Cliff's Quadrajet Parts and Rebuild Kits

Quadrajet Problem Solving => Diagnose a Quadrajet carburetor problem => Topic started by: stushug on October 09, 2018, 02:05:48 PM

Title: Bent throttle plate
Post by: stushug on October 09, 2018, 02:05:48 PM
My 1977 Grand Prix with a 400 and Qjet has been running poorly for a while. Last summer I purchased a rebuild kit from Cliff and saw some improvement. I haven't driven the car much, and didn't have a lot of time to work on it either. The other day I found oil inside the distributor, so I rebuilt and reinstalled it. During the test drive, on the way home, the engine suddenly jumped up in rpms so I went straight back to the house. When I put the car in park, it was idling at about 3,000. None of the linkages were stuck and I could not get the idle down to normal. Today I decided to pull the carb and I found the bottom right rear throttle plate severely bent. It was not like that when I rebuilt the carb, and I never had the idle problem before either. Anyone have any guess as to how a perfectly fine throttle plate gets so mangled while the carb is installed on the car? I had to remove it from the bottom plate and hammer it flat, so I know these things don't just bend for no reason. I attached a picture of the plate the way I found it.
Title: Re: Bent throttle plate
Post by: Cliff Ruggles on October 10, 2018, 02:30:36 AM
I can not think of a scenario that would cause that.  The rear plates are thick and difficult to bend anyhow......Cliff
Title: Re: Bent throttle plate
Post by: stushug on October 10, 2018, 03:50:55 PM
In your book, you recommend bending the rod for the secondary throttle plate stop. What is the simplest way to do that? I tried briefly but I was afraid of damaging the base plate. I though about removing to bend it but it's pressed in very tightly.
Title: Re: Bent throttle plate
Post by: Cliff Ruggles on October 12, 2018, 12:07:30 AM
I bend them here every day with a pair of pliers.  Not that difficult.....
Title: Re: Bent throttle plate
Post by: stushug on October 12, 2018, 05:06:59 PM
Thanks, Cliff. I did just as you said and had it adjusted in less than five minutes.
Title: Re: Bent throttle plate
Post by: Cliff Ruggles on October 13, 2018, 03:56:03 AM
Cool!