396 rochester carb

[mikewarme]

I bought a rebuilt carb for my 396 a year ago. Finally got around to getting the truck running after paint etc. The carb is bad due to a crack in the body where the plugs for the primary jets are. Rather than getting another one thats the same , does anybody object to using say a 75 rochester that fit a 350 or 400 cu? My concern is that the 400 was a small block and even though the carb mounts will it perform fine? Otherwise im going to just order the correct one from Classic industries for a 69 like it came with. I want economy more than performance. Mileage is a factor here
Mike

[tkeduk8r]

another main body will work as well as long as it has the same early linkage, but youll get different stamping numbers and im not sure how detail oriented on this build you are.... if your looking for mileage the later castings are in my opinion a bit better and if you match your main and secondary jets with the right needles you can get a very efficient carb that if tuned well can nearly match a modern TBI setup.... just my experience.. hope that helps...
--Mike

[Wrenchbender Ret]

I prefer the late 70's early 80's Q-jets. They have the round choke & if it is not electric you can put the elec. choke coil in it. Like Tke says you can match the pri. jets & adjust the sec. air valves if ness. but generally they run fine as is.