Replace Carb?

[avejoe]

My 350 72 K10 GMC uses A LOT of fuel. It smells rich and blows black smoke when the motor is cold. I put in an HEI. It lacks power (lacked power prior to HEI too). It's timed right at idle. It has a new fuel filter.

Should I replace the original Q-jet or is a well tuned Q-jet better than an after market carb? Any thoughts on which aftermartket carb is the best?

Thanks for any help.

[stickshift_or_walk]

Here we go again ...somebody dig up one of the old posts FAST before this gets ugly...

SSOW

[avejoe]

Hey, play nice. Not everyone is able to read all the posts.

[stickshift_or_walk]

Avejoe,

Sorry - not trying to be ugly. The response wasn't aimed at you.

This is just one of those topics that won't ever be settled, and most of it's been said before, so it makes sense to save server space and give you the benefit of previous conversations.

It is a good question, so I'll do some looking myself for that thread I'm talking about. At the end of it, tho - you'll still have to form your own opinion!

SSOW

[stickshift_or_walk]

Ok, found a few. Hope this helps.

Q-jet vs. Edelbrock (this is the one I was referring to)

carb & choke discussion

carb size (and choke)

2-barrel discussion w/JCW plug

Personally, I like the Q-jets. Once you get it set up right, it'll run forever, and there's nothing like the howl you get from those huge secondaries opening!

SSOW

[avejoe]

Thanks. It's all good.

[ChevLoRay]

I went back to the first link, QJet vs Edelbrock, and revisited that post. It's good. Brings up a lot of good points to ponder. But, the one thing that it says that is most important is this: It's hard to diagnose a carburetor on this board. As much as we try to explain the problem we may have, we use different terms and explain things in ways that we may not be able to visualize. That doesn't negate the problem, nor does it change the problem.

My truck engine (a 350) had an Edelbrock 1405 (manual choke) on it when I bought it. I bought a kit ($40) from a speed shop to rebuild it. But, I was running a stock intake, and changed to an Edelbrock Performer. Then, I caught a good deal on a new Edelbrock 1901 (QJet) from the 'Zone, for $289, and bought it. I could not be happier. It's a QJet, but it was all new. It's been on the engine for 3 years and never has it let me down.

I, too, used to build carbs, but the only ones I didn't like were the ThermoQuads that Chrysler used. Too much "plastic" in their construction. But, that was almost 30 years ago.