I have a complete 1957 292 2V Ford Engine that I am thinking about swapping into a 1955 TBird.  The engine has '57 big valve heads, good rockers, exhaust manifolds, cam, distributor, Ect.   This engine has the stock 2V iron manifold and the stock Autolite 2V Carb.  I am wondering how this engine will run with a Holley 500 cfm 2 barrel Carb?  Is it worth the expense and trouble to go to a 4 barrel Carb for spirited street use? 

I ran a Holley 500 carb on a basically stock 292 for a number of years. I thought it worked well and was with the recommended CFM.

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

The best option will be a 4 barrel.  The primaries will be better suited for throttle response and low end performance without sacrificing the high end because of the secondaries.  You should get better fuel mileage because you are effectively running a smaller 2 barrel until the secondaries open..

If the 292 is not out of a bird, a couple items will not work, and you will have to swap some engine mounting related and other pieces from your original motor.


Lawrenceville, GA

I agree with charlie 100% on this. The Holley 500 2 bbl was originally intended as a race Carb for AHRA and some roundy round Two barrel only classes of racing. It's not really a very good part throttle street carburetor.



Frank/Rebop

Bristol, In ( by Elkhart) 

I had one on a '69 Ranchero with a 302 for a while. Ran better than the stock carb but sucked more gas. The '57 and up 4 barrel intake and carb will perform better and get better millage. You will need the front cover, spacer and crankshaft pulley off the T bird plus the front mount and side stabalizers. You will need the '57 distributor to run right with the latet model 4 barrel but you will lose the tach drive from the T Bird distributor. The '57 Bird tach drive distrubitor will be expensive. Cheap fix is to fit an electric tach in the existing hole in the dash. This combo should be a good street driver.