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Joined: Dec 2010
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I am working on a 1969 Chevy C10 that my grandpa gave 20 years ago. It has a 4 barrel Quadrajet that needs to be rebuilt or replaced. I kind of want to rebuild it myself but lots of people say they are junk. Question is do I ship the Quadrajet off for a rebuild? Or buy a new Holley or Edelbrock?
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 11,264
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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69? Home Depot has a sale on Lacquer thinner.
Gun Shows are almost as comical as boat ramps in the Spring.
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 993
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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A lot of people call the Quadrajets junk but if you have the right guy they can tune them up pretty well. I had one that came off of a 350 that came off of a 77’ 3/4 ton 4X4 I had in the early 90’s. That carburetor then went on a crate motor that I bought but not before I had a friends Dad rebuild it. He had worked at a local GM dealership for 25 years before opening his own shop and had grown up with Quadrajets so he could tune one up pretty good. In 99, motor and carb, went into an 84 Chevy 3/4 ton 4X4 which I still have. A couple of years ago I went through the engine and the old Quadrajet was pretty well shot. My buddies Dad had passed so I went and ordered an Edelbrock and with a manual choke to boot. I’ve had the electric choke version on some other trucks but the manual choke works better for me. I like to keep things simple. So far it’s been a good carburetor. I’ve had good luck with Quadrajets but it’s getting hard to find someone who knows how to fiddle with them.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2004
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Do you have a square bore intake to use? Id put the qj on the shelf and grab a holley quick fuel with electric choke. HR600 or HR650
Something clever here.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 21,791
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2014
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You want something that's not junk? Quadrants aren't junk, they just aren't Holleys for the fanboys. Did it work fine before? It can again unless it is wore out. That's fixable, but not worth it unless you are trying to be original. Don't think I'd $$$ go fuel injection, but it's the best. And if this is going to be a sit more than run vehicle, it will tolerate fuel issues better. I sold a Subaru that sat in my yard 3 years. The guy wanted to start it to get it loaded up, I figured that would never happen. About 20 seconds of turning over, it fired up. Another 30 and it was running smooth. On 3 year old ethanol gas. A carb car probably wouldn't do that.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Regular
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OP
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quote=northern_dave]Do you have a square bore intake to use? Id put the qj on the shelf and grab a holley quick fuel with electric choke. HR600 or HR650[/quote]
I don’t have a square bore intake. I was leaning towards the 1406 Edelbrock with the adapter plate
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Joined: Dec 2010
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Campfire Regular
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I’m pretty sure the throttle shaft needs to be bushed and the gaskets are leaking.
I’m not too concerned about it staying original but I don’t want to do the fuel injection upgrade
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 4,576
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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If the engine came with the Quadrajet then it has an intake set up for it. Were it mine I'd find someone that could rebuild it and see how you like it. Not much invested that way. I grew up around them and never saw many issues but back then it was about as good as it got. Even the Holley can have it's problems. Allot of people are using the aftermarket EFI systems and they seem to work good, never had one myself. I read the Sniper is made in China. It would sure be nice to see some pictures of your truck.
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Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 24
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Feb 2022
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Quadra Jets are about the simplest carbs out there..... But the throttle shafts tend to wallow out the holes they run through.... then ya got vacuum leaks. And there's not much to "tune" on them. For "tunability", I'd take a Holley any time. Much easier to rejet, set float levels, etc
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293 |
quote=northern_dave]Do you have a square bore intake to use? Id put the qj on the shelf and grab a holley quick fuel with electric choke. HR600 or HR650 I don’t have a square bore intake. I was leaning towards the 1406 Edelbrock with the adapter plate [/quote] The edelbrock is an affordable way to go, pretty simple carbs. Probably a little less to go wrong, less leak prone.
Something clever here.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19,190
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 19,190 |
I had a QJ on a 69 Buick Grand Sport that never failed me. When you hit the gas it would open up and things started moving. I did rebuild mine and I used over the counter carburetor cleaner to get the grime off. The biggest problem is getting the floats set right. I guess I got lucky with that since it was my first time. Now would be the time to drill out the jets if you want a little more power.
kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR. American conservative. Never trust a white liberal. Malcom X Current NRA member.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293 |
Quadra Jets are about the simplest carbs out there.....
Said nobody ever, like fking.... ever. Qjet is the equivalent of a mechanical computer for fuel. Rube Goldberg masterbates to qjet illustrations. It's the most polarizing carburetor in existence, haters and cult followers. It's a lot of things, but "simplest" is the furthest word from the truth.
Something clever here.
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Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 33,709 |
Conduct is the best proof of character.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293 |
If the engine came with the Quadrajet then it has an intake set up for it. Were it mine I'd find someone that could rebuild it and see how you like it. Not much invested that way. Ive got one on a 327 right now for the sake of being "original". Rebuilt by a qjet specialist shop which costed more than a new holley street dominator and intake manifold together. And I still hate the fkn thing. It's coming off very soon.
Something clever here.
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Pictures per request. This thing sat for 20 years. Took a couple hours to get it running. The mice ate all the plug wires. Put new plugs, wires, points, condenser, and cap. I disconnected the gas tank and shoved a hose in a plastic tank. Poured a little gas in the carb and it took off. Drove it town without brakes. Put all new brake cylinders, shoes, drums, and front hoses. Repacked the front wheel bearings and replaced the rear seals. Next up is the carb and fix a leaky transmission pan gasket
Last edited by win7stw; 04/02/22.
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 35,293 |
Beautiful, have you and I talked about this truck before?
Something clever here.
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Joined: May 2016
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2016
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If ya gotta....send it to that guy in California. He wrote the book.
If he still does it anyway.
Adapting a Edelbrock to a pre 73 Chevy pickup isn't the easiest thing.
Throttle and kickdown cables are funky on them.
I am MAGA.
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Joined: May 2009
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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15-20 yrs ago I didn't have time to rebuild the Holley on my 351w so I went with the 1406 Edelbrock and a 1" adapter plate. I had great success with it. Holley's set more lengthwise on top the engine, where Edelbrock set more across the top, The 1" adapter plate gave me a higher clearance the carb needed to mate up with the trucks throttle control.
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Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 4,576
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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Man I see a complete frame off rebuild right there! What a great project. That's my favorite Chevy body style. You've got a great project. How far are you from Aberdeen, S.D. ? I have some family there that might have some connections for rebuilding the carb.
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Beautiful, have you and I talked about this truck before? I believe we have. I posted it about a year ago
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