My carb is original and in need of a rebuild. I do not have the time, tools, or space to do the rebuild myself. Local shops are charging $450 to rebuild it (one was charging $300 but they are an hour away). I am thinking of buying a replacement one and just bolting it in (found ones in the $200- $250 range). I found both NOS and rebuilt Rochester Q-jets in the same price range. My question is are there risks in going with a NOS carb, even if it has been in shrink-wrap for the past 23 years? Can things like internal seals deteriorate over time in a sealed box? Would I be better going for a rebuilt one?

Shouldn't deteriorate if it hasn't been gassed.

It's been a long time since I rebuilt one, but it only took maybe 1 hour or so - you are just taking it all apart, cleaning it out with carb cleaner, and replacing all the little seals. You can do it on the kitchen table (with adequate protection for the table).

But you can also get an Edelbrock new in the box ready to run for $250 at pep Boys on the shelf. (Of course if yours is cc then you'd need a new distributor may as well).

Besides being a horrible down-grade, it'll cost you more to get that Edelbrock installed than the most expensive q-jet rebuilds you quoted.

Stay away from Edelbrock carbs, especially when you already have a q-jet.

I know I know - you guys like the Q-Jet carbs. I happen to like my Edelbrock since it ran out of the box and I've never had to do any adjusting to it since the day I installed it 3 years ago, but...

I was just pointing out that for what he was quoted, he could get a whole new carb AND distributor! Rebuilding it yourself really shouldn't be that big of a deal I wouldn't think, take a few hours for a complete newbie, and should be cheap for a rebuild kit.

Go to an old school shop - where the old timers hang out - should be able to get one rebuilt from an old school expert for under $100 and a six pack! Hell, I got my whole tranny rebuilt and built right for $500 from a simple Joe that does them on the side - $300+ for a rebuild is highway robbery! Stay away from those pretty shops with fancy names and pretty signs and clean floors - go to a shop where the grease is so thick in the gravel driveway that it almost looks like bumpy asphalt, and the toilet seat has more grease on it than the parking lot - that's where you'll find a REAL mechanic, and not a "technician"!

The biggest problem I've seen buying a rebuilt Computer carb from a parts store has been that the metering valves don't work properly. I've seen a guy at the TA Nats that rebuilds both the regular Q-Jets and the Comp Q-Jets but I just don't remember his name. I do think you need to spend the extra $$$ and just get your's rebuilt by a professional.

You will need to look into their services and talk to people that they have done work for as well. This is one area you need to do your homework if you are wanting to stay stock.

I, on the other hand, had parts sitting around and decided to dump the computer and replaced my Comp Q-Jet with a Holley 570 Street Avenger, Got a used RPM air gap for $20 and then at a the US Nats I got a nice Mallory Distributor, HEI style cap and coil for less than a new distributor from Jeggs.