Original Carburetor Size for 454

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GMC DOWNUNDER

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G'Day Guys

Just got myself a 1973 GMC 3500 Factory 454. During its life it got big HOLLEY on it. Problem is it drink petrol like there is no tomorrow.
As far as I can workout the engine is still stock.

What was the size of the original Rochestor?

What size would be a good replacement?
 

HotRodPC

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Welcome to GMSB in USA. I was thinking we had 1 other Aussie on here but I may be confusing that with another forum, and if you use forums alot, maybe that is you too.

I'm wanting to say the 454 got a 780cfm Rochester Quadrajet. So you guys refer to gas or gasoline as Petrol I knew. And I'd imagine instead of miles per gallon (mpg) you would calculate your petrol use in kilometers per litre, and liter being spelled litre right?
I'd have to do the conversion, but if you're getting about 10 mpg in a 454 truck that's about normal in the city. You can better than that on highway, freeway or interstate, whatever you being downunder call it.

So if your truck a right hand driver? We'd like to see some photographs of it mate !!!
 

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Hrpc is close to what I've heard of 795cfm for the stock Rochester Quadrajet.
 

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Q-jets were only produced in 2 sizes.
750, and 800
800's wer used exclusively on Buick and Buick 455's and on Pontiac 400 manual trans cars.
Stock 454 carb is the 750.
 

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Now I have heard there is an 800 size, but buddy, I'm about 98% certain I recall it is NOT a round # like 750. It's an off # like 780 or 795 as GD mentioned. So one of us here has some bad info. I know I always thought it was weird, why couldn't Qjet be like everyone else in sizing carbs, like 750 and 800, 650 or even 625 like Carter does. Someone needs to dig up info from the Qjet Bibles.
 

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So here is a quote from Carb Doctor that would support Jim is correct.

Design The QJet is a large 4 barrel carburetor that has a small primary side for fuel economy and good emissions and a large secondary side for good performance. QJets have a maximum airflow of from 750-800 cfm. Because the secondary side of the Qjet opens according to the airflow requirements of the engine, the same basic carburetor size can be used on a large range of engine sizes. The basic 750 cfm QJet casting is used from 231 CID to over 400 CID - the big secondary air valves open only as the engine breathes. For example, on a mild 350 Chevy the air valve will never open all the way - because the motor can't use more than 600 cfm or so.
 

HotRodPC

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OK, it does appear there was a 795-800 and 750, but 750 and 800 being the advertised QJet ratings as Jim said. But there is this info, and excerpt from a Rochester QJet study which explains the different CFM we'd hear of as being ACTUAL. I'm about certain I've heard of 780 QJets, and they may very well be in some flow bench testing #'s I've read about somewhere. But this excerpt does say, there were variations and Qjet could make whatever variations they want and detune a 750 down to 590, again, another off the wall #.

Based on my 3 months or so study, qjets had at least 4 different main body castings they break down into the following CFM ratings: 750 pre 1974, 795-800 pre 1974, 750 post '74 and 800 post 1974. For some smaller motors rochester inhibited the secondary air valve from opening all the way which could limit a 750 CFM to 590, or theoretically about any CFM rating they wanted. Actually when you really start looking around the bonyard you see lots and lots of funky variations of airhorns, chokes, etc. The principal variation in the main body casting which affected CFM rating was whether the primarys have a diameter of 1 3/32's inches or 1 and 7/32's inches.

So this tells me, if your primaries are 1 3/32nds, you have the 750 rated variant, if you have the 1 7/32nds primaries, then you'd have the 800 rated variant. But to answer the posters question, I'd say go with either one, the 750 or the 800 because I have seen both on 454's, but usually the 800 cfm is rated for the earlier 70's and I don't see a peanut port head motor needing an 800cfm.
 

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OK, it does appear there was a 795-800 and 750, but 750 and 800 being the advertised QJet ratings as Jim said. But there is this info, and excerpt from a Rochester QJet study which explains the different CFM we'd hear of as being ACTUAL. I'm about certain I've heard of 780 QJets, and they may very well be in some flow bench testing #'s I've read about somewhere. But this excerpt does say, there were variations and Qjet could make whatever variations they want and detune a 750 down to 590, again, another off the wall #.

Based on my 3 months or so study, qjets had at least 4 different main body castings they break down into the following CFM ratings: 750 pre 1974, 795-800 pre 1974, 750 post '74 and 800 post 1974. For some smaller motors rochester inhibited the secondary air valve from opening all the way which could limit a 750 CFM to 590, or theoretically about any CFM rating they wanted. Actually when you really start looking around the bonyard you see lots and lots of funky variations of airhorns, chokes, etc. The principal variation in the main body casting which affected CFM rating was whether the primarys have a diameter of 1 3/32's inches or 1 and 7/32's inches.

So this tells me, if your primaries are 1 3/32nds, you have the 750 rated variant, if you have the 1 7/32nds primaries, then you'd have the 800 rated variant. But to answer the posters question, I'd say go with either one, the 750 or the 800 because I have seen both on 454's, but usually the 800 cfm is rated for the earlier 70's and I don't see a peanut port head motor needing an 800cfm.
The 800's can also be identified by a hump in the bottom of the primary barrels.
The CFM ratings I was talking about are Casting ratings, not taking into consideration any adjustments made by the Factory for engine size. So I think we are all correct. I can see the factory using an 800 cfm casting, but tuning the air valves to achieve 795 or lower.
 

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Thanks Guys

New or good Q/Jets are a bit thin on the ground here.

I am not looking for a high performace truck rather something I can cruise in all day. What size Holley would be good?

The truck came in from California a few months ago. It will be staying LHD. Will slowly be chasing up all the damaged / wornout parts from the states.

Around town I get about 100 miles / 57 litres.( 14.25 US Gallons?) 7 miles/ Gallon.
 

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Thanks Guys

New or good Q/Jets are a bit thin on the ground here.

I am not looking for a high performace truck rather something I can cruise in all day. What size Holley would be good?

The truck came in from California a few months ago. It will be staying LHD. Will slowly be chasing up all the damaged / wornout parts from the states.

Around town I get about 100 miles / 57 litres.( 14.25 US Gallons?) 7 miles/ Gallon.

I'd say you should be able to get better than that. At least 9 or 10 mpg. I'd see no reason why a 600 cfm wouldn't work good on a stock 454. Doesn't Holley make a 650 cfm now too? That would probably be about perfect for a stocker.
 

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I'd say you should be able to get better than that. At least 9 or 10 mpg. I'd see no reason why a 600 cfm wouldn't work good on a stock 454. Doesn't Holley make a 650 cfm now too? That would probably be about perfect for a stocker.

I have always liked the Holley 770cfm Truck Avanger. Holley P/N 0-90770
 

crazy4offroad

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They also make a 670 but I think the truck avengers are mechanical secondaries.
 

Jims86

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Noper....all three models are vac secondaries.
 
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