I just bought an '83 L69 camaro. I need a little winter project (other than changing the tranny) so I thought I'd pull off the carb. I already know that I want to change the rods and hanger, or whatever those damn things are called (I saw them from another post). My question is: should I get a rebuild kit for the carb, or should I just "look it over?" What does a rebuild kit involve/include, and how much is it?

Also, what books have you found to be the most helpful on these Rochesters?

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'83 HOmaro--doesn't run
'92 Bird--burnt to a crisp
'78 T/A 400--fast, Burt Reynold's style
'83 Buick LeSabre--the Ghetto Cruiser

"Without evil there can be no good, so it must be good to be evil some time!"

 

You will have an ECM-controlled Q-Jet which means you will only be able to change the secondary metering rods and hangers. The primary side is controlled by the computer. Some tweaking can be done with the airbleed valve and the idle mixture screws, but that's about it. The TPS can be adjusted, but it's either adjusted right or it's not.

A carb kit will usually contain all the gaskets you need, float needle and seat, accelerator pump, and assortment of O-rings and stuff. Man, be careful when you put everything back together! It's easy to overtorque those TORX screws and the casting will warp easier than you think! I had to replace my Q-Jet because it just wasn't running right after a third teardown and rebuild since 1985...stripped some threads and rushed things...

Doug Roe has the BEST Q-Jet book. I think it's called, Rochester Carburetors, and has a picture of a B-O-P Q-Jet on the cover.

 

I wouldn't tear into the carb unless you have to. THere are so many ways to screw things up inside.

If you are still intersted in tearing into the carb you might want to buy an e-QJet from you local junkyard. THere are ususally scillions of them laying around for less than $20 each in conditions from almost new to almost junk. Take it apart and learn from it before you tear into your "good" carb.