I have a Q Jet on my '72. Last night on my way home it quit on me. Smelled a little rich when I started it but thought nothing of it. It's a vette. Four blocks later it stalled. Never did get it running well enough to drive. Very rich and very rough and wouldn't idle. Black smoke, gas splashing out of the carb, ugly. Towed it home. : (. This morning I rapped on it with butt end of hammer and it starts and idles. A little rough but it idles on its own. It's drivable but I'm scared to take it far. Anyone have advice?

Carburetors are voodoo to me, but if it's never been rebuilt, it's probably due for one.  It needs to go to someone who fully understands Q-jets...not all rebuilders do.  Do not...DO NOT...buy a rebuilt carburetor off-the-shelf from a parts house.  They carry generic models given a cleaning and a new kit but not made for any GM application in particular.  When I was in the auto parts business years back, rebuilt carbs had the highest rate of problems of any product we dealt with...alternators not far behind.

I had my Q-Jet rebuilt in 2008. The outfit I used was recommended to me here at C3VR.

 

The Quad Shop, LLC

5963 Linden Rd.

Rockford, Ill. 61109 - 3513

Tel. (815) 874-4884

 

Excellent rebuild! It has performed very well for the last five + years. I'd use them again if the need arises.

Feels like a few added horsepower it runs so well.

 

I've heard a few horror stories of poorly rebuilt Q-Jets. No fun. It's definitely worth it to use a quality, ruputable rebuilder for these carbs.

 

Let us know how you make out with yours.

 

Kevin

|UPDATED|8/24/2013 9:45:42 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Forgot to mention it was rebuilt two months ago locally. I topped off the tank yesterday with Stinker gas. 10% ethanol. Today I took it out and drove it for over an hour. Started in neighborhood and it was a little rough. Then some 50 mph runs. Then to a pure gas station. I burned about 5 gal yesterday trying to get it going. WOW! Then some 70mph on the freeway. Runs like a champ. Crap in the gas or something more serious? Towing is no fun!

I alway start simple. Fuel Filter ? Water and crap in the gas? Big Al

I'm most concerned now about the white smoke out of right tailpipe last night. Only happened under heavy revving. Today one small black puff out of left upon start. Nothing out of right. This may remain a mystery since all seems normal unless that white smoke deal comes back. Maybe there was water in the system we had heavy t storms two days ago. Hmmm...

For future ref, is this outfit spendy? I dropped $250 on my rebuild.

|UPDATED|8/24/2013 12:26:48 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Be vewy vewy careful with white smoke out of a tailpipe. Tell tale signs of a head gasket letting go. I would stay out of the high rpm range, keep a very close eye on coolant levels and temperature. If the white smoke increases, time to get to a garage...

Sounds to me like you had float stick open and allow gas to overflow everything....check it out and contact the rebuilder.