The backstory: I took my car (T/A) in for some basic repairs and told my trusty mechanic to see if anything else needed fixing while he was under there, well I got the car back and he mentioned that my current carb needs either to be rebuilt or now would be a good time to put on a new one if I wanted to. So I figure, now's a good time to put one of the performance ones on.

Here's where I'm confused...in one thread, it was suggested I put an Edelbrock carb onto my engine (everything pretty much stock l69)...but the article on the main site seems to indicate they're not that great....so I'm confused here...

Also, I noticed you all seem to recommend getting a dual snorkel setup for the performance carbs...but you talk about possible problems on available space under the hood? Also, where would I get something for that?

Also, do I need to do anything else to the engine? like I said, it's pretty much bone stock (ok, there's a K&N air filter in it...that's the only "mod" so far)...a lot of you seem to indicate that to get anything out of the new carb, more has to be changed on the engine.

 

If it really is an L69, it already has the high flow air cleaner - not dual snorkel, because the 'Bird hood slopes down more than the Camaro, but still okay.

There is absolutely no benefit to going from your factory q-jet to a demand-based secondary carb like the Performer, AFB, or vacuum secondary Holley or Demon. Since you have a manual transmission, the only "upgrade" would be a Holley or Demon double pumper, and on a stock 305, you'd better keep that no larger than 600 CFM.

Putting a different carb on, unless it is a Holley spreadbore or another q-jet, will require an adapter or a new intake manifold. That's where your space problem comes in.

Another issue is you need a vacuum-mechanical advance distributor - another expense.

But, the real kicker is the carb isn't holding back performance. If it needs rebuilding, then rebuilding it is fairly simple and inexpensive. If you replace it, you need to spend a lot more money. And, before a carb replacement will do anything to improve performance, you need to address what's really holding it back - exhaust, cam, and heads - which, apparently, you already realize.

A real "nice to know" would be why he thinks it needs rebuilding.

 

I agree, rebuild the stocker is needbe. Maybe even just taking it off and giving it a good cleaning for a better peice of mind. Your pretty much going to spend a considerable amount more swapping carbs and probably see no gains in performance ...maybe even get some tuning headaches.

 

sweet! That's a lot of information that I needed to know and good news to hear. Thanks ^_^

How can you tell on the high flow air cleaner? any way I can tell the difference?

I'll get it rebuilt or cleaned then...I'll talk to him and see what's up (he mentioned something about soaking it for 24 hours but it was the end of the day so I didn't catch it all >.<).

Exhaust, cam, heads...got it. Thanks a lot ^_^

 

If the air cleaner has a connection to the hood cowl, it's the good one.

 

oh the little switch that opens the bulge for the secondaries?

 

That doesn't sound familiar. But, I'm not personally familiar with 'Birds.

I'm talking about an opening on top of the air cleaner that goes to the hood. I've seen pictures on the Board, never seen one in person.

 

Open your hood, take a picture of the aircleaner, post that.

 

tada!

I thought you were talking about the switch (solenoid?) that opens or closes the cowl intake :P do you mean the hole on top of the air cleaner for the cowl there?

 

You've got it.

LG4's don't.

 

oooh ok...so then air coming in is ok...gonna start saving for that air going out system then and those things

 

Carb was rusty and had lots of gunk...he mentioned the fuel was coming in unevenly I think. (something about fuel and uneven...I'm really out of it this morning >.<)

Anyways, the gunk makes sense since it sat in a garage for 2 years at my uncles before I got it.

Anyways, that's the reason, he took it apart and is soaking it in something before putting it back together.

That's the scoop.

 

Dunno if anyone cares but I thought I'd post an update on the carb.

It was taken apart, cleaned (soaked), dried, and put back together (and he replaced a bad solenoid). HOLY CRAP the car runs smooth! It's quieter...it's smoother (I think a cylinder was missing)...it doesn't have as much trouble starting too. I'm happy ^_^ wasn't that expensive either (most expensive part I think was the solenoid).

WOO! *dances and waits for work to be over to drive*

 

Jet makes a high po CCC q-jet replacement, it's only a few more dollars cheaper than a reman and it comes is 3 stages of your performance choice.

 

Sounds like it's fixed. No reason to take a chance on Jet (reports are pretty spotty about their q-jet quality these days).