Need help with edelbrock 1406 carb

RustyRatRod said
People believe anything magazines and stupid TV shows tell them. The fact is, the Edelbrock 1406 is one of the best selling carburetors and NOT because of its performance, but because of genius marketing. The 1406 is ANYTHING BUT a performance carburetor. They are leaner than any factory style 4 barrel. If you're trying to use one for performance purposes, you're backing up and that's just all there is to it. If you want a performance version, get the 1405. They are calibrated for performance. The 1406 is calibrated for economy.

Lean or rich are tuning issues that essentially all carbs need to be correct for a given application. The original jetting may be lean for Carter/Edelbrock carbs, but that is just a metering rod or jet away. My experience with Carters is great. My 340 FB FS was no faster with a 750 Holley than the original AVS, but the AVS got far better fuel economy than the Holley.
What is more of an issue today is the quality of fuel. Ethanol eats the inside of carbs if let to sit for any length of time, and ethanol destroys Viton seals causing flooding. This can happen to any carb. Ethanol also eats the plating on steel gas tanks putting rust and oxides into the fuel system, also leading to leaks.
For us, the sad thing is, ethanol does nothing for emissions or performance unless you design the whole system to be compatible with it.