81 vette conversion help!!!
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: Cherokee County North Carolina
I have in the last two weeks had to pull the engine from my 81. Freeze plugs leaking and the trans front pump seal. I replaced all the seals, gaskets and timing chain while it was out, installed a vacuum advance distributor and 80 ram horn manifolds with plugs in the tube holes. Also striped all smog related items (but all went in a box). I left the computer carb on the engine unplugged and it runs great with it, well good enough for me. The smog pump was locked up with no belt and one of the previous owners had the cat removed. Oh and no more check engine light. The only thing I have left to do is install a lockup solenoid and electric cooling fan relay.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by junkman104
I have in the last two weeks had to pull the engine from my 81. Freeze plugs leaking and the trans front pump seal. I replaced all the seals, gaskets and timing chain while it was out, installed a vacuum advance distributor and 80 ram horn manifolds with plugs in the tube holes. Also striped all smog related items (but all went in a box). I left the computer carb on the engine unplugged and it runs great with it, well good enough for me. The smog pump was locked up with no belt and one of the previous owners had the cat removed. Oh and no more check engine light. The only thing I have left to do is install a lockup solenoid and electric cooling fan relay.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 81
Likes: 1
From: Cherokee County North Carolina
Originally Posted by Kalway
The E4ME will run full rich on the primaries if it doesn't have a computer hooked up to it. I suggest changing that asap.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
You'll also notice about 10mpg at all times if your computer or carb is malfunctioning. You'll get 10mpg if you drive WOT everywhere or like a granny, won't matter. That's what mine did when it decided it didn't want to work right any more.
As soon as I went to the non-computerized way of doing things my mileage went back to 16mpg and I got over 300 miles on a tank. (Drove from Chula Vista to LA and back) The fact that when the CCC system screws up it runs horrible, is why I went to the traditional way.
If you can find a good edelbrock q-jet clone, go with it, junkman. You'll be happy with it.
As soon as I went to the non-computerized way of doing things my mileage went back to 16mpg and I got over 300 miles on a tank. (Drove from Chula Vista to LA and back) The fact that when the CCC system screws up it runs horrible, is why I went to the traditional way.
If you can find a good edelbrock q-jet clone, go with it, junkman. You'll be happy with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,028
Likes: 0
From: Madison Ms
Originally Posted by junkman104
I have in the last two weeks had to pull the engine from my 81. Freeze plugs leaking and the trans front pump seal. I replaced all the seals, gaskets and timing chain while it was out, installed a vacuum advance distributor and 80 ram horn manifolds with plugs in the tube holes. Also striped all smog related items (but all went in a box). I left the computer carb on the engine unplugged and it runs great with it, well good enough for me. The smog pump was locked up with no belt and one of the previous owners had the cat removed. Oh and no more check engine light. The only thing I have left to do is install a lockup solenoid and electric cooling fan relay.
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Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 4,071
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Originally Posted by I'm Batman
Depends on the rear gearing. If you're getting 16 with a Quadra-Crap, you'll notice improvement with EFI.
I got 19 on the computerized q-jet a month before it went to crap. That was with the TCC working and everything.
I like not having to drag my laptop out to my car just to change my mixture or timing.
You'll be hard put to drive me away from my q-jet.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by Cory1970
I agree. Working on carbs is a lost art in today's world. I work part time as a tech at a local repair shop and most guys I have worked with have no idea how to fiddle with a carb. Learning on carbs makes EFI troubleshooting and modification much less complicated.
