81 vette
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
81 vette
Was thinking about rebuilding my original carb on 1981 stock Vette but looks to complicated. Thinking of just buying new carb but do not know what kind would match up and if I can get one that would boost performance. Would appreciate any help
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
Lars Grimsrud is the guy to rebuild your quadrajet, but I'm not sure if he rebuilds the latter year carbs. Do a search on the forum for "Lars" and you'll get a ton of hits. You can contact him here, V8FastCars@msn.com
Just bolting a new carb on to your car will not boost performance. You will not gain any HP unless you modify the heads, intake, cam, exhaust, etc..
Just bolting a new carb on to your car will not boost performance. You will not gain any HP unless you modify the heads, intake, cam, exhaust, etc..
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 12,680
Likes: 3,134
From: Shamong, NJ
Other than a rebuilt Computer Command Control Q-Jet, if you still have the computer in your 81, I don't think there's too many after market options.
Just swapping carbs, isn't going to have much effect on the performance of your car. The Q-Jet has a bad reputation in some circles, but actually it's a pretty good carb. A Holley may be easier to re-jet, but it wouldn't have a significant effect on performance.
Just swapping carbs, isn't going to have much effect on the performance of your car. The Q-Jet has a bad reputation in some circles, but actually it's a pretty good carb. A Holley may be easier to re-jet, but it wouldn't have a significant effect on performance.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
Get the original carb rebuilt. Swapping it for another make is a problem just waiting to happen.
If Lars does not want to tackle it....I have had great success with ALL AMERICAN CARBS in Florida.
DUB
If Lars does not want to tackle it....I have had great success with ALL AMERICAN CARBS in Florida.
DUB
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Stanley NC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,091
Likes: 40
Replacing the original would be a huge mistake , if you are basically leaving the original engine in the car and stock.
Most after market carbs are junk made or rebuilt in Mexico .
The quality of your original part is better than any shiney new stuff .
Do yourself a big favor, Send it to a well known reputable rebuilder such as Lars.
Same for other engine items .....the OEM were of high quality and worth rebuilding.
Most after market carbs are junk made or rebuilt in Mexico .
The quality of your original part is better than any shiney new stuff .
Do yourself a big favor, Send it to a well known reputable rebuilder such as Lars.
Same for other engine items .....the OEM were of high quality and worth rebuilding.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 771
Likes: 288
From: Middleton, Id
Replacing the original would be a huge mistake , if you are basically leaving the original engine in the car and stock.
Most after market carbs are junk made or rebuilt in Mexico .
The quality of your original part is better than any shiney new stuff .
Do yourself a big favor, Send it to a well known reputable rebuilder such as Lars.
Same for other engine items .....the OEM were of high quality and worth rebuilding.
Most after market carbs are junk made or rebuilt in Mexico .
The quality of your original part is better than any shiney new stuff .
Do yourself a big favor, Send it to a well known reputable rebuilder such as Lars.
Same for other engine items .....the OEM were of high quality and worth rebuilding.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
If your engine still operates with the Computer Command system, you don't have many options. The carb, distributor, computer and oxygen sensor all work together and are managed by the computer. The carb is a one-year-only unit which has a solenoid operated fuel mixture device in it. So, changing the carb will mean that the system no longer is operational and it will be in 'basic' mode permanently.
You could dump all of those one-year- only parts and run the engine like all the pre-computer cars; but that would mean buying another carb and distributor (as a minimum).
Suggest you rebuild the carb to keep all working as intended. If yours is original build, it's not that hard once you have the proper rebuild kit and instructions on how to set it up. If the solenoid mixing unit is 'toast', they can still be obtained from the right sources. And someone on this Forum should be able to give you that source info.
You could dump all of those one-year- only parts and run the engine like all the pre-computer cars; but that would mean buying another carb and distributor (as a minimum).
Suggest you rebuild the carb to keep all working as intended. If yours is original build, it's not that hard once you have the proper rebuild kit and instructions on how to set it up. If the solenoid mixing unit is 'toast', they can still be obtained from the right sources. And someone on this Forum should be able to give you that source info.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
+1 for rebuilding the one you have. Its no more complicated than a regular Quad, takes a couple special tools but not hard to make or buy them.
Many horror stories in here about the condition of "Rebuilt" carbs in here, you literally do not know what your going to get: mismatched or incorrect parts, bent needles, damaged parts etc...
Many horror stories in here about the condition of "Rebuilt" carbs in here, you literally do not know what your going to get: mismatched or incorrect parts, bent needles, damaged parts etc...
