I saw an ebay auction for a Holley 870 Carb, brand new, never been used.

They go for 435.00 with out the handling charges from Summit.

It was a reserve auction and ended without the reserve being met. I emailed the seller, and although it is the sellers first auction, he/she has 100 percent on the items they have purchased through ebay. So I emailed the seller and told him to make me an offer and I would buy it.

I received the message today, the seller is willing to let me have it for $250. The sweet part of it, in my opinion, is that it turns out the seller lives in the same town as I, so I could pick it up and see the carb before purchase.

Do you think this is a good deal? Secondly do you think this carb will work well with a 489, 049 Heads, 60205 Voodoo Cam, RPM manifold.



Thank YOu,

Big D

I bought that same carb BRAND NEW for my 496. I couldn't get the carb to even idle. It ran SUPER rich. I lost patience with it and reverted back to my near perfect EDL 800cfm carb.

I hear they are GREAT carbs is you can get them dialed in. I personally had a bad experience with mine so I ended up selling it.

In the future I WILL purchase another one because all I hear are positive comments about them.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103411&highlight=street+avenger

I bought that same carb BRAND NEW for my 496. I couldn't get the carb to even idle. It ran SUPER rich. I lost patience with it and reverted back to my near perfect EDL 800cfm carb.

I hear they are GREAT carbs is you can get them dialed in. I personally had a bad experience with mine so I ended up selling it.

In the future I WILL purchase another one because all I hear are positive comments about them.

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103411&highlight=street+avenger

This carb is brand new, still has the dust hat on it and box. The hardware that comes with it is still sealed in the bag. It has never been installed. So do you think I should go for it?

Big D

I like the 870 Street Avenger. I ran one on my 468 BB and it was great. I was even able to get 14-15 MPG on the higway with that carb. I will be using the same carb as my my cruiser peice for my new 496 when I won't be needing the race day 950 HP. :D

give it a whirl, local pickup blows off all the risk, you can sell and get your money back no sweat. this is a no-lose deal.

Jump on it!! You will be glad you did.

Can go wrong for 250.00, just sold my like new 870 on Ebay for little over 200.00

Brand new in the box for that price? I'd buy it even if I wasn't going to use it on a car!

I'm using one on a 468 and absolutly love it!!

But, I'm not sure if $250 is a good deal or not....give me the guys name and number and I'll let him know :D :D

J/K jump on it!!

I'm using one on a 468 and absolutly love it!!

But, I'm not sure if $250 is a good deal or not....give me the guys name and number and I'll let him know :D :D

J/K jump on it!!

Lol.. TY.... I may be a naive, so I had to ask; more for the use on my motor that is being built, then on the price.

Talked to the buyer and I am picking it up today.

Funny Coincidence,

I got offered one last night...870 Street Avenger, New in Box all plastic parts still sealed for $300. Am contemplating for my Chevelle. $250 is a good deal

Funny Coincidence,

I got offered one last night...870 Street Avenger, New in Box all plastic parts still sealed for $300. Am contemplating for my Chevelle. $250 is a good deal

Sure Hope your not in Springfield, IL :)

Just go off the phone, I will be picking it up after work today. Check this out though.. apparently she was selling the carbs for a friend of hers and had 4 of them. and 850, 870, 950, and an 1150. Except for the 870, they all sold for around 250-300.00. Too bad I didn't see the set of auctions earlier.

Big D

Running a 770 on a 454, right out of the box. Great performance, no problems except for my electric choke wire started heating up so I disconnected it.

That's a pretty good deal you got...

Running a 770 on a 454, right out of the box. Great performance, no problems except for my electric choke wire started heating up so I disconnected it.

That's a pretty good deal you got...

So I am guessing it should run fine on a 489.

Do you think it would work on my the mild 396 that is in the car now? Currently has a small carter AFB 650 on it.

Big D

My 870 ran a little fat at idle also. I ended up drilling the primaries - that cured it. Idle quality is really more a function of cam overlap and intake valve opening point. Some combo's just idle better - that's the conclusion I have made.

So I am guessing it should run fine on a 489.

Do you think it would work on my the mild 396 that is in the car now? Currently has a small carter AFB 650 on it.

Big D

I think it would be perfect for your 489, and maybe a little big for your 396.

IMHO, it is better to be slightly under carbed than to be slightly over carbed. Check out this formula from "How to Build Max Performance Rat Motor; Ed Staffel" ...

Minimum Carb CFM = (VE% x CID x MaxRPM)/3456

I dont know the particulars about your engine but let's assume a VE% of 85% and Max RPM of 6000rpm....

(396cid motor) CFM = (0.85 x 396 x 6000)/3456 = 584CFM
(489cid motor) CFM = (0.85 x 489 x 6000)/3456 = 721CFM

Increase VE% to 90%.....
(396cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 396 x 6000)/3456 = 618CFM
(489cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 489 x 6000)/3456 = 763CFM

Increase Max RPM to 7000....
(396cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 396 x 7000)/3456 = 721CFM
(489cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 489 x 7000)/3456 = 890CFM

This is just a rule of thumb and the values could change depending on how your combo is built and how you plan to drive it. Either way....you still got a heck of a deal :hurray:

I think it would be perfect for your 489, and maybe a little big for your 396.

IMHO, it is better to be slightly under carbed than to be slightly over carbed. Check out this formula from "How to Build Max Performance Rat Motor; Ed Staffel" ...

Minimum Carb CFM = (VE% x CID x MaxRPM)/3456

I dont know the particulars about your engine but let's assume a VE% of 85% and Max RPM of 6000rpm....

(396cid motor) CFM = (0.85 x 396 x 6000)/3456 = 584CFM
(489cid motor) CFM = (0.85 x 489 x 6000)/3456 = 721CFM

Increase VE% to 90%.....
(396cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 396 x 6000)/3456 = 618CFM
(489cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 489 x 6000)/3456 = 763CFM

Increase Max RPM to 7000....
(396cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 396 x 7000)/3456 = 721CFM
(489cid motor) CFM = (0.90 x 489 x 7000)/3456 = 890CFM

This is just a rule of thumb and the values could change depending on how your combo is built and how you plan to drive it. Either way....you still got a heck of a deal :hurray:


What is VE?

Here is my combo,

1973 454 Block... Stroked and bored to 489, and decked
1972 049 Heads, Larger Valve(2.09/1.88 I believe), Bowl Blend Mild Porting.
1.7 Roller Rockers
18+ CC Dome Pistons, 6.385" Rods
Performer RPM Intake.
Lunati Voodoo 60205
Thats the meet of it believe.

Big D

What is VE?
....
Big D

I was afraid you would ask that...:)

VE = volumetric efficiency
It's been a while since I took thermodynamics but basically, from my understanding, it is a comparison of the amount of fuel and air your engine consumes for a given power output. Fuel and air consumption of course is based on the state of tune, and size of your carb, and the rpm's.
So you can assume that the better matched your parts combo is, and the better your engine is tuned, the higher your VE will be. You can also infer (and see on dyno sheets) that the VE changes over the RPM range.

85% is a middle of the road figure between your average street mill and all out nascar engines.

Bottom Line: I'd thow that 870 on your 489. :)

A little off topic but...is that 489 a street mill? How does it run with that Voodoo '205 cam?

Correct me if I guess wrong, but are you somewheres between 9.5 to 10:1?

I just built a mild 454 for my biscayne and am already planning the next rebuild...hah! MORE POWER!!

Funny thing is, I ran the 870 on a stock 454HO, and it ran great. Ran the carb on my current combo, and its seemed to lack for some reason - needed to increase jetting. Strange...my engine doesnt seem to generate a strong enough signal at low rpms for a larger carb.

A little off topic but...is that 489 a street mill? How does it run with that Voodoo '205 cam?

Correct me if I guess wrong, but are you somewheres between 9.5 to 10:1?

I just built a mild 454 for my biscayne and am already planning the next rebuild...hah! MORE POWER!!

Yes it is a street mill, and don't know how it will run, but I am guessing pretty darn well. With the pistons, and the blocked being decked, I am hoping for somewhere around 10:1. The motor is still being build, just finished ordered the remaining hard parts today, Mor-20403 oil pan, pick-up, M77 pump, timing chain. Next week the motor will start going together. I don't even have a clue on how much power it will make, but I hoping it is more than a mildly worked over 396 with stock iron intake.

and hopefully before I retire in 30 years the motor will actually go in the car.

Ratbones had the 60204 in his 496, and then went for the bigger XE294. After talking with him and others on TC, I decided on the 60205. From what I understand, a block with almost 500 cubes can handle a little more cam without problems. My only concern is Vac for the Power Brakes, but I will tackle that when the time comes.


Big D

Sounds like it will be a brute :thumbsup:

It took me a year and a half to do my engine swap so I feel your pain....you'll forget all about it when you get it on the road! :beers:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=002&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=120131794123&rd=1,1

Here is the carb that I picked up locally.. It brand spanking new, still in the bag, and has that "new carb smell" Its purdy and for 250.00, it makes the rest of my trashed day a bit better. See my rant in Benchracing for that story.
Thank for the help


Big D