Edelbrock Carbs?

C & A s Dad · October 30, 2007

You will see in my sig that I have a 71 SWB Custom Deluxe 350 4 BBL. I just removed my point type dist and replaced it with a GM HEI unit and have very pleased with the results. The truck runs so much stronger and smoother that I cannot belive it.

Tne Q Jet is 36 years old and never been off. It runs great once warmed up but is really rough for the first 3 to 5 mins. It seems to be loading up and running way to rich during this time.

I am considering rebuiling it but also have been looking at Ede carbs. I am not looking for a race carb and have heard great things about their street units.

Any suggestions or recommendations from someone who has done this?

Nytemare · October 30, 2007

Edelbrock 650 is the unit you want. Lots of get up and go, but still good economy.

I would rebuild the Q-jet personally though, they run pretty rich from the factory even when new, but you can re-jet them, and with a little fine tunning and a good ear they run as well or better than Holleys or Edes.

Colorado Kid · October 30, 2007

Make sure the vacuum pull-off is working. You should be able to see it move if you watch it while someone else starts the engine.

Q-jets got a bad rep during the early attempts at emissions control. I'm with Nytemare . . . after 36 years I'd rebuild the (pre-smog) Quadrajet on that '71. Short of fuel injection you won't find a carb that will be as big an improvement as that HEI distributer.

It's hard for me to believe that it's been a decade since I owned a Quadrajet, but I sold my '74 C2500 in 1996. I've probably re-habbed a dozen over the years, on my vehicles and those of my friends. Finding someone with the right knowledge now is getting tougher, unlike computers and new car components the answer isn't "throw out the old part and buy a new one."

Buy the kit. Spread out a clean sheet of newsprint or butcher paper and get to work. Don't loose any of the small parts! You'll be done and happy with the result in a couple hours. (Half a day if you're brand new at it and super careful . . . I'd recommend an assistant to read the instructions if you haven't done it before (and if it hasn't been done in 36 years I'm guessing it hasn't been done before).

The only carb rebuild I ever failed at was a Motorcraft 1bbl on about a '77 Mustang II. The cheap piece of junk didn't use bushings on the throttle shaft, just shaft just turned on the pot-metal body of the carb. when I pulled it apart (when the car was about 5 years old, with maybe 50,000 miles) the hole the shaft was in was probably 3 times as long as it was wide! That one went in the trash. I don't remember what teh replacement cost, but I do know the guy at NAPA was familiar with the problem, and the new carb he sold me had nylon bushings on the throttle shaft. The little Stang ran good enough to pass the sniff check for at least another 5 years before my aunt sold it.

Nytemare · October 30, 2007

Yeah, it is hard to fine someone to tune a carb right now,...I could do it in minutes back about 10-15 years ago....but now...I' haven't done it in so long I'd be hard pressed to find the adjustment screws almost.

Strip the Q-jet, get the body and bowls powdercoated, than do a full rebuild on it.

C & A s Dad · October 31, 2007

I was leaning towards the new Ede carb and the Perfomer Air Gap. I feel I will need to pull the engine somwhere in the next year or so and freshen it up. At that time I wanted a mild street cam and thought the Performer Intake and Carb would make a nice combo.

Now, you guys have me really considering rebuilding the Q Jet. I have tackled about every job I have ever needed done on my vehicles bud building is one thing I have never done. I do have a nice parts washer vat that I can use to clean the housing and metal parts.

I will have to do a little more thinking on this.

Nytemare · October 31, 2007

If you've never done it....nows your chance.....you may never get this chance again.

Plus you can say you've done it.

You can still get an air gap performer, you'll just need an adapter plate...I much prefer my oldies to stay old though, as much as possible anyway. A HEI distributor is pretty hidden away...but the dome and carb sit right there for everyone to see. You can hide stuff like cams, Hi-comp pistons, heads...etc, but the visible parts is what wins at auto shows.

Looking stock and performing better is what you want.

lowrider · October 31, 2007

I've always like the Holley spreadbores with their mechanical secondaries.

Lou

C & A s Dad · October 31, 2007

Aiden, I agree with you and it really took a lot of thought and consideration before I decided to do the HEI. I almost sent my point type dist to a guy to have it converted and may still do so in case I decide to start showing the truck one day. Right now, I do not want to do anything that is not easily reversible but I do want it to be a good reliable ride for when I want to do a little cruising. My kids absolutely love to ride in it. The pipes, the Q Jet roar and the roll up windows are all amazing to them.

The exhaust, wheels, dist and battery are the only things not 100% original to this truck. I have the little white wheels and hub caps in storeage but could not help putting the 8" Chev Rally wheels on it with some beefier tires. It had dual exh when I bought it but the system was in bad shape. I replaced it with some nice duals and Vortec Mufflers, which are very similar to Flowmasters.

I have worked hard over the past 15 years at preserving it. I love driving it and even if I do a frame off restoration one day, I still want to be able to drive it.

Nytemare · November 1, 2007

Yeah, I agree and approve of the 8" rallys...I love those wheels.

You could go get a performer package and slap on there for reliability, than slowly rebuild the stock Carb and other parts. Just some baby steps toward the frame off.

Keep the hard to get parts and replace them with aftermarkets. Rebuild/refurbish all the stock stuff slowly, you'll have a reliable daily driver and be still working toward a full rebuild, you just wont have the downtime.

November 4, 2007

I have a '72 Cheyenne with a 383 and an edelbrock 650 carb with electric choke. I

would highly recommend this carb. I've had several Q-jets that needed work, but didn't

know anything about working on them.

tucson · November 6, 2007

I installed a 780 CFM Edelbrock about 6 years ago when the Q-jet just wasn't repairable anymore. No problems with the EDE with the exception of some bleed-down if I don't start the truck every day. I understand this can be fixed with some epoxy but it's not that big a deal.

Ede unfortunately quit manufacturing this carb which was a direct replacement for the Q-jet. I believe the only carb they make now that is street legal (at least for an '85) is only 650 CFM.

'85 GMC HD 4wd 3/4 ton w/ 230,000 miles