I just got me a 85 IROC Z with an l69 in it, the rochester did not work and the guy had an edelbrock performer 600 on it with an electric choke. i just put in a vacuum adv distributor in place of the elcetronic one, and now it actually runs. ive noticed that it doesnt run as strong as it seems it should, i have read that the 1406 performers require a bit of tuning to function properly. so im gonna rebuild it, and buy the tuning kit for it the things im sure i need to do is put the .101 jets in the secondaries, i think i should leave the front ones at .98, the kit comes with three pairs of metering rods and 4 sets of springs, i read somewhere that i should put in the ones for more vacuum... pretty much looking for tuning tips on a completely stock l69, ive seen posts for mildly modded 305s with cams and intakes and such, i just want to know which way it work best for me... thanks for the help guys!

Set the initial timing at idle to 8-12 degrees (vacuum advance disconnected).

When you get tired of trying to get the Edelbrock to behave, put the stock carb back on and do what is necessary to get that superior system to operate as intended.

so youre saying its a waste of time?

I'm saying you need more initial timing with a mechanical set-up than you do base timing with a computer set-up.

I'm also saying (as I normally do - it's a bias I haven't been able to overcome - facts tend to do that to you) I would never put an Edelbrock carb on an engine in place of a q-jet.

oh, well if i had the money id just buy a holley... i have read better about them than i have of edelbrocks.
8-12 degrees advanced base timing, will do.

this is just until i get some money to put on the vortec heads i have laying in my shed,
i imagine the carb is just a trial end error thing to tune...

What facts do you have against the Edelbrock carb?
Reason I ask is I just got a 750cfm 1407 edelbrock for cheap and will be swapping a 305 tbi to a 350 carb.

Is there an issue by doing this?

well from what ive read they are real finiky about fuel pressure, anymore than 5lbs and you will be rich no matter what you do to the carb, other than that ive just read that the only thing edelbrock makes good are intakes but i aint no pro, and this my first experience with a carb...
i have also read that the q-jet isnt bad, its the computer part of it... but again i dunno, of the 2 carbs i had the edelbrock was the one that got my car to run, the q-jet did start at all it just cranked and cranked...

Note I said "...in place of a q-jet".
The computerized q-jet was the best one they ever made. The problems come when the ham-fisted don't-like-dem-newfangled-things "mechanics" try to "fix" them.

ah... so its one of those dotn trust everything you hear kinda things eh?
well im here now, and its what i have... further down the road ill do some form of efi, so its not permanent...
can i at least get some deas how to start tuning?

Start with the timing, like I said.

Edelbrock tuning instructions are available on Edelbrock's website and a sticky in the top section of this forum.

The stock q-jet is a great carb, the spread bore design allows you to tune it give great economy yet scream when you open up the secondaries. It also hits hard because of the mechanical secondaries. They require the computer, The parts to tune them isn't on every shelf like there is for edelbrock/holley so lots of people toss them to the side for the more popular aftermarket carbs.

As for the secondary springs on you edelbrock, they are so you can tune when the secondary needles pull out of the jet, basically tune when the secondaires come on.

I ran and edelbrock it required very little tuning, I just changed the secondary rods and springs. I ran my Eddie with a mech/vac advance dist, I ran 10 degrees base timing. disconnect the vacuum line and plug it to set.