Carb Swap?

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

saig55

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2024
Posts
29
Reaction score
49
Location
Mason, Tn
First Name
Thomas
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10 Silverado
Engine Size
305
I have a 86 K10 with 305. The po put a Eldebrock with a manual choke on the engine. I have the original Quadrajet. Should I see about rebuilding this and using it? I don’t like all the vacuum lines being plugged and not having a choke.
Your thoughts?
 

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
5,464
Reaction score
8,743
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
I have a 86 K10 with 305. The po put a Eldebrock with a manual choke on the engine. I have the original Quadrajet. Should I see about rebuilding this and using it? I don’t like all the vacuum lines being plugged and not having a choke.
Your thoughts?
My thoughts,the original is jetted,designed and calibrated to work on your specific engine. It would not work well on a 289 ford, a 383 Mopar,an l79 327. The edelbrock would work on all of them and more. Why is that? Because it is super basic,super generic,not Ideal for anything,just a generic replacement for everything. GM didn't have a one size fits all carbureator,their engineers tailored a carbureator,for its intended application. If you have size 10 feet,you can probably get by with size 9 shoes or size 11 shoes. Size 10 would be the correct size though.
 
Last edited:

82sbshortbed

Fuckemall!!
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Posts
15,832
Reaction score
53,168
Location
SE Texas
First Name
Doug
Truck Year
1982, 1984
Truck Model
1500 shortbed, 1500 longbed
Engine Size
454, 305
Yup, I had an edelbrock carb that got pitched in the trash and a nice new quadrajet took its place. Couldn't be happier. And when I pulled the 305 and put in a 454 the quadrajet was put on it and it never missed a lick. Best carb for our trucks imo.
 

fast 99

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Posts
2,031
Reaction score
2,945
Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Q jet design is a good compromise between economy and power. They have idiosyncrasies that anyone experienced can deal with. People dislike them because they don't understand the design.

For modified mild performance engines the Carter Edlebrock carb is a good choice.

I will take a Q jet every time if originally installed on a GM vehicle. Reason I say it that way is some high-performance GM vehicles came with Holleys.
 

squaredeal91

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Posts
2,539
Reaction score
4,588
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
Q jet design is a good compromise between economy and power. They have idiosyncrasies that anyone experienced can deal with. People dislike them because they don't understand the design.

For modified mild performance engines the Carter Edlebrock carb is a good choice.

I will take a Q jet every time if originally installed on a GM vehicle. Reason I say it that way is some high-performance GM vehicles came with Holleys.
I have a spread bore holley double pump 800 from a GM car originally that I bought for a 454.
 

GTX63

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2022
Posts
934
Reaction score
3,792
Location
Tennessee
First Name
Ty
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
The Qjet was the factory go to 4 barrel on GMs for 20+ years for a reason. Believe it or not, brand new they used to start with little more than a turn of the key and a single pump on the pedal. I buy my rebuild kits from Quadrajetpower.com.
Edelbrocks are popular replacements because they are ready to go out of the box, and well, easier to find that a new Quadrajet. That said, I currently have two in use and they are, to me, a C- substitute.
Qjets are not hard to tune unless the engine has issues or you are trying to do it flying by the seat of your pants.
Understanding the mixture screw adjustments, setting the idle, using the lean drop method, etc are not hard concepts if you learn the steps and procedures correctly from the start.
 

squaredeal91

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2023
Posts
2,539
Reaction score
4,588
Location
Cave junction Oregon
First Name
Greg bush
Truck Year
1991 SB
Truck Model
K30
Engine Size
5.9 Cummins 12 valve
Hope a gas station isn't far away. Are you sure it is original? GM part number stamping?
Maybe im wrong about its origins but here it is. This thing makes me smile
 

Attachments

  • 20240227_092931.jpg
    20240227_092931.jpg
    105.3 KB · Views: 52
  • 20240227_092844.jpg
    20240227_092844.jpg
    110.9 KB · Views: 50
  • 20240227_092912.jpg
    20240227_092912.jpg
    92.7 KB · Views: 57

fast 99

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Posts
2,031
Reaction score
2,945
Location
Spokane, Washington
First Name
Brian
Truck Year
81,85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Maybe im wrong about its origins but here it is. This thing makes me smile
I had never seen a spread bore on a stock GM that's why I asked. If vehicle runs good with it that's great but I wouldn't toss the original Q jet away.
 

TotalyHucked

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 24, 2020
Posts
3,671
Reaction score
11,867
Location
Auburn, Georgia
First Name
Zach
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
Sierra 1500
Engine Size
5.3
Maybe im wrong about its origins but here it is. This thing makes me smile
This is all I could find on it

 

82sbshortbed

Fuckemall!!
Joined
Mar 1, 2018
Posts
15,832
Reaction score
53,168
Location
SE Texas
First Name
Doug
Truck Year
1982, 1984
Truck Model
1500 shortbed, 1500 longbed
Engine Size
454, 305
I talked to a mechanic friend of mine who is very old school… he will rebuild completely for about $225
I paid a little over 300 for a stage 2 quadrajet from national carburetors in Florida. Stage 2 is fir a motor with cam, intake and hedders. They tune it for you so it's ready to go right out the box. That guy will save you about 100 bucks to rebuild it. Score!
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,187
Posts
951,112
Members
36,310
Latest member
BLAKMAX
Top