Too rich! I go to get in the car and come home and all of a sudden she's running so rich she won't idle! She was fine all day long, ran like a top, not no mo tho. Idles for a few minutes really rough, lotsa smoke and she ain't never smoked before this. Any ideas y'all? Stock L48 with stock Q-jet.

Probably some junk in the needle/seat. Try hitting the front and top of the carb with a screwdriver handle. JOe

May be dirt in the fuel bowl. I've seen instances where it float around and gets trapped in the needle and seat and then when you shut it off it breaks free and floats around until the next trip.

I've also seen gas get so hot that it boils in the bowl and boil out the boosters causing the engine to run rich. Basically it gets so hot and it builds pressure so it has to escape. No different the a covered pan of boiling water on a stove.

Sometimes its the fuel that can cause the problem. Fuel manufacturers change the chemical properties of the fuel in the winter time to summer time. If your still on the same take of fuel from the winter time it could be the problem. Fuel manufacturers tend to make fuel more heat resistant during the summer months to cut down on emission and vapors so they have a higer boiling point.

Hope this helps.

Got it fixed, it was a stuck float.

So now I'm thinking new carb. Holley 4175 is what I'm thinking. Anyone have any experience with those or know who has the best price? Locally they want over $450.00, Summit has it for $309.00. Are there any issues I need to know about or better places to buy?

I'm probably using a cannon to swat a fly, but I've had good past experience with Holley carbs on a 77 Cutlass. That and I just don't like q-jets...

If your going to put a new carb on & replace your intake manifold gasket,why not do the manifold too,then you will have the complete setup.

Yes, that thought has crossed my mind. Any suggesstions on which intake manifold to use?

well I like Edelbrock I have the performer cost about $125 and a edelbrock 1903carb nice inprovment in performance,but allows you to keep every thing else stock.
If I was a Holly fan I might consider keeping everything holly ...........http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/man_sbchev.html

|UPDATED|7/30/2003 4:41:57 PM|/UPDATED|

Weellll...

The two manifolds I'm looking at are the Edelbrock 3701 and the Weiand 8000. There is only $4.00 difference in price. Anybody got any experience with the Weiand? I had a Performer on my Cutlass years ago, so I know what to expect from it, but I have no experience with the Weiand. It's marketed by Holley, so it should match up with the carb pretty well.

The only problem I see is with SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed).

Watch your hood clearance when you make your decision on the new manifold. Edelbrock had one (Ithink the 2101 or something like that) that would fit with no problem. Once you get reid of the Q-jet you have all those loose hose that can no longer be hooked up. I know, I did the same this spring with the Edelbrock carb I put on last summer. Guy who did it just plugged hoses and never said a word.

Yeah, I know. The carb I'm comtemplating is a q-jet replacement with all the vacuum connex. Holley 4175, but alas, it may have to wait. I'm just gonna replace the intake gaskets for now and save up for the carb and intake.