Prior to installing an Edelbrock carburetor, clean the mounting surface on the intake manifold. Install a base gasket and then a thermo-block and one more gasket on the top of that. The thermo-block is a thick, approximately ¼-inch thermo shield from the heat of the engine transferring to the carburetor. If this heat transfers to the fuel, it could cause expansion and possible vapor lock. The colder the fuel the better the gas mileage and mixture for power.
Lay the carburetor on the studs in the manifold and install the nuts with flat washers. Tighten the carb down to no more than 18 foot pounds of torque. Too much torque tends to warp the carburetor and could crack the base of the carb.
Install the fuel line keeping it from touching the engine and away from the exhaust, which would transfer heat to the fuel. Any portion of the fuel line that is closer than 6 inches of the exhaust needs to be insulated with asbestos tape or a metal standoff shield between the fuel line and the exhaust. Use Teflon tape on the threads of the fuel line connector to prevent the possibility of leaks.
Carburetors do not normally come with any way of hooking the throttle linkage so this must be purchased separately. If the throttle cable has a spring lock on the end that gets attached, a ball kit is required and goes in the top hole of the throttle lever on the carb. Another ball kit will be needed for the TV cable. This is the kickdown cable for the transmission. This ball gets placed at the bottom of the throttle lever. A return spring will also be needed. A bracket should already be present to hold the throttle cable and the TV cable. If not one must be installed. Install these and take the throttle cable end and snap it into the top ball. Install the TV cable over the ball and adjust its position at the bracket. The cable should be adjusted so that the ball is in the middle of the slider in the TV cable. Install the spring so that it does not interfere with throttle movement.
Attach the vacuum line for the transmission vacuum modulator to the bottom constant vacuum source or the plug that is below the throttle plate. Install the vacuum advance to the port that is signaled or right above the throttle plate. Install the large vacuum line to the back of the carb for the power brake.
Hook up the choke by attaching a switched hot wire to the choke. This circuit, if not already present, needs to be on a 30-amp fused circuit. Just make sure that it is turned on and off with the key. You can test the circuit with a voltmeter to be sure power comes on with the key.
Install the center stud for the air cleaner and the air cleaner. Start the vehicle and allow it to warm up. Adjust the idle mixture by turning in the driver's side screw, in the bottom front of the carb, until the engine starts to slow down. Turn the screw out until the engine reaches its highest rpm and then turn the screw in a quarter turn. Do the same to the opposite screw and then repeat the procedure one more time.
