I need some help
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
I need some help
I bought this car 5 years ago and have decided its time to start doing some modifications to it. I'm actually about to add an Edelbrock performer intake manifold and a Holley 650 CFM carb. This is the first time I've done anything like this so I was hoping for some input. Is this a good system to start setting up and what kind of problems am I looking at? Its the original 350 motor in the car, completely original.
The carburetor has a manual / choke, single fuel feed, double pumper with mechanical secondaries. Does anyone have any experience and compare this to the good ole Rochester Q-jet thats sitting on there now?
Thanks!
The carburetor has a manual / choke, single fuel feed, double pumper with mechanical secondaries. Does anyone have any experience and compare this to the good ole Rochester Q-jet thats sitting on there now?
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
sorry its a 75 L82, in dire need of work. I was actually planning on trying to rebuild the rochester myself, I figured I could waste alot of time on that thing.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,855
Likes: 2
From: Columbia South Carolina
The first thing I can think of is getting teh mixture right. It depends on your elevation mostly. Maybe someone else in your area can tell you what jets they are using. I think that thing should come with 64s but that might make it run rich I think the rule of thumb is down one step for every 2000 ft. but most of us in th Carolinas arent even that high so you may have to experiment. Also make sure you have some good RTV sealant and go all around the intake when you install it. I hope you have at least a Chiltens or Haynes (prefered) manual so you can torque in the right sequence if not, definately time to invest in one. Great place to start though, best of luck with it.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Great, thanks for the advice on the manual, why do you prefer the Haynes over the Chiltons manual? I'm looking for something that would be able to explain the process to a person who is new with the subject. I'm actually buying the carb and manifold from a guy right here in Raleigh, and he had it on his 65, so there should be no problem with the mixture. Is there any problems I might run into, something that adding the manifold and carb might affect?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by foxymophandlpapa
....Its the original 350 motor in the car, completely original....
IF you decide on the swap, keep your original carburetor and intake for sale time.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
I plan on putting the original equipment back on maybe years on down the road, but for now, I want some more juice out of the car. I recently had to put a new water pump on too, so that is already waiting to be rebuilt. What is the reference book for rebuilding the carb you're talking about? I'd really like to get my hands on any reference book you guys refer to that can really help me out. The only reference I have now is the original assembly manual, so I need to start building my library.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
The manifold and carb probably wont do much without other modifications over a properly tuned Qjet and stock manifold. If that's all your changing, it's not worth it.
As long as you've got the manifold off, consider a cam change. That will make a much bigger difference in your hp. Headers and low restriction exhaust would help some. Most of this will be in the higher rpm range.
The cheapest modification for midrange hp might be a distributor recurve kit. It really woke up my car.
As long as you've got the manifold off, consider a cam change. That will make a much bigger difference in your hp. Headers and low restriction exhaust would help some. Most of this will be in the higher rpm range.
The cheapest modification for midrange hp might be a distributor recurve kit. It really woke up my car.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Great Gary. The only problem though is I probably know the least about camshafts and distributors. Messing with the timing is just a tad over my head right now. Bolt on I can handle, when when I start messing with the mechanics of the engine, I might end up doing more damage than good.
When buying new camshaft what should I be looking at? Does the old 350s use pushrods? Thats the only thing I can assume since you said something about having the manifold off. I don't have it off yet, I want to try and figure out what problems other people have faced when putting on a new manifold and carb.
When buying new camshaft what should I be looking at? Does the old 350s use pushrods? Thats the only thing I can assume since you said something about having the manifold off. I don't have it off yet, I want to try and figure out what problems other people have faced when putting on a new manifold and carb.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
All I'm saying is if you're doing it for looks, go ahead.
If you want your car to actually go faster consider this:
Manifold $160, Carb $350.... hp increase 5hp
Cam and lifters under $200, Distributor kit $10.... hp increase 20-30, maybe more with headers.
Yes, it's a pushrod engine.
For cam selection, ask around here for stock motor suggestions. And the cam manufactureres can help. A cam is a bolt on with a good manual and maybe a little help. Or pay someone to do it, still cheaper.
Distributors, All you need is a variable advance timing light (you'll need that if you replace the manifold anyway) and the $10 kit from Advance Auto. Read in the tech section here on how to change weights and springs. It's pretty easy, you dont even need to pull the distributor.
Have a little fun, learn something, but dont spend a lot of money on something that wont make any noticeable difference.
If you want your car to actually go faster consider this:
Manifold $160, Carb $350.... hp increase 5hp
Cam and lifters under $200, Distributor kit $10.... hp increase 20-30, maybe more with headers.
Yes, it's a pushrod engine.
For cam selection, ask around here for stock motor suggestions. And the cam manufactureres can help. A cam is a bolt on with a good manual and maybe a little help. Or pay someone to do it, still cheaper.
Distributors, All you need is a variable advance timing light (you'll need that if you replace the manifold anyway) and the $10 kit from Advance Auto. Read in the tech section here on how to change weights and springs. It's pretty easy, you dont even need to pull the distributor.
Have a little fun, learn something, but dont spend a lot of money on something that wont make any noticeable difference.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,959
Likes: 1
From: North Bend Ohio
Your first modification should be headers and a good dual exhaust with low restriction mufflers. This is the bottle neck on the stock engine. After the exhaust comes the cylinder heads. A street port job and a 3 angle valve job will get them sorted out. Changing the intake manifold is easy while you're doing the heads but not necessary. The Quadrajet carburetor will do well if rebuilt and tuned to the engine.
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...&dept%5Fid=224
BigBlockk
Later.....
http://www.ecklers.com/product.asp?p...&dept%5Fid=224
BigBlockk
Later.....
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by foxymophandlpapa
....What is the reference book for rebuilding the carb you're talking about?...
Rochester Carburetors by Doug Rose. Eckler's lists it; #A4005, $16.99
Worth the cost.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Well the intake and carb are costing me $150 total from a friend, so the cost is there. I will definitely do the distributor and cam, but as for the exhaust and cylinder heads, taht will definitely have to come at a later date.
You guys have given me some great advice and some ideas, but what about problems I might run into? Any problems I might face while replacing the cam/manifold/carb?
You guys have given me some great advice and some ideas, but what about problems I might run into? Any problems I might face while replacing the cam/manifold/carb?