up a lot is the Edelbrock 500 cfm performer but there are at least 4 different types. 1403 , 1404, 1901 , 1902. two are manual 2 are electric choke. Would an electric choke be alright? I'm not sure the difference between the 14's and 19's ?



I will be installing it on a holley/edelbrock to carter wcfb 4 barrel carburetor adapter on the 56 style intake manafold.



I'm pretty sure besides wiring the distributor, plumbing in the fuel and vacuum lines, figuring out how to connect the throttle linkage , all that's left add fluids, battery and to fire up the engine. oh and all the little things that I might have missed lol.
 
oh and not sure which air cleaner will clear the tbird hood If anyone has done this. I don't have anything at the moment. I pretty much started out with a block and heads and exhaust manifolds.
 
There should still be enough hood clearance if using the '56 intake manifold, even when adding the thickness of the carb adaptor. Your issue will be if you still have the '56 dual diaphragm distributor with vacuum advance only. The Edelbrock carb will not have the correct vacuum signal for the '56 distributor.
I have 4 restored Holley teapot original '56 carburetors that will work on the '56 intake and '56 distributor. Not sure what parts you have now.

Sal
 
Sia I bought one of those new HEI distributors on ebay. I don't have, never had a teapot, any dual distributor, or even a tachometer.
 
Sal will know better than me, but I think Mercury used the WCFB small base carbs on the dual quad manifold. They're a pretty good unit if it's salvageable. If so, it's worth some money depending on the model number.

I ran a 1406 on a 57 manifold (large base, came with the car in the trunk). I think the 1404 is the same externally. If you've got a Fordomatic, you'll have to make sure the kickdown bellcrank functions correctly with the Edelbrock. Mine was a manual so I didn't need to check that. I ran both a manual and electric choke on that carb, either will be fine if set up properly.

The oem 55 air cleaner didn't clear something on the carb, and I don't think the 56 a/c will either. A 57 might. Or any small aftermarket unit. There's more room under the scoop than you think.
 
The WCFB's were also used on single carb engines. I bought a 56 merc engine with a single WCFB 4 BBl, supposedly the engine was all original.
 
A 500 CFM is a good size for a stock or mildly modified 292. For an air cleaner, a 14 inch after market unit should work
 
Make sure the air cleaner you buy has a drop base. An air cleaner that sits on top of the carburetor will not clear the hood if used with a carburetor adapter or spacer 1/2" or taller. 55-57 OEM air cleaners have a drop base. Summit's 14" drop base air cleaner uses a 3"-tall element. A 2" element may not provide sufficient clearance between carb vents and air cleaner lid, when using a drop base. It might also be necessary to do a bit of hammering on the air cleaner base to clear the choke. Aftermarket parts are seldom direct bolt-on, unless made for your specific application.
 
Thanks for the replies. So would the 1403 performer be a good choice , fit? I think I would rather have an electric choke vs trying to find a place to install a manual one in the dash.
 
Yes, the WCFB four barrel carb was used on some '56 Mercury 312's. Holley 4000 teapots on a lot too. The WCFB single four barrel on the Mercury had vacuum secondaries.
I've heard some people say that the over the counter M260 dual four barrel kits used WCFB carbs, but all the documentation from Mercury and Ford says Holley teapots were used. I'm sure back in the day some racers may have used the WCFB's.

Sal
 
The Edelbrock is a great carb for the street. Its only downfall is it is prone to boiling the gas in the bowl in very hot weather, after shut down. Fit as big a spacer under it that you can and still close the hood on the air cleaner.
 
The fuel boiling is not unique to the Edelbrock carbs. It is a common problem, particularly for 55-57 T-birds, regardless of carburetor brand. A phenolic spacer, not aluminum, will help, and anything else that will keep under-hood temps cooler. Some owners choose to add an electric fuel pump near the tank, to help with starting.
 
Rather than go through the hassles of rigging up up adapters, choke, etc., just rebuild the WCFB. They really aren't that complicated. Especially with phone cameras. Just take lots of pictures if you feel the need. It no doubt ran when parked so don't mess with any adjustments (except float level). Just clean and reassemble. Make sure you can blast air or Carb. Cleaner through all the passages.
 
As you already know, the WCFB carburetor is not the original carburetor. It may, however, be considerably more valuable to someone for whose car it is original. you might want to research year and application. I just saw a rebuilt WCFB carburetor for 58-62 Corvettes for sale on Amazon for over $1400./you might be able to sell it for enough money to buy whatever intake and carburetor you want.
 
If your WCFB has vacuum secondary's, then it's more than likely the one for a '56 Mercury, which wouldn't be super valuable as a core. I have experience with them and all domestic carbs if you need help. Also have two I use for parts if needed.

Sal
 
I have an Edelbrock on two cars, both of which have been used for long trips in the summer. Never had a boiling issue with them.


Ole Don said:
The Edelbrock is a great carb for the street. Its only downfall is it is prone to boiling the gas in the bowl in very hot weather, after shut down. Fit as big a spacer under it that you can and still close the hood on the air cleaner.
Click to expand...
 
It has vacuum secondary. I already took it apart as it was full of crap probably mud dobbers and other critters in the garage. I probably still try to rebuild it but I also can't find an air cleaner that fits it and the hood close.
 
ChadCurrent said:
Thanks for the replies. So would the 1403 performer be a good choice , fit? I think I would rather have an electric choke vs trying to find a place to install a manual one in the dash.
Click to expand...
Probably a better choice the electric choke models are leaner in the primaries than the manual choke models,I have had members in my Ford Group change to the electric choke metering rods to cure a rich idle.
 
ChadCurrent said:
It has vacuum secondary. I already took it apart as it was full of crap probably mud dobbers and other critters in the garage. I probably still try to rebuild it but I also can't find an air cleaner that fits it and the hood close.
Click to expand...

The WCFB has about a 4 1/2" ring for the air cleaner mounting, and the Holley's were about 5". Since Ford only put Holley's on the T-Birds, there never was a T-Bird air cleaner that would work. The '56 Mercury air cleaner for a WCFB would be way too large for the hood. Best bet is probably an aftermarket small round low profile air cleaner for a 4 1/2" neck size.

Sal
 
"Probably a better choice the electric choke models are leaner in the primaries than the manual choke models,I have had members in my Ford Group change to the electric choke metering rods to cure a rich idle.
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There shouldn't be any difference as far as being too rich on the primaries with the manual choke models, especially with a rich idle. The idle system is a separate thing, and if the idle can't be adjusted leaner with the mixture screws, then the fuel level is way too high, from either the float being set too high, or the fuel valve leaking.

Sal
 
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