I was thinking about ditching my computer controled q-jet for a holley street avenger that I have lying around....I hate those computer controlled carbs. I'm currently in the process of building a new engine for the car now. I'll be getting rid of the ECM and all the computer controlled stuff then...but my question is this, if I take off the computer controlled q-jet and put my holley on will everything still work ok? Or will the ECM tell the car to freak out and shut down on me? I don't care if the check engine light comes on, it does that all the time now form all the modifications I've done to the engine already.

 

I did the same thing back when I had my 305. You'll just have a lot of wires and vacuum lines that you won't need anymore, but otherwise everything should work fine. Although, if you have the cc distributor, you'll probably have to keep the computer that controls that, so you don't mess up the timing advance.

 

awesome. I've got a mallory distributor that I was planning on tossing in too. so everything should work just fine with these?

 

What kind of advance does the mallory distributor have?

 

Everything will work fine except for the torque converter lockup (if you have an automatic). Engaging it will require a kit or wiring your own vacuum switch in.

Be prepared to loose some mileage and performance with the ol' street avenger setup compared to a properly functioning ccc-qjet system.

 

the mallory is a mechanical and vaccum advance.

naf, how would I go about wiring my own vaccum switch for the lock up? or do you know where I can get a kit?

EDIT: summit has this kit for the lock up. seems to be the only one they have for my application...
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

$136 though. anyone know of a cheaper kit? or possibly a way of wiring it up myself?

 

Lock-up kits are available from Summit, Jegs, GM, TCI, etc.

Don't forget you need to change the geometry of the throttle arm for the TV cable. Summit & Holley have a piece that bolts onto the throttle arm to take care of that.

Personally, having owned vacuum secondary Holleys and q-jets, I think you're taking a big step downwards. But, I probably won't be able to talk you out of your tunnel-vision bias (you called it "hate"), so go for it.

 

Well, I'm trying to get the issues worked out with the q-jet and my current issues for now...but if I can't I'm going with the Holley. I've got it hanging out, took it off my 84 while I build its new engine. so it's no money out of my pocket. and this wouldn't be a permanante setup. I've also got a new motor in the works for the 87 too. I just need to keep the 87 going until I can get my other vehicles back on the road.
Jeep...well, it a jeep, putting a new 2.5 in it...
Olds, also getting a new motor, just need to go pick up main bearings for it and that engine will be together and ready to go back in...
My 84 TA...gonna be about a year or so...

So I'm not so much looking for performance right now out of the 87, just a smooth running ride. the performance will be in the new 350 I've got out back on the engine stand.

 

Do a search on here for the pieces/parts to control your lock up. You should be able to buy everything you need for less than $50. Mainly a vacuum switch and some wiring.

Just don't get tempted to run the ol' manual switch on the dash thing. Nothing worse, 'cept maybe the radiator fan switch thing.

 

awesome thanks.

 

PM reply didn't work so great. The ECM uses signals from the carb and dist to determine when to lock the converter. Once you remove these pieces it won't work.

 

gotcha.