Hey guys, I know on the LG4 engines that the computer controls the carb, the distributor, and the torque converter lock up. I'm looking somewhat in the future to upgrading just the carburetor, I already have an Edelbrock Performer intake (w/ EGR.) If I just buy a reg. carb, and lose the computer controls on the carb, would the distributor/tc lockup still work? My friend did this and says he didnt get any problems but his check engine light doesn't work so he has no idea if he's getting codes...

Thanks guys, and I did a quick search on the forum and couldn't find anything about tossing just the carb and keeping the distributor...

 

When I changed the distributor to a NON CC one, it gave me 10mpg, and I remember asking what was wrong. Someone told me I took out the computer part of the car, but that running a non CC carb would be a lot worse.

 

No, you can absolutely not use the stock computer controlled distributor with a non CC carb.
Further, be careful calling replacing the CC carb 'upgrading', unless you're really trying to go all out, for all intents and purposes the stock carb is a regular Q-jet when it comes to WOT. However, it has the benefit of having great gas mileage and decent emmisions too. You can't beat the q-jet for it's mix of driveability and capacity to make power. you might make a little more power w/ a holley (on the order of a few) , but your driveability, gas mileage and emmisions will go to hell. Andthe edelcrock / carter carbs usually show less power onthe dyno thana q-jet or holley, but are easier to tune than a holley.

In short, keep the computer controlled carb and make it work for you. I used to get 26+ mpg in my 85 w/ a cammed 350 and all the stock computer stuff while running high 13s w/ a 3.08 one legger rear.

 

Yep, q-jets get bad raps sometimes, but are actually among the best carbs.

 

Hmm... I'm getting 10 mpg on my 305 and the carb lol... so if I decide to stay with the stock, cc. carb, is there any mods I can do to it? Like rejetting it or getting the shorter secondary arms (so they open up quicker?)

Also--do any companies make an upgrade to the cc carb? Meaning an aftermarket cc carb? Thanks so much guys.

 

There's a tech article on the board that describes how to tweak the CC q-jet.

The only company that made a CC q-jet was GM. None of the aftermarket companies bothered making a replacement. That means one of two things: 1) They couldn't do any better, or 2) There wasn't a market for such a product. Considering all the CC SBC's out there, one would tend towards explaination #1.

 

Well, holley ddid make a 'replacement' CC carb but it doesn't hold a candle to a q-jet.

As for 10mpg, something is definitely wrong. It's just a matter of figuring out what. But even an aftermarket carb can't do it's job if you don't tune it. A computer controlled carb needs less work than a standard carb because you'll never have to tweak the calibration for different seasons, weather or altitude. The computer automatically keeps it dialed. But if your sensors aren't good and adjutsed, it can't do it's job.

 

Ever seen one of these animals, or any data on it? Their existance is claimed every once in awhile, but nobody has ever produced any evidence (that I've seen).

Perhaps it's the "Big Foot" of carbs...

Or, it was used on a Ford...

 

No, i did see one once. Was a vacuum secondary spreadbore with some type of MCS assembly. Definitely sold as a direct replacement for q-jets, but rarer and pointless IMO