Wagon master

Hey all

Been awhile since I've been here, but after taking our 9passenger wagon on a road trip, I found really bad fuel mileage. Here is what I am thinking. Any input is surely welcome!

1. Replace the factory Quadra jet with a Edelbrock performer 450
2. Install shorty headers for street use. Want to know what the community thinks
3. Upgrade the ignition system to MSD distributor coil, and ignition module. Again, Input welcome
4. New Plugs and Wires. AC delco plugs and Accel wires

Let me know if my plan sounds crazy

Thanks in advance
Perry

jimmyblue

Well, I walked away from an Edelbrock carb and back to
the Q-jet, because my carb kept getting empty bowl when
sitting. The Edelbrock (with rod & jet kit) was pretty easy
to tune (I have a LM-1 WBO2 meter). But the final straw
came with the 700R4 swap, and needing the right TV
cable fittings seemed like a struggle (with bad consequences
if you get it wrong, supposedly).

There's guys on eBay selling rebuilt Q-jets with upgrades
(like I got adjustable part throttle mixture screw, and the
"known issues" all dressed, non-emissions jets and rods)
for less than you can get an Edelbrock retail (and figure
you'll be wanting the rod & jet kit if you want to adjust anything).

Shorties do not do much, relative to log manifolds. I like the
look of "ram's horn" (like Sanderson) but they're spendy.
I've got some Blackjack mid-lengths which look like ***,
rust like mad, couldn't tell you whether they did anything.
Long tubes at least stand some chance of building out
mid-range torque, helpful for a low-revving boat.

If you've got HEI then I wouldn't bother messing until
the coil or ignition module go out.

Can't go far wrong with good quality plugs and wires.
Wires unlikely to matter unless they're compromised.
Take care with quality, I've had some day-glo hot rod
wires whose outer insulation couldn't take lying against
a primary tube. Don't like cut-to-fit, at all. I'll pay more
for Packard or other high quality construction.

Now your fuel economy may just suck because you
are rolling 5000 pounds of refrigerator aerodynamics.
I was getting a sweet 8MPG combined (whole point
of the 700R4 swap). And that was all tuned up. A
heavy fun-lovin' foot might have had a part.