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Topic: Carb suggestions?

in Forum: C3 Engines


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Carb suggestions? (1/20)
 9/4/09 9:24pm
dads2
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Angola, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 white, red italian leather interior, ps, ss brakes, a/c, auto, "updated" suspension


Joined: 8/18/2003
Posts: 28

Engine finally arrived.  So now I'm buying parts, slowly.  Still unemployed and now I have two tuitions to pay for now that I'm heading back to school.
 
Anyway, Looking to the experts for advice on a carb.  New crate motor 330hp and 360 tq.  Currently, stock tranny, may go to 700r4, stock rear end, 3.07 as I recall.  I'm thinking of a 600 cfm from Holley.  What about keeping the original q-jet?
 
When it comes to rebuilding an engine I am a shmutz(sp?). I can change an intake and a carb, thats about it as far as the engine goes.  That's why I bought a crate motor. 
 
Also, what headers have worked for your application.  What are your feelings on the heat wrap they sell, the stuff actually work?  I've placed the heat shield/blankets under the rugs.  The driving compartment did get a little toasty as I recall.
 
 
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Carb suggestions? (2/20)
 9/5/09 10:51am
Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

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1969 convertible L71 427/435 4-speed black interior


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You won't find a better street carburetor than a Quadrajet.  You'll need to get it rebuilt by someone who knows them and can set it up properly for the 350HO...different cam specs can make for different jetting requirements.  If the new engine came with an intake for a spread-bore carb like the Q-jet, you should be fine.  If you need an intake, get an Edelbrock Performer or equivalent from Weiand or other quality supplier.

If a Q-jet is not available, my own preference would be an Edelbrock Performer carburetor...they're simple, easy to adjust and maintain their adjustments. Get a Performer 600 or 650 with electric choke and you should be quite happy.  Get either an Edelbrock Performer or Performer EPS intake (the EPS is made strictly for a square-bore carb and is optimized for them).  

After that I would choose a Demon or Holley carb...preferably the Demon.  If you plan on racing the car, they may be better choices, but for the street and street performance, I believe the Q-jet and Edelbrock are better.

For whatever brand headers you buy, don't use wrap on them...that will void the warranties and supposedly promote rust.  Get ceramic coated...it costs a bit more but will last longer, maintain its looks better and help with the heat.

As far as what brand headers, I like Sanderson, but there's lots of good brands.  You first need to decide what design headers will do what you want.  Block hugger headers fit well, don't hang close to the road, but don't give max power.  Long tube tuned headers provide more power, but often cause clearance problems.  Tri-Y headers increase torque, but again, can create clearance issues.  Figure out what characteristics you want and then decide what style headers best suit that...then find the brand that best fulfills that.

These are all my less than objective preferences...someone else may well disagree or have their own preferences, which is fine.  As I said...you have to decide what you want out of the car, then determine what mix of parts will accomplish that.  Mixed parts that work in unison will do you better than a lot of expensive parts not matched and end up working against one another.
Carb suggestions? (3/20)
 9/5/09 11:30am
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

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The formula to determine the CFM of a carb for your engine is.....cubic in's X RPM divided by 3456 X VE% = CFM carb needed, the VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY PERCENTAGE or VE%  is the amount of air your motor can ingest, some motors can ingest 100% some can't and some more than 100% depending  on cam , compression, etc, a middle of the road number would be 95% so a ....350 cu.in motor times 6500RPM = 2275000 divided by 3456=658.27546 x 95 VE = 62536.168 or a 625 CFM carb....Cool anips2009-09-05 08:40:23
Carb suggestions? (4/20)
 9/5/09 5:41pm
rod7515Lifetime Member
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Red Lion, PA - USA

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Where can you purchased different jetting kits for a quadrajet? I am going to be in the same situation and i plan on using the oem quadrajet.

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Carb suggestions? (5/20)
 9/5/09 6:21pm
Gunslinger
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Frederick, MD - USA

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Edelbrock used to make modern versions of the Quadrajet and still sells rebuild kits and jetting kits.  Some GM dealers may still be able to get kits but you need to know what size jets you need.  That's why you need a tech who understands Quadrajets.  The '78 L82 I used to own had a bigger cam than stock but the previous owner didn't do anything to change the carb calibration and it wouldn't idle worth a darn.  I took the car to a carburetor rebuilder and he installed different jets and bingo!  No more problem.
Carb suggestions? (6/20)
 9/5/09 8:07pm
dads2
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Angola, NY - USA

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1981 white, red italian leather interior, ps, ss brakes, a/c, auto, "updated" suspension


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Thanks for the input guys, it's really appreciated.  I'll start looking for a good carb rebuilder when I get back into town but that won't be until middle of the month.  Anyone have any leads on a good carb rebuilder in western NY? 
 
I'll look at those ceramic coated headers.  I want to do this right the first time and not have to redo stuff later.
Carb suggestions? (7/20)
 9/5/09 10:52pm
JimGLifetime Member
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Gloucester, VA - USA

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1979 T-Top, Metallic Green ZZ4 350/355 hp 405 ft/lbs torque Dual Spal Fans 700R4 4 Spd O/D Transmission 2004 Z06 Commemorative Edition


Joined: 1/29/2005
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I have a Demon 750 Double...love it..

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Carb suggestions? (8/20)
 9/29/09 12:55am
Breasandog
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Pocatello, ID - USA

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1969 L-36, 427- 390 hp. coupe. 4spd. air.


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I would recommend you contact Sean Murphy Induction, Huntington Beach Ca. The website is www.smicarburetor.com. He's one of the best in the business.
Carb suggestions? (9/20)
 9/29/09 2:32pm
KDADDY79
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

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Another suggestion for a very good Q-Jet rebuilder is;
The rebuilder there is named Jim McGowan in Rockford, Ill.
He rebuilt mine and did a great job! What I liked was that he wanted to know about my motor and what I wanted from the rebuild, i.e. type of driving.
Let us know what you decide to go with.
Kevin
Carb suggestions? (10/20)
 9/30/09 1:24am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

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69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


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[QUOTE=anips]The formula to determine the CFM of a carb for your engine is.....cubic in's X RPM divided by 3456 X VE% = CFM carb needed, the VOLUMETRIC EFFICIENCY PERCENTAGE or VE%  is the amount of air your motor can ingest, some motors can ingest 100% some can't and some more than 100% depending  on cam , compression, etc, a middle of the road number would be 95% so a ....350 cu.in motor times 6500RPM = 2275000 divided by 3456=658.27546 x 95 VE = 62536.168 or a 625 CFM carb....Cool [/QUOTE]
 
 
95% is very optimistic...
 
i usually use 90 as a high figure.  with reality on street engine really hovering around 80-85%


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Carb suggestions? (11/20)
 9/30/09 1:26am
cthulhuLifetime Member
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Hot Springs, AR - USA

Vette(s):
69 Conv #'s match 427, TKO-600/.64, 3.36HD-Posi, HT, T/T, PS, PB, PW, SP, Leather, Comp XE264HR & Roller Rockers & Lifters, Air-Gap RPM intake, Holley St Av 770 VS, MSD 6AL+Dist+Blaster SS, K&N, Jet-Hot Hooker Side-Pipes, Steeroids, Al Rad, Spal Fans


Joined: 4/24/2004
Posts: 3231

[QUOTE=JimG]I have a Demon 750 Double...love it..[/QUOTE]
 
i love mine too!
 
as does exxon mobil, BP, and conoco.
 
i would recommend one for a toy.  not a driver.


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Carb suggestions? (12/20)
 10/1/09 12:59pm
wetvet
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Lake Oswego, OR - USA

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This is where I picked up a Qjet carb.He has cores and does a GREAT job.

http://www.carbjunkys.com/




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Carb suggestions? (13/20)
 10/2/09 12:21pm
Autom8r
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Old Hickory, TN - USA

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1978 L-82 Silver Anniversary hotrod. /////////////


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Jim Mcgowan at the Quad shop in Rockford rebuilt mine several years ago and it acts like a tuned port injected ZZ-4, getting 20 MPG hwy with 3:55 gears through a 700R4. Jim's slow as molasses and not cheap but does superb work. He takes every carb to a flow bench in Chicago to test them.

http://www.thequadshop.net/html3.php

I put Hooker long tube headers on and black tape wrapped them, after a couple of weeks they look like crap. If I had it to do over again I would have had them Jet-Hot coated. The Hookers plumbed straight right back through the crossmember and over the axle with 2 90 deg pipes to make a 180 on each side over the axle then another 90 to the Walker Dyno-Max mufflers.

If you go to a 700R4, make sure it is a later model with the 30 spline input shaft. The older 27 spline trannys will not hold up (voice of experience). You will have to move your crossmember back 3" or get one purpose made from Bow Tie Overdrives;

Bow Tie Overdrives

and shorten your driveshaft by 3" also. It's kinda pricey but well worth it if you plan to drive it on the Interstate much. You will need to provide for a torrque converter lockup curcuit.

Speaking of torque converters you will be happiest with a 2000 RPM stall lockup converter.

When I had my 27 spline tranny replaced I let the shop talk me into a stock stall converter and my '78 now leaves the light in bog city.

DaveAutom8r2009-10-02 09:31:19
Carb suggestions? (14/20)
 10/2/09 2:09pm
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

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72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


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Header wrap on a corvette is a bad thing, some guys who wrap the headers on dirt track modifieds to keep the some heat in the motor  because they run on alky, when they go down the straights you can see the wrap get cherry red hot from the pit stands, nothing looks as bad as a vette burnt to the ground!! anips2009-10-02 11:18:26
Carb suggestions? (15/20)
 10/3/09 9:19am
Autom8r
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Old Hickory, TN - USA

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1978 L-82 Silver Anniversary hotrod. /////////////


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I don't have any problem with underhood heat.... just the butt ugliness of the stuff.

Dave
Carb suggestions? (16/20)
 10/31/09 5:23pm
dads2
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Angola, NY - USA

Vette(s):
1981 white, red italian leather interior, ps, ss brakes, a/c, auto, "updated" suspension


Joined: 8/18/2003
Posts: 28

Decided on the Edelbrock carb, manifold combo as instructed by builder.  I'd like to put hte original air cleaner housing back on.  I'll need a spacer, looks like 3/4 inch, and I'm wondering how much room I'll have under the stock hood.  By the way, the engine compartment cleaned up very well.  All that sand blasting and powder coating really made a difference.  I'll pick out headers this weekend.  Once again, thanks for all the great input.
Carb suggestions? (17/20)
 10/31/09 9:18pm
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

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72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


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GET SOME SILLY PUTTY AND ROLL UP SOME 1' MEAT BALLS  AND PLACE THEM AROUND THE HIGHEST PART OF THE AIR CLEANER AND SLOWLY CLOSE THE HOOD, RAISE THE HOOD AND MEASURE THE HEIGHT OF THE MEATBALLS, YES IT IS A 3/4' PLASTIC SPACER, DON'T OVER TIGHTEN THE WING NUT OR IT WILL BREAK.
Carb suggestions? (18/20)
 11/1/09 12:09am
dads2
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Angola, NY - USA

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1981 white, red italian leather interior, ps, ss brakes, a/c, auto, "updated" suspension


Joined: 8/18/2003
Posts: 28

That's a great idea but the engine is still out of the car.  I don't mind waiting, but as long as I'm ordering parts I thought i'd either order the spacer or a different air cleaner.  I'm wondering if there is sufficient room to add the 3/4" spacer without causing a problem.

dads22009-10-31 21:09:54
Carb suggestions? (19/20)
 11/1/09 11:11am
anips
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sonoma, CA - USA

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72 LT-1 AC coupe,69 l-36 coupe


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Posts: 784

all q-jet, holley, and edelbrock carbs are the same height from the manifold to air cleaner base, you need the spacer so the inside dia clears the the elec. choke housing, all oem and aftermarket open element 14" dropped air cleaners are the same as far as I know, don't have a clue about the closed air cleaners or the weird square looking ones, the flat bottom open air cleaners I believe actually raise the top higher, I sugguest you wait till the motor is in before ordering a air cleaner, the 3/4 spacer is cheap and if you carefully take it out of the package you can return it, I'am a Holley guy but the Edelbrock AVS carbs are a great running carb for the street.
Carb suggestions? (20/20)
 11/1/09 11:31am
T-Mans70,73Lifetime Member
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Elma, WA - USA

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I put Sanderson headers on the 73 about a year ago. About 6 months ago I had some pretty good leaks coming out of the drivers side where the tubes are welded.
Called Sanderson and they said to just take them off, ship them down and maybe 2 weeks they could get them back to me. And I had to pay for the shipping.
I was far easier to just get it fixed local.

So as far as my experience, I would stay away from Sanderson.
T-Mans70,732009-11-01 08:32:39
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