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NEED HELP! Intake Manifold/Carb

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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 06:54 PM
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Default NEED HELP! Intake Manifold/Carb

Hi All,
I want to install a new Edelbrock peformer intake manifold and 600 CFM carb, but heard from other motor heads that I "MUST" change the cam as well. Is there any truth to this?
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 06:57 PM
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You can install it without changing the cam,you just wont see much of a difference in performance.
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 07:03 PM
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Thank you!!!! I was getting the feeling from all these motor heads I was speaking with that it would be a bad idea to change the stock manifold and carb without doing other modifications. I'm seriously having problems with the stock QuadraJet and want to enjoy the car this season. The motor is a completely stock 350 L48 and I was kinda looking for a bit better response from the pedal and hope the new intake and carb will help me somewhat!
Thankls again Stu's81
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 07:05 PM
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Any thought to Carb size? Should I try the 600 or the 650CFM ?
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by mick6521
Any thought to Carb size? Should I try the 600 or the 650CFM ?
If the rest of the engine is stock a 600 holley is fine,i would stick to a vacuum secondary carb.
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Old Mar 25, 2011 | 08:52 PM
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Originally Posted by mick6521
Thank you!!!! I was getting the feeling from all these motor heads I was speaking with that it would be a bad idea to change the stock manifold and carb without doing other modifications. I'm seriously having problems with the stock QuadraJet and want to enjoy the car this season. The motor is a completely stock 350 L48 and I was kinda looking for a bit better response from the pedal and hope the new intake and carb will help me somewhat!
Thankls again Stu's81
Number one a performer won't be any better than the stocker. Number 2 a good Q jet is a great runner. If you just want to swap the carb, Edelbrock makes a good replacement. But it will only get it back to good running stock type performance. Pipes will wake it up a bit. As will setting the timing to a non emissions setting. The heads are a huge limiting factor too. A cam with stock heads are a waste of money. I would say fix or replace the carb, put on duals with headers if you can afford it. and then do other mods later with components that match each other.
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 06:48 AM
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Thank you BOTH for the GREAT assistance! I now have a solid platform to work from!! Enjoy the weekend!
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 03:27 PM
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I agree with 81pilot, you are going to have to change heads and cam to get a significant power increase. Install good heads and cam and you can even stay with the stock manifold and Q-jet.
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 05:08 PM
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The original Quadrajet carb for your car is rated 750 CFM. The issue with your car is that the stock heads restrict air flow. The OE cam was meant to work with those heads so it is lacking in performance, and yes, the stock low rise manifold is restrictive too. A good rebuild, and some rejetting, and the Quadrajet will handle quite a bit more HP. Cam and intake replacement combined with carb rejetting, will yield only modest gains in performance without upgrading to better flowing heads.

Of course then the question of how much HP your lower end can handle leads you to a new set of higher compression pistons, maybe even a forged crank, high performance rods and fully balanced rotating assembly, and if you don't already have one, a four bolt main block. Once you feel the need for more HP, you just won't be happy until you have a new 508 monster motor sitting under the hood.

Its a good idea to figure out how much more power you want, and spend the money to do it right the first time.
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 07:52 PM
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The guy asks if a manifold and carb can be installed without a cam change and everyone ASSumes he wants to completely rebuild his engine?
He said he wants better throttle responce,no where does he say he's looking for better/more performance.
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Old Mar 26, 2011 | 08:14 PM
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Originally Posted by Stu's81
The guy asks if a manifold and carb can be installed without a cam change and everyone ASSumes he wants to completely rebuild his engine?
He said he wants better throttle responce,no where does he say he's looking for better/more performance.
No, he asked if he changed the intake and carb to a 600 CFM carb if he needed a cam change as well. That implies he is looking for something different in performance than the current setup provides. The stock intake has about the same potential as the Performer intake so no change needed there, the Qjet can flow up to 750 CFM so the 600 is not an upgrade thier either. So the second part of the answer would be a wider answer for why a cam would or would not be beneficial, so the answers were talking about cams with or without stock heads and various other applications. I saw it all as information, he can take it or leave it, I would rather have too much info than not enough...just my 2 cents...
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 09:34 PM
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Gentlemen you are all AWESOME and I respect all of your GREAT replies! I need to do as 71 rdster mentioned and think about what it is that I truly want so I get it right the first time and NOT waste money foolishly. I was not aware that my stock Quadrajet was in fact a 750 CFM carburetor. That being stated, I will NOT be purchasing a 600 CFM Edelbrock. I found a rebuilder that is supposed to be the "BEST" in the industry as far as rebuilding Quadrajet carburetors. His web link is:
http://quadrajetcarburetors.com/index.html
if anyone is interested. I thought he was a bit expensive and so I found another; http://www.nationalcarburetors.com/
They also claim to be a "GREAT" second generation rebuilder. There is absolutely too many choices thanks to the internet! Does anyone have any firsthand experience with a carburetor rebuilder that I could send my Quadrajet to?
I thank you all for your collective experience and abilities and look forward to at least getting my 77 Vette running smooth for the Spring/Summer & Fall seasons that are upon us!
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Old Mar 28, 2011 | 10:26 PM
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I haven't edel 1406 600cfm card sitting on my vette engine and a performer intake, and later edel rpm heads. I did not know better at the time and I gave away my q-jet. I have a mighty demon 750 and a stealth manifold that I was saving for a later engine build. I wiped my cam so I'm buying another one and I'm going put the stealth intake on it and then retire that non performing edel afb. Qjet is a good carb when properly tuned and a lot of forum members (myself included) do not know how to properly rebuild one, let alone tune it.
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 12:09 AM
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Originally Posted by mick6521
Gentlemen you are all AWESOME and I respect all of your GREAT replies! I need to do as 71 rdster mentioned and think about what it is that I truly want so I get it right the first time and NOT waste money foolishly. I was not aware that my stock Quadrajet was in fact a 750 CFM carburetor. That being stated, I will NOT be purchasing a 600 CFM Edelbrock. I found a rebuilder that is supposed to be the "BEST" in the industry as far as rebuilding Quadrajet carburetors. His web link is:
http://quadrajetcarburetors.com/index.html
if anyone is interested. I thought he was a bit expensive and so I found another; http://www.nationalcarburetors.com/
They also claim to be a "GREAT" second generation rebuilder. There is absolutely too many choices thanks to the internet! Does anyone have any firsthand experience with a carburetor rebuilder that I could send my Quadrajet to?
I thank you all for your collective experience and abilities and look forward to at least getting my 77 Vette running smooth for the Spring/Summer & Fall seasons that are upon us!
Why not do it yourself? I did mine, there aren't very many parts in the kit. Buy a 1 gal. parts soak can, some thin wire to run through the holes, air to blow it out......no big deal really.

Last edited by dprinter1; Mar 29, 2011 at 12:11 AM. Reason: Typo
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 11:07 AM
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If you want a quality rebuild on it send it to Lars. The carb might be fine. I have found most assumed carb problems to actually be ignition related. I picked up a full second in the quarter mile with a distributor recurve and vacuum can change. There was nothing wrong with the distributor other than the factory curve. Lars does the distributor rebuild/ recurve also and his work is second to none and very fairly priced. Check plugs, wires, points and advance curve before you mess with the carb always.
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Old Mar 29, 2011 | 07:33 PM
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Again, THANK YOU for all the GREAT suggestions! This is truly an awesome forum to be a part of!! Looking forward to getting out this season and doing some cruising!
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