I have recently installed a magnaflow muffler on my 85 12A and now I am looking for a carb upgrade. Before I research anything, I'd like to know what you guys have in terms of aftermarket carbs and why you like it. If you can please include: Price, where you bought it, power gains, MPG increase/decrease, reliability, and anything else that might be helpful. Thanks

 

My auto-x car has a Yaw carb, which is a modified Nikki. I heard that Yaw does not do it anymore, but Sterling is modifying the Nikki carbs for about $400 but his work is behind schedule, so you may have to wait for a few months. As for the performance of the Yaw carb, it provided a significant power increase, it was a big difference(maybe 20-30HP?). I haven't had any problem with the carb yet, and the MPG seemed to went down about 2-3 mpg.

 

Sterling carbs rock! Made a huge difference on my autocrosser...

 

theres plenty to choose from and everyone has their own taste. i personally love weber down drafts. i have a 48idf (not yet installed) but would much rather have an ida. price..id say ~400 for carb, 200 for manifold?

 

Sorry may seem out of context, but did you only change your muffler? If so I would recommend that you invest in header and an bigger piping first to really see any bigger gains from an aftermarket carb. If you're money wise on just the carb, really the cheapest way to go is do the Nikki through Sterling, the rest second hand can really be bought for about 500$ or so usually. If you wan power weber/holley usually seem to be the better ones. If you wanted a properly done weber I would recommend talking to Robert at rotaryshack.com. Holley you'll have to go through Rb or find one that is done by them. Do not attempt buying one off the self and not expect tons of time to try to get it right. If you want inbetween streetabily and performance, Dollerato or any sidedraft seems to be good. As far as MPG ... this one is always the hardest to figure out, it really depends on how heavy you decide to go on the pedal, but I think the Holley, could be worst. I hear webers tend to lean out more than anything in the top end.

Now thats out of the way, I personally have a holey 465 with my SP 12a and header and the whole workds and netted 147RWHP, and thats with still a stock ignition system, and was running about 12:1 A/F ratio in the top so running a little too rich (holley blood for you) but I figure i should be able to hit about 155-160 maybe with proper supporting mods.

 

I have a RB Dellorto ( Weber DCOA equivalent ) for about ~$600 back in '92 on a stock port 12a with a RE full exhaust.

Runs great but has slight hesitation at the transition from the idle circuit as it progresses into the main circuit. Other than that its been great and really helps the top end, pulls strong all the way up to ~7500 RPM whereas the stock carb petered out around 6500 RPM. Also has a choke which the Webers normally didn't have back then.

I'd say it adds a good 30HP but have never dynoed the car to verify. Gets ~23 MPG normal driving, but who does that anyway :-)

 

Got a OER 45mm carb and Intake I believe from racing beat. carb was 275 shipped and intake was 175 shipped. Dont know the power gains, I havent gotten it installed

I spent maybe 750 on complete intake and exhaust upgrades. It is possible to go inexpensive but not cheap!

 

I take it that you have a street port or some other porting?

 

I'm running a stockport 12a with a TII turbo. I've used two Rotaryshack nikki's and a weber 48dcoe. The weber was around $500 and I made my own intake manifold for $13. The weber was much easier to change jets but harder to get tuned right. Made a bit more power than the nikki, but got a bit worse mpg. For the money the weber cost it wasn't worth it to me, so I sold it for basically how much I bought it for and got another nikki.

 

I've got a 390 cfm Holley on a RB intake, and I don't mind it. very driveable,

but I'd say if you haven't changed to a header yet, stop everything and save for a TII. Your going to like the power from the headers and intake, but eventually you'll want MORE. happens to everybody... I personally regret spending the money for the header, intake and carb as fun as it is.

 

Ya if you read I wrote SP (streetport) 12a in my second paragraph.

 

I have a Mikuni 44 on mine and I love it...MPG is ok, but the throttle response is awesome and the choke works very well...I highly reccomend it...Watch for Fuel slosh in the Holleys..Sterlings are good too...