What is the best carb &/or intake?
#1
What is the best carb &/or intake?
Yes, I am new to the Vette world. I have a 70 with a 350/300 hp stock. Car has been sitting for 4 or 5 years, but motor rebuilt and hasn't run. I've got it running, but running poorly. I'm thinking new carb and intake, then see what else. The Qjet carb is nasty looking even after I've rebuilt it, so I didn't even put it on or run it. Previous owner has painted the intake a bright orange that is cracking, peeling, very, ugly, too. Not looking for a show car or race car, but a nice looking, good running car I don't have to fool with much. Yes, I've read some of the previous posts that include many opinions. New vs rebuilt? Lars vs new setup? The 2101 intake will give me 20 more hp. Many other thoughts to read. Of course, there is also the stock hood to consider, giving me little extra space to work with. What do you know of the new Holley Qjet replacement? Who has a similar car... and what do you have under the hood that will fit?
#3
Team Owner
Member Since: Jan 2007
Location: Southern Cal Ca
Posts: 50,467
Received 762 Likes
on
613 Posts
St. Jude Donor '22
first need to know what the rebuild used for parts and
after sitting what shape it is in.
then curve your ignition dist
then think cam for power and and maybe heads.
until you have parts that make your intake choke the engine
keep it, and the roch quad will give you the best cfm on any intake.
after sitting what shape it is in.
then curve your ignition dist
then think cam for power and and maybe heads.
until you have parts that make your intake choke the engine
keep it, and the roch quad will give you the best cfm on any intake.
#4
Melting Slicks
send your carb and dissy to Lars, and let him work his magic first. i did.
if it's the original cast manifold, then yes go for a 2101 to fit under the stock hood.
you'll save a ton of weight and gain a little extra hp.
if it's the original cast manifold, then yes go for a 2101 to fit under the stock hood.
you'll save a ton of weight and gain a little extra hp.
#5
Team Owner
Member Since: Oct 2004
Location: altered state
Posts: 81,242
Received 3,043 Likes
on
2,602 Posts
St. Jude Donor '05
x2, you got a great carb, just get it and the ignition curve right.
Have you considered the performer EPS? Little better
Get one used, unless the threads are boogered they really dont wear out not worth buying new. Weiand has some nice dual planes also, kinda prefer them over Edelbrock but cant go wrong with either.
Now you need headers, slippery slope bud.
Have you considered the performer EPS? Little better
Get one used, unless the threads are boogered they really dont wear out not worth buying new. Weiand has some nice dual planes also, kinda prefer them over Edelbrock but cant go wrong with either.
Now you need headers, slippery slope bud.
#6
Race Director
If your engine is stock, I honestly doubt you'll feel any performance gains from an intake swap. Your wallet and engine will be lighter. Maybe 1/10th of a second in a 0-60 run?
Getting the carb sorted will be worth way more.
Getting the carb sorted will be worth way more.
#7
Melting Slicks
x2, you got a great carb, just get it and the ignition curve right.
Have you considered the performer EPS? Little better
Get one used, unless the threads are boogered they really dont wear out not worth buying new. Weiand has some nice dual planes also, kinda prefer them over Edelbrock but cant go wrong with either.
Now you need headers, slippery slope bud.
Have you considered the performer EPS? Little better
Get one used, unless the threads are boogered they really dont wear out not worth buying new. Weiand has some nice dual planes also, kinda prefer them over Edelbrock but cant go wrong with either.
Now you need headers, slippery slope bud.
#9
I think the Quadrajet looks ugly compared to a Holley or QuickFuel and I'm not sure it will give an edge even if greatly rebuilt and you can get a new carb delivered in a couple of days.
#10
The best carb and/or intake?
Thanks for the info and recommendations. Let me see if I can give you more info.
Yes, mine is the original cast intake... heavy and ugly cracking paint.
The serial # for the Qjet indicates it is not original, but off of a 72 or later Chevy... is it so different from a 70 that it impacts operation of engine?
What do I do in my garage to make sure the distributor is right? I've been mostly a Ford guy and know how to set timing with a Ford distributor. The distributor in my Vette is the huge one, so someone put in an electronic one.
What am I missing?... & what do you recommend? Thanks much!
Yes, mine is the original cast intake... heavy and ugly cracking paint.
The serial # for the Qjet indicates it is not original, but off of a 72 or later Chevy... is it so different from a 70 that it impacts operation of engine?
What do I do in my garage to make sure the distributor is right? I've been mostly a Ford guy and know how to set timing with a Ford distributor. The distributor in my Vette is the huge one, so someone put in an electronic one.
What am I missing?... & what do you recommend? Thanks much!
#11
Has anyone used the Holley Qjet replacement? When you get past the price of $500+, it seems to be the best of both worlds. It is a brand new, fully operational carb... it looks good... but it operates like the original equipment Qjet (right?)... what do you know?
#12
Le Mans Master
The Qjet, in my opinion, is a good carb when it runs correctly, but due to its complicated nature and GM's attempt to try to precisely meter fuel through a carb in lieu of mechanical fuel injection, when it goes wrong it can be difficult to correct for the uninformed. The Qjet is overcomplicated for what a carb needs to do, again, my opinion.
As for aftermarket intakes, unless you have big HP (400+ gross HP) and even then, the average aftermarket intake is maybe good for 5-7 HP over a good stock GM intake like my aluminum L-82 intake, in general. I would not even notice that small an increase on my L-82 355. All the power is in the heads, roller cam, and long tube headers, not really the intake.
Last edited by jb78L-82; 05-25-2018 at 09:26 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Rev Ron (05-25-2018)
#15
Burning Brakes
I have the original Quadrajet on my 1976 rebuilt twice. Once in the early eighties and once by me about a year ago. Runs fine. I think the biggest problem with the Quadrajet is not the carburetor. It is getting one that some bubba has messed with if you are not lucky enough to find an unmolested one.
My 1971 383 Stroker has a Holley Street Avenger. Runs great - no problems.
My buddy's mechanic (parts swapper ?) went through three rebuilt, but defective, Quadrajets from an auto parts store before installing a brand new Holley on his 68 Camaro Convertible. The brand new carb solved the problem. He didn't listen when I told him to send the original carb to a specialist like Lars on this site. Now the original carb is long gone.
If your carb is the original one and your car has collector value, or may some day, its worth salvaging the carb. If it has been tinkered and tampered with over the years then you will need to get it in the hands of someone who knows what problems to look for and can "reverse engineer" all the screw ups.
I know it can get frustrating. Good luck
My 1971 383 Stroker has a Holley Street Avenger. Runs great - no problems.
My buddy's mechanic (parts swapper ?) went through three rebuilt, but defective, Quadrajets from an auto parts store before installing a brand new Holley on his 68 Camaro Convertible. The brand new carb solved the problem. He didn't listen when I told him to send the original carb to a specialist like Lars on this site. Now the original carb is long gone.
If your carb is the original one and your car has collector value, or may some day, its worth salvaging the carb. If it has been tinkered and tampered with over the years then you will need to get it in the hands of someone who knows what problems to look for and can "reverse engineer" all the screw ups.
I know it can get frustrating. Good luck
Last edited by stock76; 05-25-2018 at 02:10 PM.
#16
Thanks much. I have not verified, but was told that the car was numbers matching except the carb. The model number on the carb tells me it is from a 72 or later car. I guess that kills the whole 'collector value' of the car. That is not what I am looking for, anyway. I just want a nice looking, good running car that doesn't give me a boat load of problems. That's why I was thinking about the Holley Qjet... and have gotten good feedback on it so far.
#17
I have had 2 of the Q-jet replacement carbs (650) one on a 400 Pontiac in a 69 Trans Am I restored with a ram air 4 aluminum intake solid cam etc. and it ran great.Also had one on a 383 stroker in a 89 ex cab s 10 and it also was a great little carb.Can;t go wrong in my opinion.
#19
Burning Brakes
Don’t buy a carb for “looks.” You can’t see it when you drive. You can’t see it when the hoods up. If you never drive it and leave the air cleaner off then by all means shop on “looks”.
#20
Melting Slicks
A 650 cfm carb will get you great acceleration, the larger you go with cid the larger cfm you need for higher rpm. A 650cfm on a 383cid will probably run out of air around 5500rpm. The next question is how high do you spin your engine? If you don't exceed 5500rpm you are good to go. DISCLAIMER: this suggestion is for a mild build, if engine has over .5"lift and heads with over 200 flow rating this comment DOES NOT apply. T