Emissions and hose cleanup 1968 FE 390

[Ferris95]

I am taking off my original 2 bbl intake and replacing with with either an performer or performer RPM (still haven’t decided, but jump in!) and a Holley Street Warrior Carburetors 0-80457S from Summit. My question besides opinions on those 2 picks, is can I get rid of the coolant hoses that go through a spacer plate under the current 2bbl carb and also any emission stuff on 68 F-250 390 has? I am not sure, but since there are vacuum blocks that are blocked off now, I assume there has been some redoing of stock stuff. For the carb/intake part, I am pretty stock with only headers and a Davis Unified Ignition. Few more pics in second add on since it will only let me add 3 here.

[Ferris95]

Here are 3 more pics to maybe see it all. Thanks for any help!

[cep62]

The FE s took a long time to heat up , there's a lot of cast iron to get warm.
The heater hose was meant to help keep the carb from icing up in cold weather.
If it's a summer cruiser and doesn't see cold weather you should be fine eliminating it.

I am pretty stock with only headers and a Davis Unified Ignition.

If to want to save time and money you can get a 500 cfm 2bbl that will bolt in .
I doubt you'll miss the 100 cfm from the 4bbl.

[Ferris95]

Thanks cep62! I just may do that. Any 500cfm carb suggestions? One of the confusing Holley 2300’s? Not sure the difference between them all besides manual or electric choke. And better to stick with the manual chrome, or go electric? I wanna try to eliminate linkage issues with throttle and auto trans.
Oh, and I live in Charelston, SC, so I could just get rid of that whole spacer plate and just route that coolant hose from the front of the intake to the connection at the firewall? Sure would make it much cleaner! Just need one uncut heater hose and a one outlet hose fitting for the intake! If I get rid of the spacer plate, won’t I need another spacer plate to route the PCV though? Or can I get rid of that too?

[cep62]

I think a Holley might be your only choice. Electric or manual is up to you.
I have manual but that's for me. If you have different people driving it you might want electric.
You need a pcv you can get a spacer with provisions for one.
You could adapt a cable linkage from a later model truck without too much trouble.

[Jim Bathgate]

I have a 68 F350 with 360 engine. I had some problems with vapor lock in warmer weather where the carb was too close to the manifolds, so beware of removing that spacer. I ended up putting in a 1 inch phenolic spacer and the problem went away.

[Ferris95]

Thanks Jim! I will give it a shot first without the spacer and see. No biggie to add one later if needed.