Carb question - Holley 500?

[OldGray]

I have a 305 with a Rochester 2GC (?).  It had the hot air choke (I think) but none of it was operational so I removed a lot of it and installed a manual choke cable.  But, I am having issues with it, so I thought maybe I'd switch it out for a Holley 500 2bbl with manual choke.  (Pics below are before I added Manual choke)

1) Is the correct model Holley the 4412?  Will it work with my stock Air Cleaner?

2) How does the Transmission kick-down work?  (Carbs are a mystery to me... derp)

3) What I want is a very simple, manual choke carb and I was told the Holley 500 was the one to get.  And my buddy said to be sure to get one with EXTERNAL float adjustment.  Any suggestions other than the Holley?

4) Am I just as well off rebuilding the Rochester and using it modified to a manual choke?  I am on a budget and if this would work as well then maybe that is the way I should go...?

THANKS

[Stewart G Griffin]

1) don't know
2) What trans do you have?

3) see 4

4) i think the 2G is just as good, if not better, than the holley.  What issues are you having?

[OldGray]

Turbo 350 trans.

I will get pics of the carb as it is now, tomorrow.  It is kind of "rigged" with the manual choke.  It runs rough at times when low throttle.

I think more pics will show you what I am dealing with so I'll get them posted tomorrow - thanks.

[Stewart G Griffin]

2) So for a TH-350, the kickdown cable is attached to the throttle arm and at 3/4 throttle (or so?) this tells the trans to kickdown to the next lowest gear for acceleration or something like that?    (not sure how this is handled at full throttle in top gear?)

3,4) it looks like the one you got is already a reman unfortunately, rebuilding it MAY help it to run better at low throttle.    The best thing is to find a 2G specific for the truck.

Don't have time to research the holleys right now.  i'm sure one will fit and the advantage is that it's a brand new carb.

[OldGray]

I have a buddy who says he has an aluminum 4bbl intake that he will give me.  He also says he has a Quadrajet that he'll give me as well, but may need a rebuild. 

Since one of my concerns is better MPGs, will I be better off with a 4bbl and just keep my foot out of it? 

I have heard that (as much of a pain as it can be) that a Quadrajet might be a good setup for my truck, especially for gas savings.  What do you think?

Or... I can use the intake and maybe get a Holley 600?

Just weighing options - and hoping to not spend a ton of cash.

[OldGray]

May have solved the problem - at least for now.  First of all the throttle cable was attached by a bolt and it kept getting loose, so I solved that problem with another bolt mounted to the throttle lever and then mounting the cable to it using a nylon lock nut - so it should be solid now.

Next thing was - since most of the Auto-choke parts are long gone, I rigged up a manual choke.  But the fast idle cam kept slipping around since there is nothing holding it anymore, and when it did that the idle would drop or raise and it would run rough.  Since I don't need it (?) I made a tiny bracket to hold it in place.  Now the Manual choke works fine and the fast idle cam is basically stuck in place.

Also cleaned it out with carb cleaner a bit, so hopefully it will be okay.  If I don't end up needing another carb, then it will stay!

[Stewart G Griffin]

When you close the choke now, does the fast idle cam move?   i know you said it's basically stuck in place but i'm not sure how that is possible unless you disconnected a linkage or something?

[OldGray]

There are two small levers on the outside of the choke on the driver's side of the carb.  The one from the fast-idle cam (connected by the upright linkage rod) moves the one from the choke.  You can see the one from the choke is bent out of the way and so it moves freely of the fast idle cam linkage now.  And the linkage to the fast idle is blocked from moving now.

Spent the evening hooking up a Transmission kick-down cable bracket, but my cable is stretched, so once the new one I ordered arrives then all will be settled with getting the carb (somewhat) back to normal.  (The truck was a mess when I got it - many things were put together in strange ways...

Still, if I run across a good used Holley 500 I may pick it up.