Replacing Carb on 72 350

[vegaschevy]

If My carb seems to need to many more parts or is pretty much shot what brand and size of carb hell even part number would everyone recommend for a 72 350 that i am sure might be a little tired?

I know there is Holly, Edelbrock, Demon and others. WHat size? what kind? what part number would I need to make this truck run well?

[mikajo39]

well I had my edelbrock 600CFM performer just bought an adapter plate for the square bore to spreadbore intake manifold and went ran real well on my old tired 350.

[mclairmo]

I like Holleys and have always used them. I would go with the traditional 600 CFM with vacuum secondaries and electric choke on top of a square bore intake like a Holley or Weiand. That is exactly what I just bought for my 68 C10.

[Jim_PA]

My answer won't be a surprise to many of you here, but if it's a stock engine, and it's the stock carb, just get yours re-build, re-bushed, fix the leaky well plugs, and away you go. No tuning required.

[mclairmo]

Originally Posted by Jim_PA

My answer won't be a surprise to many of you here, but if it's a stock engine, and it's the stock carb, just get yours re-build, re-bushed, fix the leaky well plugs, and away you go. No tuning required.

That's a good option as long as it comes in cheaper than a new carb. However, rebuilts often cost more than a new Holley 600 CFM. I have always run Holleys right out of the box and they run great, as long as they are properly matched to the engine from the get go. If not matched properly, then your are in for a tuning session.

[eagleuh1]

What size carburator would be appropriate for the 350 or 327 then.

[my67chevytruck]

an old hotrod shop owner swears by this:

a mild 350 needs a 390 to 450 cfm carb . nothing larger. 600 is the max i will run and it needs to be tuned down and a small air cleaner.

[Jim_PA]

CFM is how much air the carb can flow, not how much it's going to flow. You can throw an 850 on it, and it will run just fine. Might not be the ideal carb for it, but it's pretty difficult to over-CFM an engine to the point that you have poor performance.

[leddzepp]

Edelbrock model number 1406. Bolt on and go.

[WorkinLonghorn]

"Rebuilding" a quadrajet is real easy and cheap if you do the work. It's really kinda fun. Just take it step by step. There is a video out there and the instructions that ccome with the kit are pretty good,but won't includr the little throttle shaft bushing replacement (if you even need to do those).As mentioned above you may need to fix the leaky plugs. All this info is here if you search. Helps to have a source of compressed air,even a can of gas or air available at electronics/computer stores to blow out passages etc.
What problems are you having with your carb as it is?

[vegaschevy]

I could push on the pedal and it would barely run. It would die out real easy unless you feathered the gas and that only worked sometimes. If you look at the pics you can see how much crud was in it.
What plugs leak? where on the carb are they?
It was leaking gas somewhere around the carb as well, I figured it was one of the gaskets not a plug.

[mclairmo]

Originally Posted by eagleuh1

What size carburator would be appropriate for the 350 or 327 then.

I would run a 600 cfm Holley as I have installed several of them on a 327 Chevy, 302 Ford, 350 Chevy, etc and they always have run great. I have seen many articles that show that a 350 Chevy will run fine up to a 750 cfm carb, but the 600 seems to be the standard.

[fdbdw]

edel 1406
was able to take it out change the jets, rods, springs, check float level and put it back in and running in less than an hour and about $10. down fall is that they are picky about fuel pressure I put in a edel fuel pump and now runs great. so know that if you go edel you will probably have to use a regulator or put in a pump that doesnt exceed 6psi

[WorkinLonghorn]

What plugs leak? where on the carb are they?

They're inside the carb. You will see them when you separate the two main sections IIRC. Gas leaks past these and down into the manifold then when you go to start the truck there is no gas in the float bowl and you have to crank it over for a while to fill the bowl.
Sounds like the accelerator pump is bad. That part comes with the kit. REAL easy fix.

[1970 chev truck]

just rebuild the q-jet(assuming thats what you have)for a stock engine, you cant go wrong with a q-jet