79vette great performing carb.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
79vette great performing carb.
So I want to start work upgrading my engine. My carb is screwed so I decided that's a good place to start. What's good performing ones, without spending a ton. A local mechanic tried to convince me today to buy some brand I've never heard of for $250. He says its as good as a holly... I don't believe it... But I trust the judgement of people on the forum. Please let me know ones you recommend. Thank you in advance
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Send your Quadrajet to Lars for a rebuild. It will feed anything from a 190 HP L48 to a HP 454 with minor tuning, get great fuel mileage and you won't need to change it after you make engine upgrades.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 254
From: Downers Grove Illinois
As long as your current carb isn't a rebuilt one it can be made to run very well. I sent my quarajet off to Lars and the car runs better than it ever has for me. I still need to tweak the timing and a couple of other minor things, but what a difference this made.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 5,339
Likes: 546
From: Central Texas
Another vote for Lars. He's the man.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,284
Likes: 1,171
From: Hermosa
With the 79 Q-jet you got a nice rebuildable carb that has an APT. If your handy and don't want to send off your carb you can do it yourself as well. This book can guide you through it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Any carb that has adequate capacity for your engine and is set up properly will perform as well as any other. Some may be more economical in doing that...like the Quadrajet already on your car.
Rebuild the carb you have or send it out for rebuild (Lars is the best and is resonable on price, too). Since you have a spread-bore intake, you won't have to buy another one [for a square-bore carb] by rebuilding the one you have.
Other performance "issues" are likely due to poor distributor set up, ignition problems, timing problems, and/or throttle linkage not fully opening the secondaries of your carb.
Rebuild the carb you have or send it out for rebuild (Lars is the best and is resonable on price, too). Since you have a spread-bore intake, you won't have to buy another one [for a square-bore carb] by rebuilding the one you have.
Other performance "issues" are likely due to poor distributor set up, ignition problems, timing problems, and/or throttle linkage not fully opening the secondaries of your carb.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,455
Likes: 977
From: RI, Now Franklin/Nashville TN
If you don't want to rebuild you Qjet, the Holley 4175 650 CFM Vacuum secondary carb is made for the 78-79 C3's and works beautifully-easy to change jets, easy to change secondary vacuum springs, easy to rebuild-AND reliable with good gas mileage. I have had a 4175 on my L-82 since 1985 and now on the rebuilt L-82 355-all I did was change the primary jets up a few sizes and this carb runs great with the new motor. Not a fan of the Qjet-good when it runs right but overly complicated for what a carb needs to do...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,938
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
there are several companies making good carburetors that a lot of people haven't heard of . quick fuel , demon and others are better than Holley, the holley spread bore vacuum version or double pumper are very good for a spread bore. finding a q jet that is not screwed up so bad that it can be fixed is tougher by the day. and remember Lars doesnt just work on Q jets.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 272
Likes: 3
From: Marion Ia
All carbs that you can get will do a very good job. Q-Jets are great once set up. If you are done working on your engine and this is the last step a rebuild by an expert may be the way to go. If you are still making changes the are finicky for a non pro to work on. Holley is easy to set up and change. The edlebrock is a copy of a carter afb is I remember correctly. I have no experience with those. Do you like to do your own work or do you farm everything out? I always use a holley because even an old dumbass like me can get it running right.