BLP CARB SHOOTOUT Your input please !

[Dave Braswell]

Now that Holley Performance Products owns BG we could see two more carburetor manufacturers entries. It would be interesting to see how their current factory products would fair against companies that actually produce carburetors for the upper levels of competition.

ONE ENGINE, ONE FUEL and ONE CARBURETOR....RUN WHATCHA BRUNG......

[jmarkaudio]

A lot depends on the final engine size, a large engine will be limited with a Holley or a Demon based carb as cast. Quick Fuel has a larger carb that can be tuned to work well, Bob Bailey ran 6.50's with a single QF 1450 on his A/ED at the Gators in March. A 400" or smaller engine might make it a bit more equal.

Ray, as far as test parameters you left out the best part of that dyno. The Revolution dyno has the ability to measure acceleration rate, closer to on track simulation than other dyno's.


http://www.revolutiondyno.com/

[Steve Zicht]

I would love to see Holley show up to the shoot out and show off one of their latest designs. Great PR for them also and theyll be at the PRI anyway ! Im also wondering if somebody that may have been an authorized Demon dealer might want to throw their had in the ring and enter. Some of Barry's stuff was innovative and was proven to make power even if Holley has aquired them.

Keep in mind readers, this competition does not require that an entry be based on a Holley format ! If somebody has an extreme hybrid that may be a CNC billet with an entirely different design concept and theyve been aching to show it off, this is your perfect oppertunity to do such by entering the shoot out.

jmark has brought up a good point about the dyno BLP has at their facility. This is a consensus that the participants will have to agree to. Will the shoot out be based on an ' average ' horse power or an ' acceleration ' measurement ?

Anything is allowed if it will bolt on the dyno engine and can be calibrated for race gas ! Run Watcha Brung ! SZ

[JDR Performance]

Steve or Rick, please check your pm box. You can count me in.

[Dave Braswell]

The use of a large engine will allow the use of both large and small format carburetors. Anything under about 1100 HP is not going to allow the larger carburetors display their full potential. The smaller SAE 1 1/2 V flange size carburetors will run just fine on a big motor. They do not have to be scored in the same catagory as the larger carburetors. By having two separate competitions within the same shoot out will allow a good comparison of which format actually accelerates the best. What runs best at the race track would still be open to speculation, but I would be willing to bet on the one that shows the quicker acceleration. Peak HP number do not win races (only bench races).

As far as scoring format, I think sweep time and average HP number would probably be the two major factors. The peak HP number could be used as a tie breaker.

[Steve Zicht]

JDR Carburetion is In !!! Just talked to John and their really excited to be in this ! Sign em up please Mr. Cole ! SZ

[Steve Zicht]

Great input Dave.

Now it looks like were starting to narrow the performance parameters down a bit and still keep the overall concept simple and not complicate it. Anyone else care to chime in with Mr. Braswells comments ? Some excellent carb builders do not offer the ultra large capacity carburetors. Could we have two separate competitions based on carburetor size ? SZ

[Keith Morganstein]

Great input Dave.

Now it looks like were starting to narrow the performance parameters down a bit and still keep the overall concept simple and not complicate it. Anyone else care to chime in with Mr. Braswells comments ? Some excellent carb builders do not offer the ultra large capacity carburetors. Could we have two separate competitions based on carburetor size ? SZ

IMHO, you only need one class. Have a reasonable displacement mule engine and the rest will take care of itself. No need to over-complicate things.

[Steve Zicht]

I guess this will ultimitely be decided when the mule test motor is decided on. As I understand, the first donar motor that somebody has made available is a 638 cubic inch BB Chev based platform that will be a detuned ' nitrous ' motor that will hold up to several dyno pulls. It could still be conceivable to have a shoot out based on 4150 and 4500 or larger capacities and not complicate the program.

The mule motor could change and be something else out entirely. I think what has to happen is that some of the engine building shops will have to chime in with a motor that they may wish to temporarily ' donate ' for the shoot out. If BLP has a few more engine options here, they could easily post the engine sizes in Speed Talk and let the participants decide on which format will suit best for everyone.

If readers here know of some very good race engine shops that may be interested in providing a reliable test mule, then give the shop a call and tell them about the carburetor shoot out. This might be an excellent oppertunity for a shop to strut their stuff and get great PR about it too. Somebody mentioned earlier about the possibility of ' two ' identicly prepared motors and use the second as a back up if one mule developed a problem. That would certainly assure a fail safe system as to everybody would get their chance to compete with their carburetor entry. Lets help Rick at BLP out here and come up with some dyno engine options that will work for everybody. The more help we provide now will assure a successful turn out in the fall.

Lets make it happen. SZ

[Steve Zicht]

UPDATE.

MIKE ROSS . Ross Racing Carburetion in Mo. is In !!!! Add him to the list Mr. Cole !! Wants to be informed of the final engine selection. entry fees and so forth as well as the final date that this will occur.

SZ

[CamKing]

The problem with running the smaller size carbs on a big engine, is that if the big engine is cammed for an RPM range with a CFM requirement well above the flow capacity of the smaller carbs, the carbs would see vacuum and fuel flow requirements well above what they would see on an engine they would normally run on. You'ld basicly turn the small carb class into a restricted carb class. That's great for guys that work on 2bbl and 390 carb classes, but not for everyone else.

If you're going to run two size classes of carbs on the same engine, you need to at least make a cam change to lower the RPM and CFM requirements. I'd also change the manifold too.

[Steve Zicht]

Ok then. Thus far, I'll update the latest list of shops that have been contacted. I will list the ones that cant make it for one reason or another so people will know in advance that they have been contacted about the shoot out and not to keep calling them. Some have other commitments on or about the PRI dates and others simply declined the invitation. Lets respect their decision and move on. They could change their minds at a later date and still attend the event.

De Vane Carburetion / In
CFM Carburetion / In
Mark Whitener / In
RayJaye Carburetion / In
Brasswell Carburetion / In
Quick Fuel Technolgy / In
C & S Carburetion / In
JDR Carburetion / In
Ross Carburetion / In
Carburetor Shop ( Cal. ) / In
A.E.D. ( VA ) / In
Nuytten Carburetion / ?
Baker Carburetion / ?
Holley Manufacturing / Need to Contact
Pro Systems / No
DamBest Carburetion / No
Competition Carburetion ( NV ) / No
VDL Carburetion / No
Da Vinci Carburetion ( TX ) / Need to Contact
SMI Carburetion ( Cal. ) / Need to Contact
K & B Carburetion ( OH ) / In
BRE Carburetion / Need to Contact

Are we forgetting anybody else thats a racing carburetor builder and vendor ? SZ

[razor66]

What about Book (BRE)? This is a shootout of many of the best carb builders in the industry, and I for one would sure like to see BLP get a chance to compete. I may be in the minority, but just because the competition is being held at their facility shouldn't necessarily exclude them. I'm sure they would prefer to avoid any possible controversy, but I would think measures could be taken to ensure everyone is on the same level playing field. This competition is to compare and learn from some of the best of the best in the industry so to me it would be a shame to exclude BLP from that opportunity.

[Keith Morganstein]

The problem with running the smaller size carbs on a big engine, is that if the big engine is cammed for an RPM range with a CFM requirement well above the flow capacity of the smaller carbs, the carbs would see vacuum and fuel flow requirements well above what they would see on an engine they would normally run on. You'ld basicly turn the small carb class into a restricted carb class. That's great for guys that work on 2bbl and 390 carb classes, but not for everyone else.

If you're going to run two size classes of carbs on the same engine, you need to at least make a cam change to lower the RPM and CFM requirements. I'd also change the manifold too.

Why not an engine in the 440-500 inch range? Can work with different carb styles and should be rock solid dependable.

[Steve Zicht]

Added BRE Carburetion to the list. They are closed and need to be contacted and given a heads up about the shoot out. If somebody knows them or does business with them, give them a call. Lets give everybody a chance to hear about this Shoot Out and see if their interested in signing up. SZ