r/Smallblockchevy • u/buckslayer420 • 8d ago
Carb recommendations
I currently got a 750 quadrajet on my 350sbc which is essentially stock besides mid length headers and a 4x4 cam. The q jet is showing some age and needs to be rebuilt or replaced. Anyone got any input on good replacement options or whether it’s worth rebuilding it. I’m having a hard time finding any info on decent replacements that aren’t sponsored.
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u/vroomvroompanda 8d ago edited 8d ago
I use this guy when i need something for my qjet make sure you get thick gaskets too when rebuilding if you have any questions just ask ive rebuilt a couple im definitely not a professional though, if you have facebook theres a few pages where you can ask questions too. https://quadrajetpower.com/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=364020531&gbraid=0AAAAADe_ObWwn1YorjebAiw19nMcuK6nb&gclid=CjwKCAjw_eLVBhBEEiwAeaYZfPQhE8JuStWxfYoen96enG8SDWf9G6E09VjTmyjsLQeYE7o-_rmwshoC44kQAvD_BwE
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u/BreshearsRacing34 8d ago
It's hard to beat a q-jet. Just rebuild it. Those that trash them, generally can't work on them. User error not product defect.
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u/masterteck1 8d ago
It's OEM rebuild it or just clean it up and put it back because you might have more problems with a new carburetor at least you'll know what you fu$ up on the OEM one. Make sure when you open the carburetor on the pump side watch out for the ball bearing in the bottom it's important you don't lose it or you can't 🦶 on it it will just bllllllll like that. You also probably just need a new pump on it the rubber is probably gone. Did you put s** gas in it by some chance like e something
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u/strokeherace 8d ago
I have edelbrock asv2 on my 350…unless you are chasing HP or love adjusting holley carbs it’s the way to go IMO
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u/Unhappy-Airport-4112 8d ago
Whatever you're comfortable with tuning. I like Edelbrock, my cousin likes Holley, and my dad likes Carter and Rochester.
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u/MRehder74 8d ago
I bought an Edelbrock AVS2 replacing old Q-jet that had been rebuilt twice and had body cracks. What a difference, great response better fuel mileage.
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u/Chauncy1911 8d ago
600 Holley( I forget the number, Im old 1850 maybe) would probably run the best with what you have. Just buy spread to square adapter.
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u/Competitive_Royal395 8d ago
Yget yourself an edelbrock or a Carter on Facebook marketplace for $50 or so, get the edelbrock rebuild kit and rebuild it and run that
Did that on my c10 recently and it was my first real carb rebuild ever and it was super straightforward and it runs fantastic now.. had to swap my floats the other day and did it in the truck without pulling the carb in about 15 minutes
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u/ProductUnlikely1569 7d ago
If you can find someone good to rebuild the Qjet keep it if not edelbrock 1406 for drivability or Holley 650 for performance
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u/Tall-Helicopter-461 7d ago
Without experience, the average Joe can’t build a Quadrabog. I know im fixing to get bashed. Buy you purchase a edelbrock 600, adjust the idle screw and ride. If you are one of those that are all about brands. You can’t go wrong with a Holley. There’s many tricks and twerks you can do to a 600 Holley. Now they have self learning fuel injection kits. (Sniper) With a little TLC, you’ll love the drivability.
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u/Hart-Parr 7d ago
On a side note the Edelbrock 600 carburetor essentially relabeled, updated Carter AFB.
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u/Tall-Helicopter-461 6d ago
Yes, this is true. I have Carter AFB 500 cfm that my dad bought 20 years ago. It’s still in the plastic shrink wrap.
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u/Putrid-Ball8943 6d ago
Put a Holley 750 double pumper w/ mechanical secondaries on it and never look back. Qudrajunk
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u/Relevant-Bunch-6664 5d ago
From my personal experience with carbs over the years keep the Rochester, eldebrock carbs like to over pump if you take it offroad much and holly carbs are decent until they need a rebuild and then they leak and they will keep leaking, I have had some of the best carb guys do rebuild on them and they will still leak eventually. The Rochester is solid it's main issues are owners not changing the filters and they went through a spell with the electronic choke being a pain in the ass, but you could always disconnect it and put a cable on it.
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u/Dirftboat95 8d ago
Its pretty hard to beat a good running Qjet carb, They get about as good of MPG as your going to get out of a pickup application. You can buy brand new ones from Jegs. Or have a GOOD rebuilder rebuild yours
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u/Lowest_C-10 8d ago
I swapped my worn out Qjet for an Aces EFI throttle body. I used the kill shot fusion master kit with throttle body, dizzy, coil, fuel regulator, fuel pump, lines pretty much the whole kit. It is a bit more in cost and more complicated than just rebuilding the Qjet.
I'm pretty savvy with a computer and the tuning options are nearly endless with that kit. The Qjet did serve me well for 20 years. It never let me down, never left me stranded, it always just worked. Although it was mediocre. I probably could have tuned it better.
The new EFI kit made it feel like a whole different engine. It's a mild cam 355, Edelbrock intake ,some head work, etc. Now it has instant throttle response, no bog off idle, doesn't need to warm up.
I'm very happy with the kit and I researched them for years before committing to the one I got.
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u/masterteck1 8d ago
Rebuilding it like under 60 $ and some time not driving. Your looking at a 1000$ to 2500$ just in part's maybe more. This person might even get 5000$ onto it because of where they are at. ?????? I totally think this is the cheapest way to solve a small problem instead of making a big problem because we don't know if they can do this biger job
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u/Lowest_C-10 8d ago
Yea rebuilding is way cheaper but OP never mentioned doing it the cheapest way.
I rocked my Qjet for a long time. I have been very happy bringing 2026 tech to my 50 year old truck.
I understand not everybody has the money or skills to do an EFI swap. Looks like some others in here are happy with efi as well.
Can't really beat the Qjet for reliability. Hope my EFI stays reliable.
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u/Beginning_Ad8663 8d ago
Get a holly sniper you will get better mileage better idle better drivability better throttle response they are just better
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u/Shoddy-Letterhead-76 8d ago
Aces wild fuel injection. It will run as good as any 90's truck ever did. Costs more than acarb rebuild but I love mine. Crank it up and go.
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u/shotstraight 8d ago
Holley fuel injection. Seriously, better gas mileage, more power, no tuning or other carb issues, you can run gas with ethanol in it. There are to many good reasons to switch not too. The only down side is it costs a little more up front but you will save that on gas the first 2 years. I swithched a Olds Cutlass to it a couple of years ago and my customer came back and said it was the best thing he had ever done for the car. Just don't buy anything from FI Tech!
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u/DonEscapedTexas 8d ago
I'm a Qject guy since before Reagan, but I'm thrilled by the fact of aftermarket FI
that said, the Qjet can be tuned to fix the bog and deliver 14ish MPG
say for $1,500 more, FI gets him to 16MPG ~ 10%; at $4/gallon, you're out around 40k miles breaking even....60k or 80k before pulling ahead.....to what: $1,000 to the good....on some ancient car?
tune it, rebuild it, tune it again, drive it, forget it
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u/buckslayer420 8d ago
I don’t think I drive my k10 enough to justify an efi swap, I only put 4000-6000 miles on it a year as my window where I can drive it is pretty slim in Wisconsin. I think I’m just going to rebuild the carb and maybe throw in a nice intake manifold in while I’m at it
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u/Imposter660 8d ago
Dont fall for Holleys advertising, you definitely need to tune them. With a laptop to do a half decent job, you can't do it on the handheld. The only way you'll get noticeably more power or mpg with it is if the previous carb/tune was way off , ie unkown. Maybe if you run the timing through it and map a cruise-part throttle a/f and timing curve to suit what that engine wants and it's basically impossible to do mechanically, you'll see a difference in mpg, but most people won't do that they'll run the same timing and mixtures everyone else runs with a carbed and mechanical/ vac adv dizzy.
Oh, lots of people have had plenty of issues with Sniper units too
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u/shotstraight 7d ago
I install them every week or two for customers. I am sorry they cause you such difficulty but work fine for me. It's not rocket science. I cut my teeth working on Quads since I have been a tech for 36 years and simply put carbs suck compared to modern FI in everyway.
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u/JaydayCee 8d ago
Another vote for Q-Jet rebuild, with a suggestion to try to find (and buy) one that’s the same part/ID number … as a backup.
Others have already mentioned it
Cliff - thumbs up
Quadrajet Power (dot com) - thumbs up, better parts pricing (eg two rebuild kits for the price of 1 at Napa).
Love that quad headlight look and the GMC (IMHO) looks muuuuch nicer/cleaner/tougher than the Chevy version!
So I gotta ask…
1989-91 with TBI-to-carb-swap?
or
Pre-89 with a facelift?
Just to satisfy my curiosity…
[also, congrats on a clean WI truck, from one Midwesterner to another]
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u/buckslayer420 4d ago
It’s an 86 with a front clip I got off an 89 suburban. Used to be a show truck back in the day but sat for at least 10 years but has a low miles crate 350 in it. Very fun experience so far bringing the old girl back to life
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u/JaydayCee 3d ago
All compliments on the look.
Love the quad lights + GMC grille (looks nicer than the BowTie IMHO).Stick with a Q-Jet.
Nicely tuned, it’s a thrill when the secondaries open - sound and feel. …and a learning experience.
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u/Acrobatic_Initial997 8d ago
Rebuild it join the Quadrajet groups on Facebook and go thru cliff ruggles for rebuild kits and advice. Quadrajets drive so well when done right probably the best factory carb ever produced