Best Carburetor For Ford 302: Reviews, Buying Guide, and FAQs 2023

There are so many important parts that make a car engine function well. One such part is the Carburetor.

Now, you will find lots of cars equipped with modern gadgets and minicomputers. Most of which contribute nothing to the smooth running of the vehicle engine. Instead, they make the car look posh and improve the overall comfort the car affords users.

Essentially, the Carburetor supplies fuel to parts of the engine that needs. Carbon from the fuel or gasoline mixes with air and moves to the internal combustion chamber of the engine where power is produced. Due to how simple it is to install and how important it can be to the smooth running of an engine, carburetors are not only used in cars. They are also used in generators, motorcycles, lawnmowers, tractors, among others.

As with most equipment that is in high demand, different top brands produce carburetors.

In this writeup, we will discuss the best carburetors for Ford 302 so you can get your car up and running without delay or issues.

Choosing a carburetor for your Ford 302 or any car at all requires you to be aware of certain technical specifications each carburetor comes with. These specifications decide whether or not a carburetor is compatible with your Ford 302's engine.

Using an incompatible carburetor in your car can cause damages to the engine. Some of these damages might require you to buy a completely new engine for your car.

Without further ado, here is our list of the Top Rated Best Carburetors for Ford 302.

Top Carburetor for Ford 302 by Editors' Picks

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  Preview
  Product
  Rating
• Bestseller No. 1
  
  Edelbrock 1405 Performer 600 CFM Square Bore 4-Barrel Air Valve Secondary Manual Choke...
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• Bestseller No. 2
  
  Holley HOL 0-80457SA Aluminum 600 CFM Four-Barrel Street Carburetor
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• Bestseller No. 3
  
  Autoparts 2-Barrel Carburetor Carb 2100 Fit for Ford 289 302 351 Cu Jeep 360 Engine...
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• Bestseller No. 4
  
  2-Barrel Carburetor for Ford for F100/for F250/for F350 with 289 302 351 Cu Engine,for...
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• Bestseller No. 5
  
  A-Team Performance - 154 2-Barrel Carburetor Carb 2100 - Compatible with Ford 289 302 351...
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Top 7 Best Carburetors for Ford 302 Review

1. 2 Barrel Carburetor with Electric Choke by BOOTOP PIN - Link

This 2-barrel carburetor by BOOTOP Pin has dimensions 6.9 x 6.7 x 4.8 inches and weighs 6.21 pounds.

The carburetor provides the necessary horsepower for your Ford 302 engine to run well. It is compatible with a wide list of Ford vehicles. It comes with low CFM which means you should expect consistent but low power output from the carb.

One of the things you will love about this carb is that it works with pieces from others Although it is easy to install, you might find it stressful to install.

Out of the box, you have the carburetor itself, a seal, and a mounting gasket. There are no instructions included as the brand recommends seeking professional help to install the carburetor.

Pros

• A quality carburetor that guarantees great engine performance
• Although the manufacturer recommends against modifying the carburetor, the carburetor can be tweaked to improve its performance.
• With the right fuel filter, you can rest assured there will be no fuel leak.

Cons

• No instructions manual included with the product. It requires professional installation for the best results.
• It comes with pretty low CFM. This should not be much of an issue immediately after installations but you will need to ramp up its power output after a couple of months of use.
• Users complain of some parts of the product being bent (damaged) on delivery. These damages are easily fixed.

2. Waverspeed 2-Barrel Carburetor with Electric Choke - Link

The waverspeed 2 Barrel Carburetor is one of the best carburetors for any classic American ford. It is one of the most versatile carburetors because you can use it for a series of Ford models. The most notable ones include Ford Mustang, Ford F250, Ford F100, Ford Comet, Ford F350, among others.

The Waverspeed 2 Barrel comes with a dimension of 11.5 x 9 x 7 inches and weighs 6.23 pounds. It is specially designed for improved performance in 302 and 351 Ford engines.

One of the main features of this carburetor is that it comes with its mounting gasket and seal. This prevents fuel leakages so that the engine is ready for use as soon as the waverspeed carburetor is installed.

The two barrels on the carburetor mean it can constantly supply air mixed with fuel to the engine when it is running at idle or medium speed. It also means there will be a significant increase in power output since there is always extra air-fuel mixture available in the barrels should the engine need it.

Out of the box, you also receive compatible air filters for the carburetor and your engine. This prevents damages to the engine's components that are often caused by debris in the fuel or dust from the road.

Pros

• It supports a wide variety of Ford vehicles
• Two barrels means there is improved engine performance.
• There is a mounting gasket and seal that helps prevent leakages after installation.
• It comes with its unique air filters so you do not have to buy separate ones.
• Adds about 10% horsepower for better engine power output.
• Features an automatic electric choke.
• Perfectly fits Ford 302 engine without any tunning.
• Great throttle response

Cons

• Even with the air filters, you need to regularly clean the oil channels of this carburetor.
• Users with vintage Ford mustang complain of the electric choke blowing their engine's fusible link after wiring it to the ignition system.
• Since it is a universal carburetor for a variety of Ford engine models, you have to make multiple modifications to get the best performance out of your engine.

3. Edelbrock 1405 Performer 600 CFM Square Bore 4-Barrel Air Valve - Link

The Edelbrock 1405 Performer carburetor is designed and calibrated with optimum engine performance in mind.

Unlike the two carburetors already reviewed above, the Edelbrock 1405 Performer only features one feed fuel inlet. It does come with 4-Barrel air valves that ensure there is no performance drop-off.

NOTE: This carburetor is only calibrated for gasoline.

One of the best things about this carburetor is that you can expect a consistent fuel supply. This in turn reduces fuel consumption while increasing the engine mileage. The multiple air valves mean it is suitable for use in cold regions since there is always a rich supply of air to mix with the fuel.

The carburetor features a shiny silver finish that ensures improved durability. This significantly increases the life span of the carburetor making it a long-term solution for your Ford 302 engine.

It does come with a manual choke which can be quite inconvenient for some. However, having a manual choke means you have complete control of how your engine starts. That said, the Edelbrock 1405 Performer supports modifying. In other words, you can remove the manual choke and replace it with an electric one.

Unlike most carburetors that do not specify their CFM, the Edelbrock 1405 Performer can only handle a maximum flow rate of 600 CFM.

You will also be glad to know that the Edelbrock Carburetor comes with a 90-day exclusive warranty.

Pros

• Features a manual choke.
• Comes with a brushed shiny silver finish
• Allows modifications so you can tune the carburetor, switch to an electric choke, etc.
• Only works with gasoline engines
• Comes with a four-barrel air valve for high airflow, fuel efficiency, and increased mileage.
• Features a square bore flange
• Universal fit for most Ford Engines.
• Features metering rods that can transition between circuits.
• Immune from engine backfires
• Fires up your engine right out of the box.
• Impressive throttle response

Cons

• The throttle shaft starts leaking after continuous use.

4. NENKUTEN 2 Barrel Carburetor with Electric Choke Gasket - Link

The NENKUTEN 2 Barrel Carburetor offers you a premium addition to your engine. Made from premium aluminum alloy, his carburetor is highly durable and one of your best bets to replace your damaged or defective carburetor.

Weighing 6.21 pounds and a dimension of 11.82 x 9.13x 6.85 inches, this carb brings top performance to your engine thanks to its 2 Barrel air valves. This carburetor is compatible with a wide variety of Ford Mustang Engines and comes with an electric choke for easy usage.

Out of the box, you get a mounting gasket and a seal ring that prevents leakages. With this, you can start your ford's engine as soon as you complete the installation process!

Pros

• Offers great value for money and provides ultra-high performance to your engine.
• Its painted premium aluminum alloy makes it wear-resistant and able to stand intense heat/corrosion.
• It comes with an electric choke making it an excellent choice if you live in cold regions
• Comes with a mounting gasket and a seal ring to prevent leakages.
• Compatible with a wide list of Ford vehicles and Jeep Wagoneer models.

Cons

• Although it is marketed as a universal fit, the brand also recommends users compare the product with a picture of their old or defective carb.
• Professional installation is required which can be a bit inconvenient.

5. Holley HOL 0-80457SA Aluminum 600 CFM Four-Barrel Street Carburetor - Link

Holly is one of the few brands that consistently deliver quality products in the carburetor market. There are at least three different carburetors from Holley that would work well for your Ford 302. One of them is the Holley HOL 0-80457SA Aluminum Street carburetor.

Made primarily from aluminum, this carburetor sports a polished look and is designed as a performance upgrade for V-8 engines. The carburetor is calibrated to deliver excellent street performance as soon as you install it.

Although it comes with a lot of interesting features, one notable one is the factory preset electric choke that makes starting up the engine relatively hassle-free.

The carburetor also comes with vacuum secondaries that makes it a universal fit for a wide variety of Ford vehicle.

Pros

• Ready to use right out of the box once installed.
• Excellent responsive throttle that comes with a preset electric choke.
• Not much tunning needed out of the box
• Impressive engine performance and mileage despite being a 600 CFM carburetor.
• Works in auto transmission vehicles with the right adapter.
• Supports wet flow for safe engine use.
• Features an automatic electric choke.

Cons

• For best performance, you need to have compatible gasket kits for the carburetor. However, this kit is sold separately.
• For people living in regions with cold climates, you might sometimes experience electric choke malfunctions.

6. A-Team Performance 154 2-Barrel Carburetor - Link

The A-Team Performance only comes with 300 CFM which makes it a small universal carburetor for most Ford and Jeep Wagoneer engines. It is not a direct replacement but it would serve your Ford 302 engine well.

This carburetor can easily be modified depending on the type of engine you are installing it on. For instance, it comes with an automatic choke system but you have to change its heating tube to make it compatible with a stock 302 Mustang engine. Luckily all the fittings and parts you will need to adjust this carb are available in most hardware stores.

NOTE: Because of the many minor modifications this carburetor requires, we recommend taking your car to a repair shop for professional assistance.

Pros

• It is not a direct replacement for the stock carburetor on your engine but it would work nicely with some modifications on most Ford engines.
• Offers great value for money.
• Comes with every necessary extra part, including fuel lines, you need to kickstart your engine once the carburetor is installed.

Cons

• Adjusting the choke is very difficult because there is no data to work with.

7. 2-Barrel Carburetor by LEIMO

This 2 Barrel Carburetor by LEIMO meets all the necessary OEM standards required of car carburetors.

It comes with an electric choke and is made of premium aluminum alloy. Manufactured to prevent rust and shatterproof, there is so much to love about it.

Unlike most of the carburetors for Ford 302 reviewed on this post, this one is only compatible with a shortlist of Ford engines.

It comes with an internal combustion engine and an accelerating pump all of which adds up to 10% more horsepower to your engine for better performance.

The carburetor is has improved fuel efficiency while keeping a stable performance over long periods. It only works with gasoline engines and would automatically adjust itself depending on the working conditions of your car's engine.

Out of the box, it also comes with a mounting gasket and seal. There is also a 180 days warranty on this carburetor. This warranty covers return expenses should there be a reason to. The brand also has customer service that responds to users' queries.

Pros

• Beautiful and powerful replacement for your defective carburetor.
• Improves the fuel efficiency and mileage of your engine.
• Comes with a mounting gasket and a seal.
• 180-day warranty available
• Automatically matches the working conditions of your engine.

Cons

• The customer service is often unresponsive.
• Only compatible with a few Ford engine models such as Ford 302, Ford 289, Ford 351 Cu, etc.

Best 2-Barrel or 4-Barrel Ford 302 Carburetor Buying Guide

As earlier stated in this writeup, there are certain technical specifications you need to keep in mind before buying a carburetor. These specs, which we will discuss below, are not unique only to a Ford 302 engine. They are important specs or features that every carburetor has that can determine if it is compatible with a car's engine or not.

Carb Size

Carb Size or Carburetor Size is perhaps one of the most important specs of a carburetor. it is also the easiest way to determine if a carb is compatible with your engine to give the best performance or not.

One important thing to keep at the back of your mind is that a big-sized carb does not generate more power for your engine! Unless the big-sized carburetor is compatible with your engine, you risk engine burnout among other issues.

Fortunately, there is a formula that can help you select the right carburetor size for your engine. The formula is:

Carburetor CFM (Cubic Feet Per Minute) = engine size (cubic inches) x Maximum RPM/3456.

NOTE: The CFM formula assumes that you have an engine that has a volumetric efficiency of 100 percent. Most vehicles, including your Ford 302 are usually only capable of 80 percent efficiency when put to test.

That said, simply take the size of your engine and its maximum RPM, slot it into the formula and you should get an estimated CFM that indicates the size of a carburetor you should choose.

RPM Range

Asides from using the RPM (Rotations Per Minute) of the engine to calculate the size of a carburetor, there are other uses for it. In case you are wondering, the RPM of your vehicle is simply a unit of measurement for your engine's idle running speed. This means the speed of the engine when it is running but the vehicle isn't moving.

The minimum and maximum RPM of your vehicle can decide the type of carburetor you should buy for your vehicle.

Choke

This feature is important if you live in a cold region since your engine won't start unless your carburetor has one. However, you don't need to check if a carburetor has one if you live in a region with a relatively warm climate.

The choke covers the primary barrel of a carburetor to prevent air from passing through. This is very important because, in cold regions, the temperature of your vehicle's engine gets very low which means more air is required to mix with the fuel to get the engine to warm up.

Throttle Response

It is important to check that the carburetor you are buying comes with a good throttle response. Throttle response means how responsive the throttle valve is when you put pressure on the accelerator paddle.

Hence, the durability and performance of your vehicle's engine depend greatly on the quality of the throttle compatible with the carburetor.

NOTE: There are other features you can also consider when buying a carburetor, however, the ones discussed above determine the type of engine performance you get.

Carburetor for Ford 302 FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Ford 302 carburetors:

Can Carburetor cause engine overheating?

Yes, a carburetor can cause your vehicle engine to overheat if it is not compatible with the engine. In other words, an incompatible carb will work with your engine. The only downside is it would cause a host of issues including but not limited to engine overheating.

What makes a carburetor overflow?

This is one of the most common problems you might face with your carburetor. There are only two reasons why this might happen:

- The float needle valve of your carburetor is stuck; OR

- It is worn due to wear caused by continuous use.

Either of these can cause the valves not to properly close which in turn leads to fuel overflowing. Depending on the components contained in the fuel, it can cause minor damage to your carburetor.

How to clean a car carburetor?

Cleaning your car's carburetor is easier than you think. Below are the steps to follow:

1. Remove and clean the air filters. The filters prevent debris and dust from entering your engine which means they would be dirty when you remove them.

2. Remove hoses and other linkages that are connected to the carburetor.

3. Unscrew the carburetor from its seat.

4. Clean the outer part of the carburetor using compressed air.

5. Remove the float cover, float pin, and other parts.

6. Clean all the parts and leave the carburetor to dry.

7. Assemble and re-install once completely dry.

A simpler and perhaps the best way to clean your car's carburetor will be to take it to a repair shop. This is because there is less chance of you breaking something or losing a part while cleaning. Asides from that, your engine will also likely be tuned for better performance after cleaning the carburetor with professional help.

Buy on Walmart

Edelbrock 1405 Performer 600 CFM Square Bore 4-Barrel Air Valve Secondary Manual Choke - Walmart Link

Holley HOL 0-80457SA Aluminum 600 CFM Four-Barrel Street Carburetor - Walmart Link

Autoparts 2-Barrel Carburetor Carb 2100 Fit for Ford 289 302 351 Cu Jeep 360 Engine - Walmart Link

2-Barrel Carburetor for Ford for F100/for F250/for F350 with 289 302 351 Cu Engine,for - Walmart Link

A-Team Performance 154 2-Barrel Carburetor Carb 2100 Compatible With Ford 289 302 351 - Walmart Link

Buy on eBay

Edelbrock 1405 Performer 600 CFM Square Bore 4-Barrel Air Valve Secondary Manual Choke - eBay Link

Holley HOL 0-80457SA Aluminum 600 CFM Four-Barrel Street Carburetor - eBay Link

Autoparts 2-Barrel Carburetor Carb 2100 Fit for Ford 289 302 351 Cu Jeep 360 Engine - eBay Link

2-Barrel Carburetor for Ford for F100/for F250/for F350 with 289 302 351 Cu Engine,for - eBay Link

A-Team Performance 154 2-Barrel Carburetor Carb 2100 Compatible With Ford 289 302 351 - eBay Link

Conclusion for Ford 302 Carburetor Buyers

With this review and buying guide, you should now know the important things that can make or break your Ford 302 engine. Without a functioning engine, your vehicle simply won't move.

When you do buy a carburetor, you can always take it to a repair shop to install into your vehicle engine or DIY by following the manufacturer's instructions, if there is any.

Remember, a good carburetor, plus proper maintenance, guarantees you top-notch performance from your vehicle engine.