Edelbrock performer
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Edelbrock performer
I just bought a 1981 Vette that has a quadrajet on an Edelbrock performer intake. My question is, do I have the quadrajet rebuilt or do I splurge on a new Edelbrock Performer Carb. If I go with the Edelbrock Carb, will the factory air cleaner setup still work? If any of you have made the swap, have you been happy with the Edelbrock? I appreciate your input on this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
I say get your Q-jet rebuilt. I had a '78 L82 I installed a Performer intake on with the original Q-jet and it ran great. No need to replace your carb unless it's physically beyond rebuilding.
Besides it's a better street carb, sticking with the Q-jet means you don't have to re-plumb the fuel lines, filter, linkages, etc. If your car has a/c, it also saves having to buy and install a different a/c solenoid on the carb to keep the idle from dropping and stalling when the a/c is engaged. That's a proprietary and expensive Edelbrock part to add. An easy thing to install but adds to the cost of the swap.
I'm not knocking the Edelbrock carburetor...it's an excellent piece and you would probably be quite happy with the swap, but you really won't gain anything beyond lightening your wallet and a nice Edelbrock decal to put on your car.
Besides it's a better street carb, sticking with the Q-jet means you don't have to re-plumb the fuel lines, filter, linkages, etc. If your car has a/c, it also saves having to buy and install a different a/c solenoid on the carb to keep the idle from dropping and stalling when the a/c is engaged. That's a proprietary and expensive Edelbrock part to add. An easy thing to install but adds to the cost of the swap.
I'm not knocking the Edelbrock carburetor...it's an excellent piece and you would probably be quite happy with the swap, but you really won't gain anything beyond lightening your wallet and a nice Edelbrock decal to put on your car.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
I say get your Q-jet rebuilt. I had a '78 L82 I installed a Performer intake on with the original Q-jet and it ran great. No need to replace your carb unless it's physically beyond rebuilding.
Besides it's a better street carb, sticking with the Q-jet means you don't have to re-plumb the fuel lines, filter, linkages, etc. If your car has a/c, it also saves having to buy and install a different a/c solenoid on the carb to keep the idle from dropping and stalling when the a/c is engaged. That's a proprietary and expensive Edelbrock part to add. An easy thing to install but adds to the cost of the swap.
I'm not knocking the Edelbrock carburetor...it's an excellent piece and you would probably be quite happy with the swap, but you really won't gain anything beyond lightening your wallet and a nice Edelbrock decal to put on your car.
Besides it's a better street carb, sticking with the Q-jet means you don't have to re-plumb the fuel lines, filter, linkages, etc. If your car has a/c, it also saves having to buy and install a different a/c solenoid on the carb to keep the idle from dropping and stalling when the a/c is engaged. That's a proprietary and expensive Edelbrock part to add. An easy thing to install but adds to the cost of the swap.
I'm not knocking the Edelbrock carburetor...it's an excellent piece and you would probably be quite happy with the swap, but you really won't gain anything beyond lightening your wallet and a nice Edelbrock decal to put on your car.
If you get the Qjet rebuilt, be absolutly sure you get it done by somebody that KNOWS THAT CARBURETOR! And get the shaft seals done the first time, instead of having to take it back with a vacuum leak that they didn't correct the first time. Be sure they seal the plugs at the bottom of the casting.
If those things are done and the rest of the carb is remanufactured properly, it will perform well for YEARS.
One more thing: Don't just buy a reman carb. That is a carb that's off the shelf, put together with parts from a hundred others. When you get YOUR OWN carb rebuilt, you get parts that are all worn in together and the end product is a much nicer unit.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,084
Likes: 786
From: Lebanon Township New Jersey
Assuming your intake manifold is made for a spread bore carb, switching to an Edelbrock will also require a new manifold or an adapter which might create hood clearance problems. You could try a spreadbore Holley which is a direct replacement for the Qjet. Your best solution is to get the Qjet properly rebuilt.
Also, Roughrider is 100% correct in all the issues he described.
Also, Roughrider is 100% correct in all the issues he described.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
Assuming your intake manifold is made for a spread bore carb, switching to an Edelbrock will also require a new manifold or an adapter which might create hood clearance problems. You could try a spreadbore Holley which is a direct replacement for the Qjet. Your best solution is to get the Qjet properly rebuilt.
Also, Roughrider is 100% correct in all the issues he described.
Also, Roughrider is 100% correct in all the issues he described.
What you might consider is to contact Edelbrock. They used to make new Quadrajets but discontinued them a few years back. Several months ago they had a clearance sale on their leftover inventory...maybe they have a few left at closeout prices. Ask them and see what they might have for you. The worst that can happen is they're out of stock completely and you still rebuild your original Q-jet.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 94
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I called Edelbrock and they said they no longer had any in stock. I called Summit and they said the same. Summit does offer a rebuilt Quadra-jet with a 1 year warranty for $299.00. Any of you ever buy one of these from them, and if so, what did you think? The guy from Summit was saying that the Edelbrock Quadra-jets were n excellent product and he could not understand why they stopped producing it. It was his understanding that they even destroyed the tooling when they stopped making them. Must have been so people would buy their designed carbs.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 10,362
Likes: 5
From: San Diego - Deep Within The State of CONFUSION!
Please refer to my post above, about NOT buying a reman Quadrajet. Save yourself the time, effort, and trouble.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,100
Likes: 12
From: Frederick Maryland
DO NOT BUY A REMANUFACTURED CARBURETOR! Have yours rebuilt by someone who knows Q-jets. The only way I would buy a reman carb is to have a builder who knows and understands Q-jets and Corvettes. That person can take a Q-jet and build it to suit your needs. An assembly line rebuilt Q-jet, no matter how well it's done, will not be set up for your application and will still need to be gone over by a specialist to match it to your car.
I can only assume Edelbrock stopped production of their Q-jet due to lack of demand. While an excellent carburetor, the Q-jet has always suffered from a myth about it being trash...Quadrajunk, Rottenchester, etc. Very undeserved and I imagine that Edelbrock discovered that still to be an issue. The market speaks...you don't keep producing a product that doesn't sell...a bad way to stay in business...unless you're the government!
I doubt if Edelbrock destroyed the tooling...they didn't make them. Their carbs are made for them under license by a subcontractor.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
If you're willing to spend $300 on a carb, why not buy a $30 book on how to rebuild Q-jets, $40 on a rebuild kit and new Nitrofil float, then do it yourself. If you take a couple hours to read over the rebuild instructions in the book, you could easily rebuild your existing carb in a day. Then, the carb is freshly rebuilt, it is all configured correctly for your car and you save over $200. Plus, you will then understand how the carb works and how to adjust it properly. Now, I call that a good investment 
$$$. {Not to mention that the Q-jet is, in many ways, a better carb than most Holley's and is much more economical (mpg) under normal driving conditions.}
$$$. {Not to mention that the Q-jet is, in many ways, a better carb than most Holley's and is much more economical (mpg) under normal driving conditions.}
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 2,171
Likes: 1
From: Warwick RI
If you're willing to spend $300 on a carb, why not buy a $30 book on how to rebuild Q-jets, $40 on a rebuild kit and new Nitrofil float, then do it yourself. If you take a couple hours to read over the rebuild instructions in the book, you could easily rebuild your existing carb in a day. Then, the carb is freshly rebuilt, it is all configured correctly for your car and you save over $200. Plus, you will then understand how the carb works and how to adjust it properly. Now, I call that a good investment $$$. {Not to mention that the Q-jet is, in many ways, a better carb than most Holley's and is much more economical (mpg) under normal driving conditions.}
$$$. {Not to mention that the Q-jet is, in many ways, a better carb than most Holley's and is much more economical (mpg) under normal driving conditions.}Good advice here
If you build it..then you can fix it
Racer
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 414
Likes: 3
From: Mineral Ridge Ohio
If you can find Lars somewhere here on the forum, contact him. He used to rebuild Q-jets and may be able to help you with yours. It has been a while since I last contacted him, but at that time he was still doing rebuilds. I had a distributor done by him and am very pleased.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 428
Likes: 0
I just bought a 1981 Vette that has a quadrajet on an Edelbrock performer intake. My question is, do I have the quadrajet rebuilt or do I splurge on a new Edelbrock Performer Carb. If I go with the Edelbrock Carb, will the factory air cleaner setup still work? If any of you have made the swap, have you been happy with the Edelbrock? I appreciate your input on this.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
The Edel QJets are great carbs. I have one on my 65 442. I think I read somewhere about 5 years ago there was some legal reason Edel had to stop manufacturing them. And they were kinda pricey, and of course most people think they are junk. To these people I say, "I love my Quadrajunks."
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Vista CA
If you're willing to spend $300 on a carb, why not buy a $30 book on how to rebuild Q-jets, $40 on a rebuild kit and new Nitrofil float, then do it yourself. If you take a couple hours to read over the rebuild instructions in the book, you could easily rebuild your existing carb in a day. Then, the carb is freshly rebuilt, it is all configured correctly for your car and you save over $200. Plus, you will then understand how the carb works and how to adjust it properly. Now, I call that a good investment $$$. {Not to mention that the Q-jet is, in many ways, a better carb than most Holley's and is much more economical (mpg) under normal driving conditions.}
$$$. {Not to mention that the Q-jet is, in many ways, a better carb than most Holley's and is much more economical (mpg) under normal driving conditions.}
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
I am not sure of the level of rebuild you are looking for if you are looking to keep it original and in show condition like new or even better use these guys www.daytonaparts.com I had them rebuild and recondition a carburetor for me a few years ago. They re-plate parts to look new and recondition everything. Turn around time was 3 weeks. It will cost you the price of the aftermarket carburetor, but be correct for your car.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,635
Likes: 8
From: Enid Oklahoma
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
Talk to Lars and get a copy of his paper on rebuilding the Qjet. Get a quality Qjet rebuild kit, and do it yourself. Several here on the forum have rebuilt their carbs using Lars Qjet rebuild paper to guide them. All seem pleased with the results. 
