Quadrajet needs rebuild
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
Well, I surely wouldn't attempt it myself, requires special tools that are hard to get your hands on. Not sure where you live but I know an excellent mechanic here in Baton Rouge with a passion for C3 Corvettes, the guy rebuilt mine a month ago.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,683
Likes: 3,137
From: Shamong, NJ
I've been using Custom Rebuilt Carbs here in NJ for years. I just had him do a Q-Jet for a customer with an 81. Phils been doing carbs for 30+ years. He can be reached at 732-356-4333, or www.customrebuiltcarbs.com.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
If your carb has been on your car and worked successfully in the past, you just need to remove it, disassemble and clean it [well], and reinstall with new gaskets/etc. You also need to make appropriate adjustments to it [per Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual].You don't really need to modify/change anything if it has worked well in the past.
If you are reasonably 'mechanically inclined', buy a book on rebuilding Q-jets, read it over and refer to it during your rebuild effort. What you are wanting to do is not "brain surgery". Now, if you bought a 'junk' Q-jet core from eBay and wanted to turn it into a well-running, correct piece for a specific car...that IS brain surgery.
If you are reasonably 'mechanically inclined', buy a book on rebuilding Q-jets, read it over and refer to it during your rebuild effort. What you are wanting to do is not "brain surgery". Now, if you bought a 'junk' Q-jet core from eBay and wanted to turn it into a well-running, correct piece for a specific car...that IS brain surgery.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
I recently acquired this barn find.i now have this and a c4 needless to say the wife thinks one is enough.This is gonna be a long term project this is the only thing from making the car move on it's own which will make this process much easier.hopping I can do this for a qouple hundred bucks.just shelled out cash for the c4.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 97
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From: baton rouge louisiana
who are you talking about Golfr? What part of BR do you live in? I`m in azalea lakes.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
lived. I live in Central, the mechanic shop I am referring to is Pride Auto about 15 mins. north of me, the owners name is Mark Straughter.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
First of all, as "7T1Vette" already said, this isn't rocket science. Secondly, there are/were 2-3 fairly good books on that subject that were available at one time. However, since '85-'86 was the last time GM put a carb on their cars as original equipment, I highly doubt that you're going to find any books with new information..... Do a search for "Doug Roe", as he wrote a book or two on Rochester carb rebuilding back in the 70s. There still may be some around.
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From: West Chester OH
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I thought Lars had some articles posted here but I don't see them. Did he take them with him? 
I was fortunate to get him to rebuild mine when he was still doing them.
I was fortunate to get him to rebuild mine when he was still doing them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 838
Likes: 2
From: Baton Rouge Louisiana
The shop manual for my "81" shows the entire process for my E4ME Quadrajet, dissassembly, cleaning, adjustments, tools required, etc. etc.
would love to see an easier way to tackle the job, that's why I paid the expert.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 13,515
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From: Fisher, IL
is Lars gone now?
I just bought Doug Roe's book and was going to attempt this rebuild during the winter so i could take my time.
I didn't know you needed special tools? Anyway I'm going to try and refresh mine myself so I guess when i'm done i'll know how hard it was...
I just bought Doug Roe's book and was going to attempt this rebuild during the winter so i could take my time.
I didn't know you needed special tools? Anyway I'm going to try and refresh mine myself so I guess when i'm done i'll know how hard it was...
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Western NY
No, but if I recall correctly, in later carbs, the two air horn to fuel bowl screws located in the primary venturi were torx headed screws, so a torx driver is necessary.
The only real area of concern is the roll pin that the accelerator pump pivots on. It's not a great design, but it's there, so we have to live with it. In order to remove the air horn, the accelerator pump lever must be removed. This is done by gently pressing the roll pin inward, toward the ring that locates the air cleaner. Press the pin too far, however, and it jams up against this ring, and you'll play hell to get it back in place....
I had some ambition a few minutes ago, so I went down in my basement, into the archives. The book 'Rebuilding and Modifying Rochester Quadrajets' by Doug Roe and Bill Fisher was published in 1973 by H-P Books. However, they don't show a "stock number", or whatever number the publishing world calls them...
The only real area of concern is the roll pin that the accelerator pump pivots on. It's not a great design, but it's there, so we have to live with it. In order to remove the air horn, the accelerator pump lever must be removed. This is done by gently pressing the roll pin inward, toward the ring that locates the air cleaner. Press the pin too far, however, and it jams up against this ring, and you'll play hell to get it back in place....
I had some ambition a few minutes ago, so I went down in my basement, into the archives. The book 'Rebuilding and Modifying Rochester Quadrajets' by Doug Roe and Bill Fisher was published in 1973 by H-P Books. However, they don't show a "stock number", or whatever number the publishing world calls them...
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,116
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From: Middleburg Florida
Like has been said already, if your carb was working well and is original, all you need to do is get a bucket of carb cleaner (not the spray can, and follow the directions for the cleaning) a good carb kit, and basic hand tools. You shouldn't need to do any modifications, or anything special to get it to work right.
Both Doug Roe and Cliff Ruggles have books out that are available and great resources. You can get all the parts you need from the local parts store, but my choice would be Cliff's High Performance for the parts, and if you'd like, you can send your carb to him to do the rebuild.
Both Doug Roe and Cliff Ruggles have books out that are available and great resources. You can get all the parts you need from the local parts store, but my choice would be Cliff's High Performance for the parts, and if you'd like, you can send your carb to him to do the rebuild.
