Time for New vs. Rebuilding Carburetor for '71 road runner 383 4 Speed - Is My Carter AVS 4966S The Best Choice?

[road robert]

Hello Gang, my '71 road runner caught the bird flu and I don't know if it's fuel or ignition. I have a Carter AVS 4966S that was remanufactured then rebuilt recently (March 2023) by Dave Woodruff (Woodruff Carburetor Specialties advertised here at FBBO). At that time when I got it back I popped it in along with the distributor I sent him (he also put a curve in my distributor) and it ran great. But now after 2+ years my distributor is getting worn (shaft bushing) so I replaced it from halifaxhops (Ray Brenner also from FBBO).

My bird is stock except for a purple camshaft that I have no specs on - I just want it to start up cold and hot, run good from idle to wide open and overall for street cruising, NOT racing! So my questions are:

1. Which brand and model is the BEST carburetor for my '71 road runner 383 4 speed car?
2. Can I buy a brand new carb or is used (rebuilt/refurbished) better?

Thanks everyone!

Purple cam:

 

[torredcuda]

Original is always better IMO as most new ones are probably made overseas somewhere with cheaper parts and materials plus no mods needed depending on which new carb you bought - fuel line, adapters etc., I would get it rebuilt.

 

[Rapid Transit]

I put a Edelbrock 650 AVS2 on a 383 4 speed and it works great. There is a lot of buzz about this carb on the internet.
Improved technology over the old AVS and made in USA. I bought a 500 CFM for a 318. Haven't put it on yet but looking forward to ditching the junk yard Q jets that I've cobbled together and run for years.