Q jet rebuild or replace
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
From: Le Roy NY
Q jet rebuild or replace
My 1980 with a 290 HP crate engine, RV cam, and true dual exhaust is beginning to have idling problems, and has experienced a few bad backfires out the carb. The Q jet is original and hasn't been rebuilt. Is it worth the effort to rebuild it or is a Holly street avenger a better choice? I don't race the car, but enjoy decent performance. Any comments on the process of rebuilding a Q jet? Is a better carb option available at a decent price?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 774
Likes: 1
From: Round Rock Texas
My 1980 with a 290 HP crate engine, RV cam, and true dual exhaust is beginning to have idling problems, and has experienced a few bad backfires out the carb. The Q jet is original and hasn't been rebuilt. Is it worth the effort to rebuild it or is a Holly street avenger a better choice? I don't race the car, but enjoy decent performance. Any comments on the process of rebuilding a Q jet? Is a better carb option available at a decent price?
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Glendale AZ
There really is no "better" than a Quadrajet. They will all produce similar numbers when tuned properly but only your Quadrajet will work properly with your car (read: idle control for ac, emissions provisions, choke mechanism, etc)
Top quality rebuilds can run you into the $200-$400 range depending on where you send it to. I would suggest Cliff's ( Cliff R on the forum ) as he can get all of the performance you need while keeping full factory functionality of a Quadrajet.
Restoring Quadrajets to running condition is always worth the money as it really doesn't cost any more than a new aftermarket carb and offers superior functionality for street driven cars who need to pass emissions and retain factory ac.
Top quality rebuilds can run you into the $200-$400 range depending on where you send it to. I would suggest Cliff's ( Cliff R on the forum ) as he can get all of the performance you need while keeping full factory functionality of a Quadrajet.
Restoring Quadrajets to running condition is always worth the money as it really doesn't cost any more than a new aftermarket carb and offers superior functionality for street driven cars who need to pass emissions and retain factory ac.
Last edited by volition; Jul 19, 2010 at 12:18 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 596
Likes: 6
From: Irving Texas
I'm a huge Holley fan but you may want to be careful. Holleys have power valves that burn up during back-fires.....Qjets dont!
Usually, backfiring is an ignition issue(too much or too little advance) so I would suggest solving the backfiring before moving on to replacing the Qjet.
This pic is of a Q-jet that sat still for 10 years...then I sprayed it with carb cleaner...and it started right up...true story!
Usually, backfiring is an ignition issue(too much or too little advance) so I would suggest solving the backfiring before moving on to replacing the Qjet.
This pic is of a Q-jet that sat still for 10 years...then I sprayed it with carb cleaner...and it started right up...true story!
Last edited by snoopykissedlucy; Jul 19, 2010 at 01:10 AM.
