Quadrajet Problem Solving > Diagnose a Quadrajet carburetor problem
Which choke? 7044240 Buick qjet
Trans Am:
Why not run mechanical choke?
I have a new to me 1972 GMC 1 ton with a chevy big block 402ci. Originally came with a Qjet(obviously), it has an edelbrock on it now and I want that gone.
I got lucky at a local boneyard and found a 7044240 on a 1972 Buick Riviera today, so that's what's going on the truck.
Truck was originally divorced choke. So was new carb. However that doesn't mean the choke parts are the same and will match up--I still got all the choke parts out of the boneyard anyways.
To start here: What exactly is wrong with the factory divorced choke?
Would it be better to use an electric divorced choke kit? There seems to be a few available.
Thank you very much.
Kenth:
The Tomco sticker is the main issue with your carb.
It qualifies the carb to a "frankencarb" put together with non-matching parts from X amount of different Q-jets.
Be prepaired to throw lots of money and time on it to have a proper functional carb from this.
You would be far ahead getting an old used, non-factory "restored", correct Chevy Q-jet with a Chevy divorced choke for your engine.
JMHO
Cliff Ruggles:
An early Chevy divorced choke carb would certainly be a better fit, side inlet, linkage, place to hook up a return spring, etc.
Those early Buick divorced chokes are rare so make sure to save it. You might want to wonder over to the Buick board and offer it for sale if you end up not using it.
Flags go up with the carb just from the pics, starting with the "goofy" front vent tube that started life as a PCV or vent fitting. You still may want to take the "reman" apart and look around. Most likely it is "hacked" which is common from the company that built is as Kenth mentioned........Cliff
Trans Am:
Hey Cliff I bought your book several years ago and skimmed through it a couple times, but I've never actually been through a qjet.
I have a funny feeling I may have taken you out of context(or incorrectly altogether) when you suggested in the book that if rebuilt to factory settings and tolerances, basically any qjet could run any engine very well.
That is why I grabbed this when I could; I figured it couldn't be too hard to run. I'm not needing high performance, just a good running truck that can haul occasionally.
I understand the choke situation might be wonky, but if I'm not looking for "correct", but rather "reliable", is this carb still really not gonna work?
Why did Kenth suggest I'd be spending lots of money? Does he mean that Tomco ruined the casting? Or that the carb is just so "wrong" for my chevy that it'll never really work? The inlet position doesn't bother me and a wonky but FUNCTIONING choke doesn't disturb me either.
Cliff Ruggles:
You can take nearly any Q-jet and put any calibration in it so it will work where it ends up. So you didn't take me "out of context".
Even with that said when selecting a carb it's bet to look at all the parameters and choose one that fits your needs with less "cobbling" to get it in place.
You chose a front fuel inlet, not really a big deal there but you get a LOT more clearance toward the thermostat housing with a side inlet model. The linkage on the big Buick carb is "goofy", and no provision to hook up a return spring rear of the carb.
The choke just doesn't work at all with a Chevy intake without some help or replacing it with a Chevy version.
Tomco like all the other companies that "remanufactured" Q-jets had a bad habit of mixing/matching components, "gutting" the original calibrations out of them, then installing "generic" calibrations and cheap parts. You will also find that many of them received the POS pressed-in N/S assemblies which are HOPELESS and leave the carb nothing put a pile of junk.
At a minimum decide if you can work with the linkage and choke parts before throwing a lot of time/funds at it.
There are literally millions of good cores still out there and easy to obtain at relatively low prices.
I use and prefer the 1976 and later non-CCC side inlet carbs (hot air or electric choke) for what you are doing. They Chevy versions will be side inlet, PLENTY of places to hook up linkage, return springs, convert easily to E-choke, and fully adjustable via the APT system without having to remove the airhorn and change parts.
IF you are wanting to use th early stock intake then go after a 1969 or newer Chevy divorced choke carb instead, preferably 1972-1977. They are EXCELLENT units as well, and have the correct choke set-up already on them.
I actually have scores of them here in the core pile. My personal favorites in the bunch are the 1977-78 truck units with the SMAB set-up. They are at the top of the pile for Chevy divorced choke models but even with that said the four MAB style will work just fine if that's what you end up with........Cliff
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