Bigger carb or bigger headers opinions needed

I am looking to do an upgrade for my truck and I'm not sure which will net me the best gain for my combo. It's a 514 10.5:1 with TFS streets, a custom solid ft, victor, 850dp and 1 7/8 headers. I want to do 2" headers with 3.5" collectors but if I won't see much gain I'll hold off and work on getting a 4500 carb and modifying the intake. Truck has been a best of 9.98 at 130 on a 200 shot. I'd like to be in the .70s -.80s. I will go a bit bigger on the nitrous but I have a cast crank so not going to big.

If it was mine, it would definitely get a bigger carb regardless. With the spray, bigger headers too.

Indeed both. Although I'd say the carb at the moment will make the bigger difference and is, of course, easier to change and try.

Does it have an exhaust system on it?

It's needs both but I wouldn't mess around with a 2 inch header... Build yourself some 2-1/4 primary tube headers probably 4 inch collectors and at least a 3.5 inch exhaust system if your not running open headers....your engines pump gas compression would lead me to believe it needs more help getting the air out.... Especially with the nitrous... Then I would look into a dominator carb but they can be tuff to get tuned for street driving...  Have fun!

tfsbbf466 wrote:I am looking to do an upgrade for my truck and I'm not sure which will net me the best gain for my combo. It's a 514 10.5:1 with TFS streets, a custom solid ft, victor, 850dp and 1 7/8 headers. I want to do 2" headers with 3.5" collectors but if I won't see much gain I'll hold off and work on getting a 4500 carb and modifying the intake. Truck has been a best of 9.98 at 130 on a 200 shot. I'd like to be in the .70s -.80s. I will go a bit bigger on the nitrous but I have a cast crank so not going to big.

This appears to be a race truck so, the headers for sure; especially when you are using any nitrous.

This truck is a stock suspension street truck that I drive everywhere. I don't use or own a trailer. It has 1 7/8 headers with 3" collectors to a full 3" exhaust, x pipe to magnaflows. The only headers I can get off the shelf are from Mad Dog and are 2" primary with 3.5" collectors. I will do both eventually but the funds only cover one or the other at this point. It has been 11.25 117 on motor with a tight nitrous converter but I'm more focused on the spray at this point. I'd like to see 9.70s this season.

I've heard of people talking about maddog before but I've never seen any of their headers.. Wonder if they would consider making some bigger tubes for our trucks? I had to build my own 2 inch set for my truck... The next engine I build for mine will most likely run better with a bigger yet primary tube probably 2-1/4... My exhaust system mimickes yours and I only have a 390 ish cube engine. 2 inch primary 3.5 collector 3.0 x-pipe and hooker maxflows in front of the rear axle and dynomax race bullets behind the rear axle... Exhaust is mandrel bent 3 inch... I added cut outs after the x-pipe if I want to make more noise lol

Lol.....Id start spending my money on a cage! But since that's not the question...do the carb first.

dirt_worker wrote:Lol.....Id start spending my money on a cage! But since that's not the question...do the carb first.

x2

dirt_worker wrote:Lol.....Id start spending my money on a cage! But since that's not the question...do the carb first.

Haha yeah that's somewhere on the list. I wanted to do that over the winter but my daily driver got the better of my fun money.

I still got those brake rotors if you still want them

Hard to argue with a guy whose truck pulls the front wheels like that! lol

X2 = Good advice all around.

I have the 2" primary maddog fenderwell exit headers on my 78 model bronco.  I have no issues w/ the quality on the headers.....however, the header flange on mine is not one piece = each pipe is separate where they bolt to the head.  I've had loads of trouble getting these things to seal up and they are a major pain in the a** to put on.  It literally takes about 3 hours to get these things on and I've done it about 10 times now!!!!  I have 3 special 3/8 wrenches that I've made to get the bolts tightened up....but then again, maybe all headers are tough to get on like this

I appreciate the feedback on Mad dog but the pics of the headers I have on 2wd trucks ade 1 piece flanges so that shouldn't be an issue.

p



Cody, I sent you a pm on facebook