86242ls

Agreed!!!

242LS

Well....

1) I have the brand new 1409s sitting in my garage (I could return them, but a hassle
2) The Holley 4150s are $110 more, each - and I'd need 2.
3) From what I read about the two carbs, the 1409 is for a beginner - like me - easy and doesn't require a lot of tweaking (and the knowledge to get it right). The 4150 sounds like a great carb for an experienced gear head who knows how to get the most out of it.

Should I REALLY return the 1409s and get the 4150s???

srdrago

IM trying to gain some more speed on my 242ls 1985 with stock 350. I hit 43 Last summer, Dont remember the prop. Doing thru hull this spring. Any suggestions on a quick way to gain speed. (and yes i got a skinnier girl this year )

88242LS

cubic inches (454)

sprink58

Considering ALL of the above...no ...keep what you have. Be advised however...the 4150's have worked for me and my brother on 350 MerCruisers "staight out of the box" with no tweaking (other than checking the float level which was fine) required. What I like about the mechanical secondaries vs. vacuum in a boat is that you can hear and feel the secondaries open and close. We get on a plane quickly and back off to a cruise running on primaries only...it's like having 2: 2 bbl carbs on each engine!! With gas on the water at near$4/gal...knowing your running on the primaries only in a cruise can save some $$$.

I have Q-Jets on mine and I just re-built the starboard carb....I understand about economising...but when I do change carbs I'll go to the "Double Pumpers". In my opinion the only system that tops it is the MPI.

sprink58

Make sure that what you have is tuned properly...good ignition,proper timing, clean carbs, fresh plugs, clean fuel filters, straight props. Sometimes that combo can gain 3~5 MPH.

242LS

Thanks - you don't think I'll be able to hear the secondaries kick in with the 1409s? I thought they would behave and sound similar - just auto vs manual setting. I agree that hearing it will be important to know I'm not wasting fuel cruising...

sprink58

Maybe...but you can't really control it as well since the secondary operation is a function of vacuum. With mechanical secondaries there is no question about what's going on....but again in your case since you already have the carbs...run them. You will get a feel for what's going on and can adjust your throttle setting once you know what the sweet spot is.

On my 255 w/ twin 260's with Q-Jets I think my secondaries are starting to open at about 3500~3800 RPM once I'm on plane with an average load. I can run about 40 MPH +/- before they begin to open but I'm really guessing. When i come out of the hole, I trim the drives all the way in...tabs all the way in and gradually push the throttles all the way open. The 255 planes reasonably quickly ....I trim the planes to neutral and leave the drives alone unless I'm planning on a 50 + MPH run. I back off the throttles enough to hold about 30~35 and just cruise on the primaries. My secondaries are all the way in as I'm getting up but they open slowly...they have to because there is no secondary accelerator pump for the back half of the carb...so the secondaries are always waiting for a vacuum signal before they will start opening.

My brother has a single 260 in a Formula F3. He changed from the Q-Jet to the "Double Pumper" last year. His boat jumps out of the hole and has a very crisp feel to the throttle compared to the Q-Jet. Once he learned how to stay out of the secondaries his fuel economy increased about 15% and he added about 5 MPH on the top with no other changes.

242LS

Sprink58 - great details. I felt like I was out on the water with you! I'm going the try the 1409s this summer and see how it goes. I like the option of selling them as "1 season old" and getting the "double pumpers" next year. An easy change too.

Thanks.

endeavour32

Time for an update. I replaced the stainless manifolds with Keith Eickert Headers and dumped the old beat up 21 Mirage from last year with a new 21 Mirage Plus. New Speed.... 69 MPH (Livorsi GPS Speedo) @ 5900 RPMs. Last year in flat water I could get 61-62 so thats an increase of 7 MPH. I'll update again once I have Brett at BBlades work the prop.