I have been less than happy with my Edelbrock carbs, I wasn't all that savvy at adjusting holleys but I was pretty darn good with dual webers and single solex on my veedub junk that doesn't help with my vette at all...I started doing research on the Q-jet,
years ago I would toss them thinking they were smogger junk, but seems some people have great luck with them, small primaries for cruising and large seconds for romping...

I learned pretty much every car forum has their q-jet guru who for a fee will rebuild what's on your car, but if you do not have a core forget it, buy a whole q-jet form a known name like Sean Murphy or Cliff Ruggles who are in the business not just hobbyists,

So I was waiting for my car top get back from the shop and thought I would just buy a Murphy Q-jet but that other thread got me back to re-thinking.

What I want to find is the best "all around" carb for me, my cruiser mild build 454 with performer intake that I will get on once in a blue moon,
So I do not need full race pro built.

Fuel injection is out...too many toad pelts for me at the moment.
I do not believe any carb is just right out of the box but I also do not want to change every other part in it to make it work for my car,
I have not ruled out any brand carb at this point, I want some more pros and cons, I would like feedback based on real hands on personal experiences not what you read somewhere,
If you say you "hate/love" some carb explain why, and if you tested a couple be honest if you are more savvy with one over the other, biases do not help true tech...

I have a few questions like with all the Holley clones ( rip offs ) which is the best?
If the q-jet was so great why did GM nix it for the high performance engines that received Holleys.
Does anyone not hate the Edelbrock?

Thanks all

 

Get a used q-jet ..send it to Lars .. Look for him here on the forum .. You not only get a great rebuild but great support from him. Matter of fact talk to him first.

 

Sorry...I will not play Russian roulette core hunting especially when I am right back to doing more research on the subject of which carb is right for me.

"IF" I go with a Q-jet I will like I said before I will buy from Sean Murphy, they are in the business, I spent some time talking with them on the phone, top shelf support all the way...

But the person/company building the q-jet aside do you have any tech and hands on reasons you like them...

 

I like the Holley because it is so easy to work on, and get parts.
I don't dislike the Qjet, in fact I have run and worked on many of them over the years. I used to have a pretty good supply of Qjet parts.
I do not like the Edelbrock, and would rather spend my time balancing SU carbs than work on one. Yes, I admit to having British cars
For me, I like to bang gears with a manual and the double pumper Holley is what I usually go for.

 

I talked to Lars and give him my engine specs. With that info I bought a QuickFuel SS830 and sent it to him to dial it in on his engine setup.

He seemed pretty happy with it.

Should be pretty plug and play once my rebuilt gets going.

 

Wouldnt your engine specs have to be the very same as his for his dial in to work, I mean if a builder uses a stock xxxv-8 to dial in carbs this will work for every possible engine spec out there, I thougt different engines had diffent power bands....

 

I'm running a Holley 6210-3, Spreadbore Carb, that I've had for two years. It's only needed one rebuild (recently), but it's run hard often and there was some FOD, so I can't entirely blame the carb.

It's a 650 cfm, mechanical double pumper and no choke. The choke plate is wired open. It starts instantly, even down to 30 degrees. Three pumps and pahrump! This is for a moderately built SBC and it runs well. Caveat. Order a set of #65 primary jets, as it comes stock, with tiny #602's and you will definitely be running lean. Even with the rejetting, it gets decent gas mileage and that's romping all over town with a 3:50 rear end and a four speed.

Jegs, $487. But... Holley sells returned carbs that have been rebuilt to Holley specs, flow benched, wet tested and I got mine for around $300 on Ebay. They don't have one on there right now though...

New:
http://www.jegs.com/i/Holley/510/0-6210/10002/-1

Rebuilt (reputable shop?)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Holley-650-CFM-rebuilt-Carburetor-spread-bore-Double-pumper-6210-/371250648769?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item56704356c1&vxp=mtr

 

GM used Holleys on a very few high performance engines with over 11 to 1 compression, solid lifter cams and tons of overlap. Holley is better suited to the weak vacuum signal and, the racers used Holleys because of the ease of jet changes and tuning at the track. Holley stickers were on all the track cars. That said the GM High Performance applications were all Holley vacuum secondaries and the baddest of the bunch the L88 used a 780 CFM vacuum secondary Holley.

 

Lars has enough experience to dial in your carb on his engine and make the changes needed to meet your engines requirements and driving style.

 

Yes, I am jealous of your tri power but on a bb forget it no one makes one even close to affordable,

I am not dissing anyone I find it hard to believe that you can dial a carb for say a fire breathing 502 on say a 350, seems there would have to be some guessin and luck....

I am lucky several top end shops in town do carb set ups, I just havent gotten that far along yet.

 

I've had good luck with edelbrocks, they always worked well for me out of the box but always felt like I was giving up some power with them. That said, once they're dialed in you really don't ever have to touch them again.

Regarding Q-jets, if you can find the right carb for your application as a core all the parts to make them right are typically available as long as the core is in decent shape. A few years back Edelbrock was selling brand new ones and they actually work well, they're out of production now but you can still find them from time to time. When I bought my 68 it had one out it and it served me well before I found the correct original Q-jet for my application.

 

Quadrajet hands down. Most reliable and versatile carb there is. That's based on tons of research and testimony by some old hot rodders here in Dfw that I know for sure are reliable opinions.

Buy a qjet. have Lars rebuild it.

He is rebuilding one for me as I type this. Thanks Lars!

Edit: he also offers a core screening Process free of charge. Basically you send him a link to the ad or a very small sized JPEG before you buy it and he will give his opinion on whether or not it looks like a worth while investment.

 

Im happy with my Road Demon.

Pros
Double pumper + vac secondaries.
Sight glasses on the bowls

Cons
4 screw idle mix adjust takes some getting used to
late 90s and early 00s had quality issues

Barry grant went out of bussiness during this last slump and sold his name and designs to another company. The newer Demon carbs have been getting great reviews from the street crowd. The racing crowds ive talked to are steering clear because of the history of quality issues.
I put my fingerprints all over a new Street Demon and it looks very well done.

 

Demons are now sold by Holley, see their website.

 

Is your Performer intake manifold a square bore?

 

I heard it through the grapevine that Holley still has issues with the power valve blowing out easily.

Can anyone attest to this?

 

I like both holley and the quadrajet. The availability for parts with the holley is nice.

 

Not unless your car likes to do a lot of backfiring.

 

My tuner told me Holley owns/controls most all new carb manufacturers.

 

I thank everyone but I am not interested in finding a core and sending it to Lars, I didnt post this to be a promo for Lars.
I am fact finding and if I limit that to one fellow rebuilding carbs in his spare time it is't going to tell the whole true story.

Pricewise the qjet even from a carb building company like sean murphy is still a much better bargain than any off the shelf out of the box carb...