Long story short, '84 L69 with a holley carb. I just bought it, and won't run for more than 5-10 secs. The engine bay is a mess. Vacuum lines are cut/missing/plugged, and the carb itself doesn't look in great condition. It's missing the electric choke among other things. So, for some better performance and preventative maintanence I'm considering replacing the intake (therefore getting rid of most of the vacuum line issues when i replace the hoses), going to a mechanical distributor set-up, and going back to the original q-jet. I'm thinking this should get me new parts and better performance once it does get running. Any thoughts?

 

Welcome aboard thirdgen.org.

If you have the original distributor with a Holley carb, that's a mismatch. The computer needs input from the carb to make proper timing decisions. If you go back to the original q-jet, you'll need the original distributor. (The original q-jet was computer controlled, in case you didn't know that.)

I've heard different things with regard to L69's, but you may have an in-tank electric fuel pump (as well as the mechanical on the engine). If things have been hacked up, the fuel pump may not be getting power (if your car has an in-tank electric pump - again, reports vary). There are two circuits to power the electric pump, a timed start circuit, and a running circuit. Do you hear anything from the back when you turn the key on but don't start the engine?

Sounds like you picked up a project. Feel free to let us know how it progresses.

 

Thank you, and yes, I did pick up quite a project. I was getting ZERO fuel, tried replacing the mechanical pump, and then found out about the electric one in tank. So, tonight, I'm putting on a universal electric fuel pump. I'm not for sure, but I don't think the disty is OE either.

 

If your car had the in-tank electric originally, you're going to have to drop the tank to remove it if it isn't working. External pumps don't suck at all well through a non-operating in-tank.

 

you know i picked up the same exact car that you did excep mine is a 87 ta with about the same setup as your car plus long tubes. mine came with a holley blue lable electric pump and regulator, and my intank pump isnt working. keep some updates on the status of ya car might help me out alot.

 

I mounted the the pump just outside of the tank, and is working for now with the new mechanical pump. Now I'm getting fuel, it's running for about 15 secs, then dies. But, like I said the carb is rough. I'm thinking the disty is aftermarket and is rough as well. I'm thinking going HEI and keeping/rebuilding the Holley, and ditching the computer. Simple is better. Or, it looks like the Edelbrocks are much simpler to use which would be VERY nice right now.

 

Try wiring the pump so it is always on when the key is on. Thats what I had to do when switching to carb from efi. The car would do the exact same thing.

 

After some research, I'm really considering going with an Edelbrock 1406 with a Edelbrock manifold. I'm assuming that this should match up nicely, (assuming I put in HEI). I realize that the performance isn't great, but I'm looking for simple at this time. Am I on the right track here?