I just bought a 1987 z28 and i am having a staling problem. When the car is ideling it is fine but once you touch the gas it will bog down and die unless u pump the gas. And when the car is cruzing it is fine but if u give it some gas it will also bog down and then it wont down shift unless u pump the gas pedal to get it to go. Im not sure how to tune a carb but i have been told that the carb is the problem and i was wondering if it was a hard process tuning a carb.

 

If it is the stock q-jet, with all the electronic hook-ups, it becomes more difficult than the old, simple to tune mechanical versions. With a carb like yours, I would rip it off and trash it for a holley or edelbrock- trade one set of difficult and time consuming issues for simpler and easier tuneing and troubleshooting. If you are interested in keeping the carb, the first thing I would check is to make shure the vacuum lines (all 50 miles of them) are properly hooked up and all of your emissions control devices are operating properly. How you ask? That I can't tell you, as far as me and emissions go, as long as the exhaust can't be used as a smoke screen, I could care less.

 

"The first things most here will tell you to do, especially if you just got the car is give it a full tune up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fluids, check timing, replace any rotten or missing vacuum hoses). Cover the basics, then begin troubleshooting. Don't assume the carburetor is the problem." Johnsonm

After that stuff is done, get back with us if you've still got a problem (if you haven't done it yet).

 

Yeah the person i bought it from said that they put a new carb on it and that the problem started after he put on. But i was thinking would it be worth it to just get a new holley or edelbrock carb or just convert it to a TPI system?

 

What carb is on it now? If it's a stock replacement, has it been adjusted properly? The stock carb will support plenty of power. I'd recommend putting a little effort into resolving your issue before spending big bucks for something that may OR MAY NOT fix your problem.

If your stock carb is computer controlled, swapping to an aftermarket carb will also require replacing the distributor and converter lock up if you've got automatic.

 

It is a stock replacement and im guessing it hasnt been adjusted properly. And my z28 is also an automatic so its looking like the most cost efficent thing to do would be to just adjust the carb it has now. Do u have any idea what the problem could be and could you also recommend a good place to start?

 

Try:

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/carb...highlight=carb

That thread includes some text on ccc-qjet adjustments

 

thanks naf ill check it out and see if it helps