Carburetor question
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 93
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From: Cleburne Texas
Carburetor question
I have the stock quadrajet carburetor on my 76 Stingray. I think it is getting to the end of its life span, so should I do a rebuild or just go get an edelbrock or holley? And if I did go get a new carburetor what I be looking at any significant power change?
Another question. I have the L-48 with an automatic tranny, but i put a 272 cam, headers, edelbrock intake, flows, and milled the heads when i did the rebuild on my engine. But I cant really tell that much of a change, should I have been able to tell a bid difference?
Another question. I have the L-48 with an automatic tranny, but i put a 272 cam, headers, edelbrock intake, flows, and milled the heads when i did the rebuild on my engine. But I cant really tell that much of a change, should I have been able to tell a bid difference?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Carburetor question (ill_driver)
Unless your original Q-Jet is actually damaged, it can easily be rebuilt to provide excellent performance. Do a good rebuild on it using good quality parts (I prefer Echlin components - NAPA), replace the float with a new NitroFill float, replace the choke pulloff, set everything up precisely, and bump your jet sizes up by 2 sizes for the mods you have. This should give you some very nice performance. If you're running the stock jetted carb with those mods you listed, you're running lean.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 93
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From: Cleburne Texas
Re: Carburetor question (lars)
I have never done a carburetor rebuild before, is it quite a task or is it not that big of a deal? Is there a website or book i can get for a walkthrough? THanks for the reply.
Karl
Karl
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 837
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From: Texas
Re: Carburetor question (ill_driver)
Karl, go to this link then scroll down to "quadrajet". There are several good tech papers on quadrajet carbs. Most are courtesy of Lars. http://corvettefaq.com/engine.asp
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,370
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From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Re: Carburetor question (ill_driver)
Karl -
If you get stuck on it, just send it out to me and I'll set it up for you. You can e-mail me for info:
V8FastCars@msn.com
If you get stuck on it, just send it out to me and I'll set it up for you. You can e-mail me for info:
V8FastCars@msn.com
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
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From: Huntersville NC
Re: Carburetor question (lars)
Karl -
If you get stuck on it, just send it out to me and I'll set it up for you. You can e-mail me for info:
V8FastCars@msn.com
If you get stuck on it, just send it out to me and I'll set it up for you. You can e-mail me for info:
V8FastCars@msn.com
If you want to try it yourself, it really is kind of fun and very educational, I find the book by Doug Roe, "Rochester Carburetors", to be very helpful. He has very detailed step-by-step instructions WITH PICTURES that will guide you thru the process. I was a bit worried when I had the carb apart that I would never get it all back together, but with the instructions and pics it all went back together and I only had one or two unidentified parts lying around when I was finished!! :lol: MJ
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
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From: Waterford Mi
Re: Carburetor question (MNJack)
Send it to Lars. You will be very happy with the results. As far as yor question on what should you expect to see with the work you already did, you may not ahve noticed a lot because the gear ratio on cars from 70's where setup for highway driving and not get-up-and go. The 272 cam and heads will show the most improvement at top end speed; say 3500rpm and above.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Re: Carburetor question (ill_driver)
Sounds like you should have a fairly powerful combo Karl. :eek: The carb is good place to start. lars would be my first choice. You can always buy a swap meet carb for pocket change and hit the books (plenty of good information on Q-jets) to learn at your own pace later. Next would be ignition systems 101 and I like the MSD theme. Finally choose the right stall converter if yours is an auto and steeper rear gear set - 3.70, 3.90, 4.11.
If thats a 272 duration cam your power range is at higher revs and forget about idling across parking lots. :lolg:
If thats a 272 duration cam your power range is at higher revs and forget about idling across parking lots. :lolg: