Q-jet's.... luv 'em.

A properly set up Q-Jet is the very best street carb you can have on your plastic hot-rod. GM had it engineered for economy and street performance by a group of high-dollar and talented engineers. At cruising speed the air-fuel mix is very efficiently atomized by the presure drop and airspeed increase thru the small primaries, then at WOT the gigantic secondaries open up for a bunch of flow. The standard Q-Jets are 750 CFM, and opened up to 800 CFM on the L-82s (and 500 CI Caddies). You can differentiate them by sliding a 3/16" rod between the primary air horn and the bore, if it fits, it's an 800 CFM carb.

One of the main flaws in these dinosaurs is that there are no bushings in the bare aluminum body at the throttle plate rods. If there is any slop between the rods and the worn body bores, it needs to get some bushings on a proper rebuild. I bit the bullet and had mine rebuilt by Jim McGowan at the Quad Shop in Rockford, IL. The guy taught me more than I'll ever need to know aout Q-Jets. He ain't cheap and mine took forever to get back, but it was perfect when I did get it back.

DaveAutom8r2007-03-09 09:23:23