The quadrajet is a much better design than the Carter (Edelbrock 1400 series)
Air cleaner help!
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Air cleaner help!
Will my stock 1980 air cleaner fit over an edelbrock performer carb with auto choke? I know I would need to get the edelbrock fuel line but I am not sure if it will still clear the choke.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
From: Buffalo MO
i would suggest staying with a q-jet rather than an aftermarket carb. (for more reasons than i can list)
the only advantage of an edelbrock performer over a q-jet is cost.
make sure your doing the right thing for you (as everyone is different) and your car, before you desecrate your fuel line, linkage and breather just to "shoe horn" that edelbrock under your hood.
just my two cents.
the only advantage of an edelbrock performer over a q-jet is cost.
make sure your doing the right thing for you (as everyone is different) and your car, before you desecrate your fuel line, linkage and breather just to "shoe horn" that edelbrock under your hood.
just my two cents.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
I have an Edelbrock carb on my engine. When I bought the car, it had a scabby chrome filter that didn't fit properly. That's now gone and I put an Edelbrock air filter on it. When I bought the Edelbrock filter, I didn't realise I had to get a different model number bass plate to fit the Edelbrock carb, as opposed to a Holley or Rochester. So, my flash new air filter didn't fit properly either! Of course, I found this out AFTER I had left Australia and had arrived BACK in Saudi Arabia and couldn't exchange it!
I found out though, that the only difference is that the bass plate to suit the Edelbrock has about a 3/4" tall collar where it sits on the carb.
All I did was buy a 1" spacer from Summit (or someone similar) and it all fits ok. You might get away with just a spacer to use the same air filter on your new carb.
I hope that helps...
I found out though, that the only difference is that the bass plate to suit the Edelbrock has about a 3/4" tall collar where it sits on the carb.
All I did was buy a 1" spacer from Summit (or someone similar) and it all fits ok. You might get away with just a spacer to use the same air filter on your new carb.
I hope that helps...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
Originally Posted by saudivette
...I didn't realise I had to get a different model number bass plate to fit the Edelbrock carb...
Originally Posted by saudivette
...only difference is that the bass plate to suit the Edelbrock has about a 3/4" tall collar where it sits on the carb...
Hehehe, had just come from the bass player's forum
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Thanks for the responses. I put a ZZ4 motor in my 1980 last year with an Edelbrock 600 cfm carb on advice to replace the old carb. I was thinking about putting the Q-jet back on. I am going to get the book "Rochester Carburetors" book by Doug Roe and rebuild the carb. I also have to convert it to an electric choke. Hopefully, I can tune it right for best performance. The Edlebrock runs fine but I think it might be a little small. I can then put the original Q-jet on next summer.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Thanks for the response, Saudivette. I tried some Edlebrock air cleaners myself. I didn't have enough hood clearance in my 1980 vette with the zz4 to use the nice cast aluminum model. I don't think I could use a drop base with a spacer unless I go to a shorter filter. I think I may go back to my Q-jet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
Originally Posted by Black_80
...unless I go to a shorter filter...
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Black_80
I am going to get the book "Rochester Carburetors" book by Doug Roe and rebuild the carb.
Cliff Ruggles has written a book that deals with Q-Jets ONLY which I found more useful than Roes book.
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Modify...e=UTF8&s=books
Last edited by Bob Onit; Sep 27, 2006 at 04:39 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
The stock air cleaner base will touch the choke and the fuel inlet fitting at the rear. Verify that I'm correct with the parts you have. The choke housing interferes with the flat surface where the air filter rests. If you heat the base in that area red hot, make a clearance hump with a ball peen hammer about 1/8" high and about 3/4" square. Test fit. Then cut away an equal amount of rubber from the bottom of the filter so it will fit flat with the surface. K&N filters have plenty of material and you won't go through. Make sure your choke wiring is out of the way and won't get pinched. Mark the fuel inlet interference area, this is at the point where the base rises up from the filter surface at the rear. Again heat the area cherry red and make a small bulge with the hammer. This bulge will not interfere with the filter. 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Edelbrock sells a plastic spacer to raise the aircleaner off the carb to clear the moving bits. I had to notch mine to allow the stock aircleaner to sit flat on the spacer. Clearance is very VERY tight with the underside of the hood. I've not driven the car since installing it all.
I think I need to trim the spacer so that it's about half as tall as it is currently. That would take care of the hood clearance problem.
I think I need to trim the spacer so that it's about half as tall as it is currently. That would take care of the hood clearance problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by Ak. Mal
I think I need to trim the spacer so that it's about half as tall as it is currently. That would take care of the hood clearance problem.
And place the three pieces equally in a circle on the highest point of the air cleaner then carefully close the hood.
Open the hood and measure the thickness of the clay you will now have a very good idea of the clearance available.
I did this when I mounted a Holley street avenger on my '73 and I had 3/4" of clearance which I figured to be acceptable.
Of course an L-48 doesent exactly twist around under the hood compared to the hypo engines
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 11,891
Likes: 3
From: Kansas City, MO ...I'd like to go fishing and catch a fishstick. That'd be convenient. - Mitch Hedberg
Done that. The blue play doh now has a black streak in it now from the underside of my hood. The air cleaner needs to be lowered
