Author Topic: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems  (Read 6836 times)

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #15 on: October 24, 2025, 06:14:05 PM »

Offline 77cruiser

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #16 on: October 24, 2025, 06:54:16 PM »
That about normal for just winging the throttle. I thought he had it on a dyno.
Jim

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #17 on: October 25, 2025, 03:47:43 AM »
I don’t think the engine is under any sort of load. Here’s another carb about a day later. It too was for a Pontiac https://youtube.com/shorts/Ugl6HN0t3A8?si=HOU7m8e1-4aUKyKO

Offline Cadman-iac

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #18 on: October 25, 2025, 10:12:46 PM »
Plugged POE

 That carb does not have the POE, (pull over enrichment), what you have circled in your picture is the secondary air bleed tube.
 If it had the POE system, there would be a 3rd set of tubes located in the slightly larger holes just ahead of the air bleed tubes, and these would be longer and thicker. In addition, the discharge holes for the POE are located just above or below the choke blade when it's closed.
 If those are not there, the carb never had a POE system. If there are discharge ports, then it's possible that someone pulled the tubes at some point and didn't replace them.

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #19 on: October 27, 2025, 05:52:59 AM »
Sorry.  New to the quadrajet terminology.  From reading about a plugged secondary air bleed tube it said this condition would result in rich idle conditions.  This can't be true since my carb runs extremely lean.

Offline novadude

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #20 on: October 27, 2025, 06:21:55 AM »
Secondary air bleed tube would have no effect on idle, but it would definitely affect WOT secondary metering.

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #21 on: October 30, 2025, 11:03:50 AM »
So this is a late 80’s Chevy style carb body with the top of mine after installing the missing secondary cam. Once the o2 sensor warms up, you can see she’s now twice as rich as it once was. So, rebuild number 3 on the way.  DO NOT SEND A CARB TO EDEN, NC!

https://youtu.be/KID_MnNmRJ8?feature=shared

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #22 on: November 06, 2025, 09:43:37 AM »
Well my stopped by my buddy's shop to see what all he's found so far.  He said he was appalled at how dirty the inside was.  You can see the old gasket that was reused.  He said chunks of carbon fell off it when removed.  Also the jets all look used.  He said although there's nothing technically wrong with reusing parts, a "professional" would never do that.  Everything is nice and super clean now with no old residue left.  He said "no wonder why Classic Carb Rebuilder said if this is opened, warranty is voided."  I told him I already sent it back once and he denied warranty saying my fuel was contaminated.  He then asked how many tanks of fuel I ran through and I said at least 2.  He said every fuel sample he's taken is fine.

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #23 on: November 06, 2025, 09:44:24 AM »
Other side of gasket

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #24 on: November 06, 2025, 09:45:17 AM »
Looks good and clean now.  Buddy also said it looked like subpar parts were used too

Offline Kenth

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #25 on: November 06, 2025, 11:35:30 AM »
With a sufficiently weak preload on the spring to the air valves you can make them open whenever you want.
The same settings in a car the car willl nose dive at WOT.

Offline Cliff Ruggles

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #26 on: November 06, 2025, 08:39:32 PM »
The only advice I can give here is to avoid commercially "remanufactured" carburetors.  I woln't touch on here and recommend others to the same.

BTW, Holley is one of the WORST companies to ever touch a Q-jet.  Every single one from them I've seen has been a complete pile of bovine excrement......FWIW....

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #27 on: November 10, 2025, 08:52:08 AM »
The only advice I can give here is to avoid commercially "remanufactured" carburetors.  I woln't touch on here and recommend others to the same.

BTW, Holley is one of the WORST companies to ever touch a Q-jet.  Every single one from them I've seen has been a complete pile of bovine excrement......FWIW....

Yes I've known this for decades and wasn't surprised when Tim said what I sent was junk.  I sent him a virgin carb to rebuild twice still having the same issue plus now running super lean with reused parts and junk new parts.  over $700 deep when all of it is added up.:(

Offline Cliff Ruggles

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #28 on: November 25, 2025, 04:18:04 AM »
Not good news.  I'm not familiar with your "builder" but if you've invested that kind of money with him you'd think he'd do what is needed to make sure you have a good end result......

Offline Ponchonutty

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Re: 1979 Firebird Trans Am aka the turdbird has problems
« Reply #29 on: November 26, 2025, 05:49:35 AM »
Yeah, I know I stand by my work.  Heck I have to travel and hour to do a reset of a remote starter that I installed over 3 years ago.  It was something the owner did to the car.  Guess what, I won't charge her for it.

Tim, tongue lashed me when I sent it to him the second time.  He accused me of me bashing his work online saying I was hurting his online reputation.  All I had said on someone else's post that I was sending it back to have him take another look.  I asked for him to provide proof I sullied his name of which he could not.  He had me by the balls and charged me another $200 to correct the original reason for having it rebuilt.  I spoke to him several times after I noticed still having issues and he "assured" me it wasn't the carb and that it has to be something with the car.

I bought another correct junk carb core and will be dropping it and the frankenstein carb to Ray Klemm.  I suspect the throttle body is either junk or needs shaft bushings.  When I last ran it in the garage, it was where it needed to be via what my wide band showed.  Let it sit after running for a bit and restarted it.  It then began to lean out more as it ran.  When I pulled it off, there was what looked like moisture on one side of the primary and secondaries blades and gasket.  Thought that was odd but it was super humid that day.  I noticed later if I tap the rod that holds the secondary baffle plate, it rattles on one side.  That shaft appears to be new.  Either it is wrong or there's wear in the throttle body.  I do know Tim said my original carb was junk because it was warped.  He did reuse that part of the old carb due to the brakets needed for the solenoids for the AC system.