Edelbrock intake and carb setup for 71 350

[Green K20]

The my truck is aprox. 95% original. The odometer only works when it wants to, so the real miles are uncertain. The engine all original and to my knowlege has never been rebuilt. It has the original quadrajet 4 bbl. carburator. It needs rebuilt, and my friend says that a quadrajet needs to be rebuilt every 3-4000 miles. Rather than take it off and rebuild it every time, I was thinking about going with aftermarket parts. I know of a good Edelbrock Performer intake and 650 carb. The guy says it will fit on my truck as he had it on a 350 as well.

Ok, my question: What effects will this upgrade have on my truck? Would it be better to leave the stock intake and just use the carb? I have never done anything in the way of performance upgrades. Thanks

[MikeB]

Originally Posted by Green K20

It has the original quadrajet 4 bbl. carburator. It needs rebuilt, and my friend says that a quadrajet needs to be rebuilt every 3-4000 miles.

Not true. I had one on a 68 Chevy 327 and it still worked well at 80K miles.

If you are moderately good with hand tools, get this book:

Amazon.com: How to Rebuild and Modify Rochester...
Or send your carb to Cliff Ruggles here: http://www.cliffshighperformance.com/services.html

You will end up with better idle, fuel mileage, and easier cold starting.

I say this as a guy who has two Edelbrock carbs on Edelbrock manifolds, but I plan to install a Q-jet on my pickup using a 1969 date code Q-jet manifold. So, if you do want to sell that Q-jet, please let me know!

[oldblue1968chevy]

performer intake 600 cfm electric of man. choke whichever you prefer

but heard alot of good thigns about a well build q jet also?..

[Wrenchbender Ret]

It's best to use the carb that came on the truck. A Q-jet cleaned out & set right will last for many years.

[Green K20]

Did they change the intake design on the 350 at all? My only question is if this intake/carb came off a late '70s/80s 350, will it fit on my '71 350? I don't know what year of truck the guy selling it had, but I just want to make sure it would fit on my truck.

Also, before I agree to buy it, I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with this setup. Does it increase horsepower or fuel economy at all? Rebuilding the Quad will help the cold start issue (my main problem at this time), but if the Edelbrock combo will make it even better, I'll go with that.

[Green K20]

Ok. After reading posts that were included while I was writing my last one, I've been swayed toward keeping my Q jet. I might see what the local guys around here charge to rebuild and tune it.

I have never heard an exact horsepower amount for our engines. I know mine has over 100,000 miles so it is fairly worn out, but what would be a ballpark range as to what mine would still produce?

[llowlife]

I believe there are a few versions of the performer intake as there are with most things . They make running revisions as they go. An early performer intake would be a slight performance increase though won't make a huge difference IMO without other mods. It MIGHT be noticeable on the butt dyno. What exactly are you looking for?

A Q Jet is an excellent carb....They are looked down on by performance guys but only the uneducated ones. A Q Jet is a highly tunable performance carb that will get as good of fuel mileage as a carb can get for whatever application. I built a strong 383. I could have gone with any carb I wanted. I have raced Q Jets, holleys, etc and I chose a Q Jet. That being said I chose to have the Carbshop build and tune it for me. For not a ton of money I have had it rebuilt, wet flowed, tuned for my application and dyno ran. Just a thought though you can do a very good job yourself if you take the time to study the carb.

[llowlife]

The only difference may be an EGR. I'm not sure the intake EGR was an option on teh edelbrock you are talking about. Simple answer is yes it will fit as long as it is a gen I motor. I've had experience with this and many other combo's for decades. You'll love this answer...it may increase mileage....it may decrease mileage. When you say 650, what carb are you talking about? Holley? Spreadbore holley? Double pumper? Honestly my opinion is to rebuild the QJ (or have it rebuilt) properly and tuned properly and you will be happy. The QJ is a very economical carb.

[llowlife]

Hard to say HP wise. ALOT of variables. Want a haphazard guess? 185-215 hp? Ive never dyno'ed a tired motor before.

[Green K20]

Thanks! That's what I had read on the internet, but you can't take some stuff you read worth a grain of salt.

Someday I might rebuild the ol' 350. It still runs good, except for cold starts, but rebuilding the carb will take care of that.

I'm keeping the Q jet, if it's as good as you guys say it is, it will keep this truck running a long time.

[llowlife]

Ever get to SE Mn?