best carb rebuild kit

by patriot_5420 Wed May 01, 2013 5:41 pm

Any suggestions on the best rebuild kit out there for our stock QJ's? Picking up my engine swap soon (rebuilt '92 350 with vortec heads) and while I'm already having to get an intake manifold to make the carb work on the newer engine (probably an edelbrock performer airgap) I figured acarb rebuild would be a good investment. Any recommendations?

by ant7377 Wed May 01, 2013 5:43 pm

http://quadrajetparts.com/

by 77mali Wed May 01, 2013 8:08 pm

Q jet parts is awesome. I got my air cleaner/filter assembly & pigtail for the electric choke from them for less than $50.00.

by pila Wed May 01, 2013 8:35 pm

When you rebuild you carb, there are things you need to know, as well as just the usual cleaning. A book that's available from Amazon for about 20 bucks, is a good investment for rebuilding & tuning.
It's titled "Rochester Quadrajet Carburetors", by Cliff Ruggles.
It may save you some headaches when you get it rebuilt.
Also, most kits don't include a new float, which is highly recommended.
There a re a variety of float designs, so you need one for THAT Carb model number.
........Hope this helps a bit Very Happy

BILL

by jerry46765 Wed May 01, 2013 9:38 pm

I used to rebuild alot of carbs. It seems a parts counter can never get the right float. Maybe this place can.

You can test a float by 'floating it in a liquid', holding it under water to see if it bubbles, and then see if it gained mass after being under. It can also slosh or rattle if it's a leaker.

by patriot_5420 Wed May 01, 2013 10:05 pm

Yeah I appreciate any info guys. I.m by no means a noob but I'm definitely more experienced with with computer controlled efi. Wasn't until recently I started making enough cash to start driving and working on an old school muscle car. So I'm relearning processes from my youth working with my dad on old chevys.

by Sleddogg Thu May 02, 2013 12:01 am

I agree 110% with Pila on getting Cliff Ruggle's book.

http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/

Give him a call, he will get you on the right track and get you good parts, and give good advice.

I seriously can't say enough good about this guy, I built my carb on my Pontiac...did it step by step with his parts and mods...things runs unlike any quadrajet I have ever owned.

Good Luck,

Jesse

Oh, his kits will come with a new, correct float and accelerator pump..not just the cup. the kit will be put together specifically for your carb number...no parts store "one size fit's most" kits. Also, if you get a kit from a parts store, beware of older carb kits, as the rubber parts are probably not resistant to ethanol and may break down quickly with this fuel they sell these days.

by pila Thu May 02, 2013 12:26 am

The composite floats have been known to "sink" a bit over the years of use, which is a good reason to replace them. And of course when they sink a bit, the fuel level gets higher in the bowl, and affects most circuits in the barb.

And thanks for that link Sleddogg Very Happy

by Sleddogg Thu May 02, 2013 11:43 am

Agreed, I replace floats with every rebuild I do. The nitrophyl floats are cheap and it's just good insurance, as far as I'm concerned. The only floats I would consider re-using would be some ultra rare carb that has a brass float that is either prohibitively expensive to replace or is simply not available. Quadrajets are picky when it comes to float level, also be wary of some of these cheap mechanical fuel pumps out there, I put a new one on my 400 and it's putting out 10 psi!! Way too much for a quadrajet, pressure that is too high will blow the needle off the seat and cause a flooding/rich condition as well. Lots of little things to look out for, but when they are set up, in my experience, there is nothing better than a good Q-jet. Smile

by patriot_5420 Thu May 02, 2013 8:03 pm

I Found That Book At A Local Barnes And Noble So I'll Pick It Up Tomorrow.

by pila Thu May 02, 2013 10:05 pm

Interesting thing about Q-jets, Which is in Cliff's book is that the float pivot (pin) was moved closer to the needle & seat, in later years, for more leverage on the needle & seat. That way they could make the float smaller, making room for more fuel in the bowl, and it also allowed more fuel pressure. The Q-jet on the '76 Caddy engine in my Elco is listed at 6 1/2 lbs max fuel pressure, but indicated 7 with the electric pump, and 4 with the engine pump. Seems to run OK at 7, but hard telling how accurate the gauge is.....

by Sleddogg Thu May 02, 2013 10:46 pm

7 PSI is usually good, some people run into problems running above 8 psi. I ended up putting a regulator on mine to take it down to about 5.5-6. Runs good there, with no wet top gasket or unusually rich mixture.

Pila, you run a 500 or 472 Cadillac motor? I would love to run one of those someday.

by patriot_5420 Fri May 03, 2013 3:15 pm

Well I picked up the book this morning along with one on small block parts interchange. Just started the first chapter on the qj and already realize I was way further in the dark on them than I thought.

by Sleddogg Fri May 03, 2013 3:47 pm

They really are an elegant design and Cliff's book really illustrates that. It's really a shame that those carburetors have gotten such a bad rap all these years...a lot of it was misinformation. I just got another kit from Cliff to rebuild my friends Q-jet for his small block 400. Good times lol Smile

by pila Sat May 04, 2013 12:02 am

Sleddogg I have a 500 ( 507 now, +.030) in the Elco project. Bigger valves, ported & polished heads with Comp Cams roller rockers. And the original 800 cfm Q-jet carb. Cam is splt with 274/282 duration & .540 lift.
It looks almost like a stock engine in there, except for the distributor being in front.

best carb rebuild kit P1011025_zps68de546c

best carb rebuild kit P1011025_zps68de546c

I'll tell people it's just a 305 Chevy ! Very Happy

by Sleddogg Sat May 04, 2013 6:39 pm

I love it! I love big Cadillac V8's almost as I love big Pontiac V8's and I dig how stock it looks.

by Sleddogg Sat May 04, 2013 6:44 pm

Here's the Quadrajet I built for my buddy and his small block.

[img] best carb rebuild kit Q211

[/img]

Gonna be a while before I can get it on the motor and tune it (motor still being built) but should be a good runner Smile

by Limey SE Sat May 04, 2013 7:48 pm

by pila Sat May 04, 2013 8:33 pm

That's a beautiful job you did on that Sleddogg !! Very Happy

by Sleddogg Sat May 04, 2013 9:19 pm

Thanks

Here's to running as good as she looks lol

All good parts stuffed in there, everything cleaned out and spec'ed.

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