Jet and rod recommendations for a 350

[BoxWagon]

Hey guys,

I'm currently rebuilding my qjet.  It is a later style carb (17085226), its not a feedback carb it just has the dual capacity accelerator shot. The carb is going on top of a stock '86 chevy 350 mated to a 200-4r.  Its stock except for the edelbrock intake.  It will be getting LT headers soon. 

Anyway, does anyone have a suggestion as a good starting point for a primary jet and rod combo? I'm not too worried about the secondaries yet, they are easy enough to change later. The carb is not original to the engine so I would like to see if jets and rods I have will work before put it all back together. I understand that it will need tweaking, but I just need a decent starting point.   

[Cliff Ruggles]

What jets and metering rods are in it currently?.....Cliff

[BoxWagon]

I haven't ran the carb on the car yet.  Its going to replace an old feedback carb. I couldn't tell you what is currently in the carb, I'm not home currently, will be in a week or so.  Since it never ran on the car it shouldn't matter what the carb has.  I'm going to check before I purchase to make sure I'm not buying what I have. 

[BoxWagon]

Got it.  50M rods and 72 jets.  Secondaries are DP rods on a P hanger.

Any thoughts?

[Shark Racer]

What are the air bleed sizes in that carb? I suspect it's going to be lean everywhere but I could well be wrong...

[BoxWagon]

I would assume lean as well.  I guess I might just have to use this setup and experiment.  I wanted to avoid taking it back apart if possible.  I know all engines run differently even if they are technically the same engine, but I figured I wasn't the first person to need a starting point for the ultra-rare Chevy 350/quadrajet setup.

As for the air bleeds, I wish I knew.  They are whatever the original ones to the carb are.  Sorry, its not helpful, I know.         

[Shark Racer]

You can probably size them using one of those $10-20 drill bit kits... the stock ones on most of my late 70's Chevy carbs are just under 1/8".

[Cliff Ruggles]

The stock 50M rods are fine.  I'd install 74 jets with them.  DP secondaries are OK for a stock build.  If headers or dual exhaust are added, I'd install smaller secondary metering rods as well....Cliff

[BoxWagon]

Thanks for the help guys.  I'll adjust according once its running.