Mike seems to think that I have enough head, converter, cam, and RPM to utilize one. I am also running a trans brake this year.

I would not do it on a pure street motor myself. I am kinda leary of the 450 too. Not sure why, I just don't care for them. I'm weird like that.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

well, I am going to be around 11 to 1 compression, clifford 280/290 cam, headers, and a ton of head work with oversized valves.

I am getting a hundred different opinions on the carb choice around here.

what spooks you about the 450? I honestly haven't even seen one before so I have no opinion of it.

I just have never had any trouble with a 390. I have run faster on motor with it than either a 600 VS Holley or a 500 Edelbrock. I am a great believer in "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

I ahve really never seen anyone run that well with a 450. Not sure anything is wrong with it, just haven't seen it proven to be better than my 390. I would wager that airflow is pretty close to the same anyway.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

okay, I never really had any trouble with my 390 either, it could just use a rebuild.

what size power valve and jets were you using? do anything else special?

You'll just have to play with jets and power valves until you get it right for your combination. I have run jets anywhere from 56-72, and run with and without power valves.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.

*sigh*

I was afraid of that. oh well. at least I know I am not the only one that liked the holley.

I like Holleys ,,,,,ALOT,,,,EVEN THE 1920's,,but I dont like the Demon carbs because of the customer service.I bought a 625 Road Demon back in 2000 to install on a basically stock 360 and never could get it to run right --too rich-- stalled--no matter of tuning helped and the four corner idle wasnt worth a damn. I didnt encounter any trash or debris in my carb,it just didnt run right,I reinstalled my 600Holley and all was better again.When I called BG Fuel to ask for help or a an exchange they treated me like crap and all but told me I was stupid if I couldny get their carb to work.No more Demon carbs for me or any other BG Fuel products.

Btw,,I found it very easy to tune my 390 Holley for my 170 HyperPak motor and it has very nice street manners also.

HyperValiant

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1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress