Q Jet
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 215
Likes: 6
From: Mebane, NC
Q Jet
According to Lars and Cliff the carb I have will never work correctly. It was designed for a heavy duty truck. I have an 82 crate 350 in my 73. Manual Trans. It currently has the divorced electric coil choke. Can I get a Carb for a 69-73 and convert it to use the electric choke? Also looking for the best place to purchase a rebuilt one or get a used one that can be rebuilt. The used ones I see on ebay are disgusting. thanks!
Last edited by Capt Ken; May 1, 2026 at 04:38 PM. Reason: addition
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 10,046
Likes: 675
From: FL
There are no good rebuilt carbs out there anymore. If the carb on eBay is disgusting, that means it is probably unmolested. Those are the ones that you want. Find one on eBay and have Lars check it out. Then send it to Lars for a rebuild.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 703
Likes: 335
From: Aubrey TX
I think quadrajetpower.com has an electric choke conversion for those Qjets. Ive seen them on the forums I think. I dont recall exactly where I saw it but it was a 74 carb with an elect chose conversion. I would ask Lars what he recommends.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,137
Likes: 261
What intake manifold is on your crate motor ?
If you have an earlier intake on it you could probably run an original choke set-up and not have to go to an electric choke.
THERE IS a nice 1973 carb listed for sale in the C3 parts for sale section and the seller guarantees it.
If you have an earlier intake on it you could probably run an original choke set-up and not have to go to an electric choke.
THERE IS a nice 1973 carb listed for sale in the C3 parts for sale section and the seller guarantees it.
Last edited by QIK59; May 1, 2026 at 10:07 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 6,937
Likes: 848
From: melbourne florida
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Get a holley quadrajet replacement carburetor and be done with the nonsense. . The quadrajet even if you find a good one is still a half century or there about old
. The castings are prone to problems like throttle shafts getting worn out and fuel inlets stripping out.sure they can be fixed but how many times is your car going to be out of service?
If. You
need to have a quadrajet buy 2 and rebuild both so you can swap one out when issues.happen
. The castings are prone to problems like throttle shafts getting worn out and fuel inlets stripping out.sure they can be fixed but how many times is your car going to be out of service?
If. You
need to have a quadrajet buy 2 and rebuild both so you can swap one out when issues.happen
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 68
Likes: 28
Cliff does like to use late model APT carbs for performance builds.
Easy conversion to electric choke and cheaper cores usually.
Since it is a resto-mod type build, an early one isnt really needed, but will work if a good core is found.
Find a passanger car application and that should work well with some tweaks.
Easy conversion to electric choke and cheaper cores usually.
Since it is a resto-mod type build, an early one isnt really needed, but will work if a good core is found.
Find a passanger car application and that should work well with some tweaks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,391
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
If you need and want an electric choke, use a 1976 - 1979 Chevy passenger car (including Vette) Federal Q-Jet. It won't be "visually correct" for your '73, but can be set up to run very nicely with an electric choke. There are lots of affordable, good, unmolested, rebuildable ones out there still. If you want to use a "correct" 1973 Q-Jet, you can do so using one of the aftermarket electric divorced choke coils, but they're butt-*** ugly, require some creative mods to the choke rod, may require some creative mods to the manifold to be able to attach them, and certainly don't look "stock" or "correct" by any stretch of the imagination.
Lars
