Hey all,
I am getting a 305 that came out of an 86 Z28. It was a cc-carb but I want to go with an aftermarket carb and lose the computer controlled thing. I am putting this engine into my 84 firebird and my question is this:
Is there a carb that will fit onto my existing manifold, and if so, what carb would you recommend? Please keep in mind that I am working on a VERY limited budget here.

TIA,
Chris Payne
'92 RS
'84 S/E

 

Your best bet on a limited budget would be to stay with the CC system.

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82 Berlinetta, orig V-6 car, now w/86 LG4/TH700R. 2.93 limited slip. Cat-back from '91 GTA, Accel HEI SuperCoil. AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Daily driver, work-in-progress (LG4 w/LB9 block, ZZ3 cam and intake, TBD heads, Hooker headers & y-pipe, 3" Catco cat).
57 Bel Air, my 1st car. 0.030 over 396, Weiand Action+, Edelbrock 1901 Q-Jet, Jacobs Omnipack, 1-3/4" headers, TH400 w/TCI Sat Night Special conv & Trans-Scat shift kit, 3.08 8.2" 10-bolt w/Powertrax, AMSOIL syn lubes bumper-to-bumper. Best 15.1 @ 5800' Bandimere. Daily driver while Camaro was being put together.

 

If your CCC is AFU, your best bet (IMHO) would be an old qjet. I found a really nice one on ebay for about $50 off of a 73 oldsmobile 350. It performs better and is easier on gas than my holley 1850 was, plus it will bolt right on to you intake. You also need a non computerized distributor.

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1984 Z28 (L69) monochrome tangerine orange with IROC decals and hood
1987 IROC wheels with Goodyear GSC's
305 from 87 IROC with 1994 LT1 cam (203/208 .450/.460")
performer intake
Qjet from 73 Olds
dynomax cat-back, gutted cat
no emissions controls --> passed emissions testing
non WC T-5 with 0.73 5th
3.27 nine-bolt

 

Considering your circumstance, i'd stick with a used Q-Jet. No probs bolting up or anything like that, easy to service. That's what I did until I put the 'puter system back together (I have my reasons) For a 305 anything between 600-750 cfm would work ok. Just remember if you have an automatic trans that the Torque Converter lockup won't work without the ECM all hooked up. Pressure switch can fix that, or a manual toggle.
But, if your ECM is still working right and you have a good CC carb, may as well stick with that until you can go for something new off the shelf that's more performance based.
My L69 with 96K miles, minor mods and an exhaust, runs mid to high 14's with the compucarb thing minus smog, canister valve and a/c (Could be better, but they ran 15's totally stock, so i'm happy for now.)

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DR Stevens
1984 Trans Am 305HO L69
sucks gas, hauls ***
1991 Firebird 305 LO3
for days when I need a/c

[This message has been edited by eightTfourTA (edited April 02, 2001).]

 

Well, I am swapping this motor into an 84 firebird and I have the harness for the 305, just not the brain, so staying with the CCC is out of the question. Will a 4 barrel from Holley or demon bolt up? Was it a 4 bbl. carb to begin with? I may just go to the junkyard and grab a q-jet off of an old car. The 700R4 tranny I'm putting behind it came out of an 87 GTA and has a fresh rebuild. So I will have to wire up a lock-up switch? I'm not sure I totally understand the concept of lock-up with the TC. Can anyone 'splain it to me?

Chris

 

I would go to the junkyard and get a Q-Jet AND HEI distributer from the same vehicle then rebuild them. Any 4 barrel 350 from the mid '80s should have what you need.

 

You don't have the ECM from either the '84 or the '86? Either one would work, assuming your '84 is a carbed V8.

But, to answer your question, the Holley or Edelbrock carbs will not bolt up to the 305 manifold, since they are square flange and the 305 is spreadbore. You would have to get an adapter (yuck) or another manifold ($'s).

I'm sure you could find an ECM for less money than any option involving a new carb. You MAY be able to get a mechanical q-jet & distributor for less, but they are likely to need work.

Oh, wannabe, a mid-'80s q-jet/distributor would be CC - NOT what you want unless you get the ECM as well.

[This message has been edited by five7kid (edited April 05, 2001).]

 

i know i just put an aftermarket carb(holley 600cfm) on my camaro and the advice i could give you is watch out for that EGR valve if you cant get rid of it do it and save yourself from having to buy a performance intake manifold but if you can get around the EGR valve or you dont have one you can buy a adapter kit for about 15-20$ from pep boys and that kit bolts up almost every holley or edlebrock carb you can find but watch out for all that emissions ****!

 

Here's the deal. The current engine that is in the 'bird is a V6 that i converted to to a non-cc carb and dist. Now I want to put a mechanical carb with electric choke and vacuum secondaries. That would be the quadrajet, right?

Also, what is EGR? I know what EGR stands for, I just am not sure what I will have to do with it. Emmisions is not a concern, and my 305 will have no emmissions when I'm done with it. will my 86 Z-28 305 have this? Will I have to hook it up to the carb I will be getting?

TIA
Chris

 

Oops. I meant mid 70's. I was thinking about a '75 Nova I had... Anyway, thanks for correcting me.