Quadrajets for CA smog
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 7
From: East Bay
Quadrajets for CA smog
Hey Everyone,
Proud new owner of a 79 L-48 corvette with all the emissions bells & whistles. The car came with a commercially remanufactured quadrajet, of which, Lars has taught me this carb is nothing more than a paper weight. I am now in the process of trying to find an original quadrajet core. My question: will any date appropriate quadrajet from a Chevy have the proper provisions for all of the emissions components? Or will I be stuck looking for the castings with a “5” noting it’s a CA carb?
Thanks!
Ian
Proud new owner of a 79 L-48 corvette with all the emissions bells & whistles. The car came with a commercially remanufactured quadrajet, of which, Lars has taught me this carb is nothing more than a paper weight. I am now in the process of trying to find an original quadrajet core. My question: will any date appropriate quadrajet from a Chevy have the proper provisions for all of the emissions components? Or will I be stuck looking for the castings with a “5” noting it’s a CA carb?
Thanks!
Ian
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Hey Everyone,
Proud new owner of a 79 L-48 corvette with all the emissions bells & whistles. The car came with a commercially remanufactured quadrajet, of which, Lars has taught me this carb is nothing more than a paper weight. I am now in the process of trying to find an original quadrajet core. My question: will any date appropriate quadrajet from a Chevy have the proper provisions for all of the emissions components? Or will I be stuck looking for the castings with a “5” noting it’s a CA carb?
Thanks!
Ian
Proud new owner of a 79 L-48 corvette with all the emissions bells & whistles. The car came with a commercially remanufactured quadrajet, of which, Lars has taught me this carb is nothing more than a paper weight. I am now in the process of trying to find an original quadrajet core. My question: will any date appropriate quadrajet from a Chevy have the proper provisions for all of the emissions components? Or will I be stuck looking for the castings with a “5” noting it’s a CA carb?
Thanks!
Ian
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 42
Likes: 7
From: East Bay
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
They may, or may not, be badly remanufactured. The big reman outfits just have mass disassembly of carburetors, and then mass assembly of them from whatever parts would appear to fit together. Some of the smaller outfits may actually rebuild individual carbs. But there is no way to know, unless you are and expert or you send it to one.
If you already have the carb, you could buy a rebuild kit for the part number stamped into the left-rear corner of the main body and give it your 'best shot' at a useful life. If you adjust the carb per the instructions and on the running engin,e and it works well, great. If it doesn't you are back to 'square one', but you gave it a good try and you learned a lot about the Q-jet carb.
If you already have the carb, you could buy a rebuild kit for the part number stamped into the left-rear corner of the main body and give it your 'best shot' at a useful life. If you adjust the carb per the instructions and on the running engin,e and it works well, great. If it doesn't you are back to 'square one', but you gave it a good try and you learned a lot about the Q-jet carb.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
They may, or may not, be badly remanufactured. The big reman outfits just have mass disassembly of carburetors, and then mass assembly of them from whatever parts would appear to fit together. Some of the smaller outfits may actually rebuild individual carbs. But there is no way to know, unless you are and expert or you send it to one.
If you already have the carb, you could buy a rebuild kit for the part number stamped into the left-rear corner of the main body and give it your 'best shot' at a useful life. If you adjust the carb per the instructions and on the running engin,e and it works well, great. If it doesn't you are back to 'square one', but you gave it a good try and you learned a lot about the Q-jet carb.
If you already have the carb, you could buy a rebuild kit for the part number stamped into the left-rear corner of the main body and give it your 'best shot' at a useful life. If you adjust the carb per the instructions and on the running engin,e and it works well, great. If it doesn't you are back to 'square one', but you gave it a good try and you learned a lot about the Q-jet carb.
Some things, like air bleeds and idle fuel tubes, can be replaced with a little bit of work.
I'll try to get to my boxes of parts this weekend to see if I have any left over.
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