Get this thing running again!! 1973
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Get this thing running again!! 1973
I've got a 73 Stingray that I inherited a few months back. I am not very familiar with this vehicle yet, but am becoming.
I am replacing the fuel system from tank all the way up. It sat with bad gas for god knows how long!
Also, the carb is junked and between that and the intake, I'm trying to learn what it all is so i can replace it. I've been told by many that a 600-650 cfm edelbrock will do just fine for what I want out of this car. I don't know a whole lot, so I am learning as I go and thought this would be a great place to learn a thing or two.
Any advice on selecting a good carb and intake manifold?
I am replacing the fuel system from tank all the way up. It sat with bad gas for god knows how long!
Also, the carb is junked and between that and the intake, I'm trying to learn what it all is so i can replace it. I've been told by many that a 600-650 cfm edelbrock will do just fine for what I want out of this car. I don't know a whole lot, so I am learning as I go and thought this would be a great place to learn a thing or two.
Any advice on selecting a good carb and intake manifold?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
FWIW: why not use what you have and rebuild the Q-Jet? Costs you nothing but a rebuild kit to get it running. Drive it for a while before deciding which way you might want to go with it..
Congrats on the 73.
Congrats on the 73.
Last edited by Easy Mike; Oct 6, 2016 at 11:59 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 162
From: columbia city in
I would think about what I want to do with this car .keep it all factory, hot rod or sell it .changing to aftermarket parts can hurt your value.what ever you want to do, save your old parts . If your old gas tank is not leaking take it in and have it cleaned.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
Doc, welcome to the Corvette Forum and congratulations on your "inheritance"... unfortunately I had to buy my '73, but I have owned it for more than 25 years and it still has the original Quadrajet on it.
I'm with Mike on his suggestion of rebuilding your Quadrajet. I had rebuilt more than a few carbs over the years, but never a Quadrajet. So I dove right in. I've now rebuilt a half dozen or more Quadrajets and all have performed just fine. Not a Lars rebuild mind you, but just fine never-the-less. Unless you are going racing or someone has trashed your current setup, I think you will be hard pressed to top the original Quadrajet ...without switching to EFI.
By the way, the first thing I replaced on my '73 after buying it was the gas tank! It had sat for more than 5 years and I had gas dripping on the exhaust system, it had to go. The good news was I found the build sheet on the tank and was able to save it. 
Good luck... GUSTO
I'm with Mike on his suggestion of rebuilding your Quadrajet. I had rebuilt more than a few carbs over the years, but never a Quadrajet. So I dove right in. I've now rebuilt a half dozen or more Quadrajets and all have performed just fine. Not a Lars rebuild mind you, but just fine never-the-less. Unless you are going racing or someone has trashed your current setup, I think you will be hard pressed to top the original Quadrajet ...without switching to EFI.
By the way, the first thing I replaced on my '73 after buying it was the gas tank!
It had sat for more than 5 years and I had gas dripping on the exhaust system, it had to go. The good news was I found the build sheet on the tank and was able to save it. Good luck... GUSTO
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,050
Likes: 205
From: Lewes Delaware
Glad to see another 73 being kept on the road.
I agree with Mike and Gusto. I had Lars rebuild the carb on my 73 and I tuned it per his papers. It runs fast and smooth.
Figure out what you want the car to be, then go to it. We are here to help and cheer you on.
Fran
I agree with Mike and Gusto. I had Lars rebuild the carb on my 73 and I tuned it per his papers. It runs fast and smooth.
Figure out what you want the car to be, then go to it. We are here to help and cheer you on.
Fran
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,222
Likes: 9,359
From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
welcome aboard. If you have the time and the patience, and assuming you following directions, then I would rebuild the carb eaven if its just for the experience. You'll learn alot and you'll know how and why it works while your doing it. If you want it fixed and driving now you an go with the edelbrock 1406/1405. The 06 has the electric choke but is jetted down for economy. Most reviews ive read say to buy the jets/rods that are the baseline of the 05 and use those. More pep and excitement. Plenty of online vids on swapping parts on those carbs available as well. Im satisfied with my 06 and how easy it is to work on, but am leaning toward a 750 for the motor I have
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 14,406
Likes: 8,212
From: Napa Valley California
Cograts and welcome to the forum. Rebuild the Quadra jet, get the car to the point that you can drive it around for a while, see what factory equipment it came with and above all determine the value and how rare your car is before touching it. It could be that one of one '73 we can all dream about. Then decide what you want to do with it and what it's going to take to get it there before you start. My '73 is a 454, TH400. I plan to keep the classic exterior and interior, but plan to upgrade the original engine, put in an overdrive trans, upgrade the brakes and suspension and actually drive it on weekends and to car shows. Above all enjoy it.
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
Racer
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 366
Likes: 19
Inherited 73
Congrats on the 73! The Quadrajet is a great street carb, rebuild it, or have it done. Couple of good books on the subject. Swapping out the metal fuel lines while the body is on, is a major PITA, maybe just flush yours. The rubber fuel lines, if original are probably rotten, swap those out. If you do decide to swap out the fuel tank, keep all the parts until you are done. You would be surprised what original hardware fits better than the replacement pieces. I tossed my tank, then realized I needed the piece the gas cap attaches to. There went $80 
It will take a while to get her road worthy, but what a beautiful car IMO. Good Luck!!
It will take a while to get her road worthy, but what a beautiful car IMO. Good Luck!!