LOOKing at getting a used Q-jet to rebuild/use from the local Junkyard....

[Jase]

Hello All,

My first post here. I am setting out to learn about how to rebuild and tune carburetors. I have a couple of options from the local junkyard, and am wondering which is the best starting place. (will be ordering Cliff's book as soon as I post this introductory question)


Option 1 is from an '85 Chevy P/U I assume, as it does not have any electronics on it, and the Serial # suggests that it had a manual transmission. This carb looks presentable, although it may have a bit of throttle shaft bore wear.....

Option 2 is from a '79 Olds, and the throttle shaft seems tight... although the outside of the casting was slightly oxidized, so I am not sure if the inside is the same or worse... but I have heard that Q-jets from the 70's are among the best to begin with... so I got excited..

My present questions are as such. What is the difference between a manual and automatic transmission Q-jet, aside from maybe the lack of a kick down cable bracket. Is there a difference in jets, or fuel delivery?

Next are the finances involved. They want $50 with no warranty, and 75 with warranty. I am expecting to rebuild which ever one I bring home.. so does it make the most sense to keep the initial price low?

The first Qjet I rebuild will be going on a 350 SBC, the eventual second one will go on a 225 slant 6... although I am not shopping for that carb yet.. any and all thoughts or perspectives welcome.

[Cliff Ruggles]

The answers to your questions are in my book as we included a Chapter on carburetor selection.

The later carburetors are actually better in many ways that early designs.  The book will explain this in greater detail and also which carburetors to look for and which ones are best for high performance work, etc......Cliff

[Jase]

Thanks Cliff, I look forward to digesting your book on the Quadrajet.

[Cliff Ruggles]

That is the best course of action with this sort of thing.

First arm yourself with up to date and accurate information on the subject. 

Then choose a suitable Quadrajet core for what you are doing.  Make sure that the linkage, vacuum fittings, fuel inlet location and type of choke are going to work as well.

Nothing worse than locating a nice core, putting a bunch of time/funds into it, then finding out you can't hook up the throttle arm or transmission kick down linkage, PCV hose, power brake line, or fuel line hits the thermostat housing, etc, etc.

Once you decide on a core, give us a call at the shop and we'll set you up with all the parts needed for a complete/correct rebuild, and tuning parts to take the guesswork out of the equation.  The parts that we will send you are far superior that what you're going to get in the Jiffy kit from Pep Boys and the kits will have everything you need in them to set the carb up exactly for what you are doing.

I can also help out with selecting engine parts/parameters as we've been building engines now for over 40 years and know what is needed to get a good end result.......thanks for the book purchase.......Cliff