Cheaper alternative to quadrajet replacement

jseabolt · July 9, 2012

The quadrajet on Dad's '76 454 big block is still giving us starting issues. I'm not sure if it just needs a new float valve or a complete rebuild. Last time I cranked it up just to move it so I could mow, I had to feather the accelerator to keep it running. One day it wouldn't start at all. I think the float valve stuck closed.

This carb has already been rebuilt once about 20 years ago. Can it be rebuilt again?

Someone said to replace it with an Edlebrock but those are quite expensive.

I can get a professionally rebuilt Quadrajet for $188 + core. Originally I thought these were new carbs and would be a good deal but that sounds kind of high for a rebuilt carb. I think I can get a local shop to do it cheaper.

I've rebuilt several Webers myself with success. But these are simple carbs compared to Quads.

I just wondered if there was a cheaper alternative to buying a rebuilt Quadrajet.

00Silverado4x4 · July 9, 2012

You can get a generic Edlebrock for pretty cheap. I did that on my old '76 Chevy years ago. Also you've got Holly as an option. Yes your current carb can be rebuilt again. The biggest problem I've seen on them is the plug on the bottom starting leaking and "dumps" fuel into your engine and floods it out. Personally if you don't want to replace, just get it rebuilt again. Once in 20 years is actually a pretty good run.

Doug_Scott · July 9, 2012

I have found the quadrajet to be relatively easy to rebuild. Also easy to tune. They have adjustments for just about everything, and if you take the plug out of the choke horn before assembly you can adjust the primary metering rods without removing the choke horn, just tap the plug back in after tuning.

Edelbrock carbs are the old Carter series of 4bbl carbs. Looks like mostly the AVS series. Not sure if they are actually using the old Carter AVS series, but, if they are they must have done some serious R&D on them. Carter gave up on them in the early 70's. The AFB series was dead simple to tune, no disassembly to change metering rods. I ran them on my tunnel-ramed 351C with metering rods installed when driving around town, then remove them completely for drag racing. The AVS series is also adjustable the same way.

It is normally better to rebuild your old card than it is to get an exchange one. Reason is simple, mass rebuilders strip carbs down, putting components into piles of the same part. By the time the carb gets rebuilt and assembled, you may have parts from 5 different carbs. It "should" work, and sometimes it does. More often than not, it gets replaced with another rebuilt carb at least once to get it running right. If you have no cracked/warped/porous parts, rebuild what you have.

Quadrajet is a spreadbore, AVS is not, so there may be an adaptor required.

Squirrely · July 10, 2012

is the choke working properly?

Rebuilding is cheap and easy but you might as well start with the realy simple stuff first.

waumo1 · July 10, 2012

QuadraJets are easy to rebuild and if the engine is stock, just bench set the carb adjustments to factory spec and it will be fine with just minor adjustments after installing. Unless somebody wrecked it in a previous rebuild, they can be rebuilt many times as needed.

txab · July 10, 2012

QuadraJets are easy to rebuild and if the engine is stock, just bench set the carb adjustments to factory spec and it will be fine with just minor adjustments after installing. Unless somebody wrecked it in a previous rebuild, they can be rebuilt many times as needed.

A big +1.

QJs are easy to rebuild.

REVYCHEVY55 · July 11, 2012

QuadraJets are easy to rebuild and if the engine is stock, just bench set the carb adjustments to factory spec and it will be fine with just minor adjustments after installing. Unless somebody wrecked it in a previous rebuild, they can be rebuilt many times as needed.

A big +1.

QJs are easy to rebuild.

QuadraJets are easy to rebuild and if the engine is stock, just bench set the carb adjustments to factory spec and it will be fine with just minor adjustments after installing. Unless somebody wrecked it in a previous rebuild, they can be rebuilt many times as needed.

A big +1.

QJs are easy to rebuild.

REVYCHEVY55 · July 11, 2012

I would check for slack around accelerator rod where the cable connects. If it moves much I would go with 188 dollar rebuilt assuming the butterfly rod has had new bushings to take slack out It will suck air around the rod

Doug_Scott · July 11, 2012

I would check for slack around accelerator rod where the cable connects. If it moves much I would go with 188 dollar rebuilt assuming the butterfly rod has had new bushings to take slack out It will suck air around the rod

Why not just replace the bushings/shaft if they are worn? I never had any issues getting shaft kits for quadrajet carbs. Thermoquads were a different story though. Do they not sell them anymore?