It’s the Edelbrock 1406 Performer carburetor versus the Edelbrock 1906 AVS carburetor.

We’re not pitting these two carbs against each other because they’re mortal enemies (they’re from the same family, for goodness sake), but because they are two very good and very popular options among classic auto owners.

But which is right for your ride? And how do they stack up head-to-head?

Let’s find out:

Edelbrock 1406

Along with some of the Holley offerings, the Edelbrock 1406 is the quintessential 4-barrel carburetor for street performance.

The 600 cfm 1406 is designed to handle the rigors of day-to-day driving while delivering consistent, reliable street performance. They’re hand-built and precisely tuned — and they’re designed to hold that tune. The venturi booster uses a bottom-feed design for smoother acceleration and better drivability. The overall calibration of the carb will stay consistent and unchanged, so you can always expect optimum performance on the street.

Let’s look at some of the important features, starting with the metering rods. Edelbrock utilizes these metering rods to transition between circuits, which means the carburetor is unaffected by engine backfires. There are no power valves to blow out, and the rods can be changed in seconds without removing the carb from the engine or draining the fuel.

Other features of the 1406 include a lightweight, all-aluminum body with a two-piece body that resists warping. It uses simple tub-type bowls and rear-pivot floats, which make the carburetor reliable and user-friendly. It also has an electric choke, mechanical secondaries, and a square bore flange.

It’s also worth noting that the 1406 is extremely reliable and maintenance-free. There are no gaskets below the fuel bowl level for fewer leaks, and no plastic parts or power valves to blow out.

…

Edelbrock 1906

Edelbrock took its years of carburetor research, development, and tuning experience — including what it’s learned from the 1406 — and used it to create the 1906, also known as the AVS2 Series carburetor.

This means the 1906 offers improved calibration that’s designed for optimum street performance in a wide variety of small cubic-inch, as well as some big block engines! This calibration is achieved through annular flow boosters, which deliver improved off-idle and cruising performance. These boosters incorporate eight, equally spaced orifices to improve fuel metering from idle to the main circuit. It also provides better fuel atomization to eliminate flat spots which may occur when transitioning from idle to full throttle.

Other features of this 650 cfm carburetor include an electric choke, mechanical secondaries, adjustable secondary air valves, and dual fuel inlets. 

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1406 vs. 1906 Head to Head

If you’re still having a hard time understanding the differences, here is a head-to-head comparison of features:

EDL-1406EDL-1906
CFM600650
ChokeElectricElectric
Booster Type-Annular
FinishSilverSatin
Height3.250 in.3.250 in.
FuelGasolineGasoline
Fuel InletSingleDual
Barrels44
Primary Jet Size-101
Secondary Jet Size-98
Secondary TypeMechanicalMechanical
Throttle LinkageUniversalUniversal
Keywords
carburetors, Edelbrock, Edelbrock 1406, Edelbrock 1906, product comparison
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Author: David Fuller

David Fuller is OnAllCylinders' managing editor. During his 20-year career in the auto industry, he has covered a variety of races, shows, and industry events and has authored articles for multiple magazines. He has also partnered with mainstream and trade publications on a wide range of editorial projects. In 2012, he helped establish OnAllCylinders, where he enjoys covering all facets of hot rodding and racing.