I-77 Camaro

Hello out there! Just bought a 1983 firebird se w/87k original miles. The car has the lg4 and the t5. My question is about the carb, what I've ran into is the car won't run without pouring gas in the carb(not going to mess with it now cause I'm not much of a mechanic to be honest). What my plan is to pull the carb intake and distributor out and replace it with a 2bbl intake carb and distributor from a 350 I just pulled around october(it ran well). I know the 2bbl carb has no place in the car but I make$11hr and want to get it running ASAP so I can work the bugs out on the rest of the car and will rebuild and reinstall the e4me? When I have the money and knowledge to do it right. Also b4 I run any fuel in it I'm dropping the tank and thoroughly cleaning it(also gonna put a couple fuel filters in line). Am I correct on just needing the intake, carb and distributor off my 350? Read a lot on it just needing reassurance. Thanks!

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

You will most likely spend MORE graunching that other thing on your car, than just repairing the carb that's there. As a path to "saving money", as usual, all detours away from DOING IT RIGHT THE FIRST TIME, cost more than ... doing it right the first time. Therefore not a good plan at all.

It's going to be full of that varnish that's left over when gasoline evaporates (probably why it won't idle... the idle feed passages are plugged up) and may have dissimilar-metal electrolysis corrosion around the small spun-in plugs under the primary jets. Nothing that a rebuild kit and a bit of epoxy won't cure.

naf

iTrader: (7)

A rebuild kit is like $15. Add a can of carb spray and you're still under the cost of the gaskets required for an intake swap. When you get ready we can provide some help.

I-77 Camaro

I just really want to get it running today is why I was thinking of doing that. My plan for fresh fuel(just to get it running in the driveway) is take the line off the mechanical fuel pump and run it into a 5gallon jug so as not to have to mess with the tank today. But to rebuild my quadrajet imma need to watch some more videos and ask a bunch of questions. Is this a task that a parts changer not a mechanic can handle because I've always been taught to just buy another carb or have it professionally done. Excited and nervous all at the same time

Ozz1967

iTrader: (4)

Rebuilding the carb takes about 3 hours if you take your time. Yes, you can have it professionally done, but that carb after sitting needs new seals and gaskets and a good cleaning. that will help solve most of your problem.

You also probably need a new mechanical fuel pump. I would trust the diaphram after sitting for so long.

All you need is hand tools and a laptop/tablet with Youtube. Or, if youre like me, take it off the car, bring it in the house and set it down on the counter if you don't have a workbench.

I-77 Camaro

Update, got the car running pretty decent(simply poured some sea foam in the carb and routed the fuel pump into a 5gal jug) all the vacuem lines are shot so I'm going to replace them tomorrow after work and see where that gets me. Nice thing about the car sitting since 1997 is they didn't put ethanol in the fuel so this thing may just go. Prob still gonna need a rebuild but it runs. Also found a bunch of receipts in the "glove box" new ECM, brakes all around, alignment, exhaust, clutch and a speeding ticket all within 8k miles, sure that was almost 20yrs ago lol

1982Z28Modified

Well I-77. I see you ran into the pre-eminent members of doom and gloom. Since you are on a very limited budget, your only choice is to rebuild instead of replace. You can get a lot done with a limited budget. Research everything twice. Ask for help on this site. And good luck.

I-77 Camaro

. I've got the car running quite well now, vacuem lines seemed to do the trick. I've not even touched the carb yet just ran high octane and double treated it with sea foam. Put almost 800 miles on it with it steadily improving! Now to chase down some of these electrical gremlins

Joe Tag

iTrader: (4)

I don't see any doom and gloom here, just sound advice from three long term members, which it still is. Rebuilding a carb sounds more involved than it really is. How much money did he spend on seafoam and wasted gas mileage with a less than optimal running engine? No snake oil cure is going to fix a worn and bypassing accelerator pump, leaking welch plugs or needle and seat so he will still more than likely need to dig into the carb and fix that. Would have been about $25 to fix it right.

I-77 Camaro

I plan on having it rebuilt when I have the $. It's running good for the time being I just can't bring myself to tear into the carb and rebuild it cause it's getting me back n forth to work. Getting 16mpg w/ 4.10 gears

I-77 Camaro

8mpg if I drive it with enthusiasm