This is my first post. So far, I am very impressed with your site.

I recently totaled my truck. I have always been facinated by F-bodies, so when I found an old lady that had no idea of the value of her '85 T/A, I took advantage of the perfect body, new paint, and rebuilt 700R4, even though the LG4 carburated 305 had breathed it's last. As a replacement, I am using the 350 block from my '90 4x4 pickup, reworked heads (L98 castings, 2.02" 1.60" valves and some portwork), a cam for torque (.465/.480), the stock intake, and headers for an F-body. I have the fuel delivery problem caused by the lack of a mechanical fuel pump boss solved with a Holley Red pump. Otherwise, everything else bolts up, even the oil pan.

Here's the problem. I have been an injection guy, so carburators seem like magic to me. I have run out of money, so I really need to keep my computer controlled (maybe? It has more plugs in it than my friend's '80 Camaro, if I remember correctly) Q-jet on this motor. Can I keep this carb? If so, can i just bolt it on and go, or do I need to change jets or something? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Welcome aboard.

You can keep the computer controlled carb, but you'll have to keep all the other controls, sensors, and distributor as well. Hopefully your headers have a boss for the O2 sensor. You need to keep the fuel pressure no more than 6 psi at the carb, so get a reg if you haven't already. The factory used to have a kit to put a ZZ4 engine under that carb, they provided different secondary rods & hanger, different PROM, and different knock sensor. Of those, you can probably do without the PROM, but consider the others for your 350.

By "stock intake", I assume you mean the LG4 intake. That's fine, but if you feel like upgrading consider a Weiand Action + EGR or the GMPP q-jet EGR.

The stock LG4 air cleaner will choke you (it chokes an LG4, if you can believe that). Although not involved with the computer controls, a dual snorkel works a little better than an open element. You can try to find a factory unit (classifieds on the TGO home page or ebay), or make one out of your LG4 unit (tech articles on TGO home page).

Good luck with the swap. You aren't breaking new ground, but there are some details that vary from swap to swap.

 

An alternative for the dual snorkel thing is www.raimairbox.com (yes, they're still around)

 

The ramairbox.com setup doesn't have the thermovac system. For me, that certainly was an issue in winter driving.

 

thanks for the input! i can have the carburator guy install more appropriate rods and hangers in when i have him rebuild it (while i watch, so i can do it myself in the future). as for the knock sensor, i have the unit that came out of the truck , which is the same as the one i would be upgrading to.

i also appreciate the tip on the air cleaner assembly. although in miami, we dont have any problems starting the car in winter, because down here, winter consists of one day that dips below a frigid 75 degrees.