I am trying to run computerless in my 85 Z28, I have an older Q-jet installed on an edelbrock performer intake. My problem is where do i find a distributor to match and where do i hook the vacuum lines up to? Thnx.

 

BTW, is there anything else that needs to be done to run computerless? ...besides kissing my smog cert. goodbye.

 

find a non computer controlled HEI off an older chevy, hook the vacum advance to a vacum port on the carb, I can not be more specific because I have a holley, I'm not sure where it is on a q-jet. My car has a crate motor and all the wires coming off the computer are just cut in the fender well. Accell, proform and others make hei's that will work, and its super easy to hook up. pro form's is cheap and reliable. Good luck

 

cool, thnx man, and speaking of vacuum lines: if i remove all the spaghetti off my carb with the exception of the distributor, is it going to run really crappy or what?

 

Yes, it will run bad,, trace all the vacum lines if they go to something emissions related block both ends off, never leave an open vacum lin on your carb ( vacum leaks are bad. Remove the stock stuff you dont need, air pump ect.. any line that your unsure of, leave alone, eventually as your mods progress you should be able to get rid of them all,, the only vacum lines I have are to the power brake booster ( which comes off the manifold anway) and the distributor. You open the hood and there is actually an engine there, like in the 60's muscle cars, not a mess like the other cars of the 80's smog enduced crap

About my car
1982 z-28
Goodwrench 350, 350 horsepower crate motor
holley 750 cfm carb ( not a double pumper)
Edelbrock performer rpm manifold
flowtech headers, true dual exhaust with flowmaster 40 series
pro form HEI
700 r-4 out of an 87 vette
rear wing of an 87 Iroc
86 iroc front end ( nose, fenders)
Many more little things

 

Oh Crap!! Thats my major problem then. All the ports on the carb are capped off with sections of hose with a bolt in them(besides the brake booster). All the equipment that the lines go to was removed before i bought the car at the auction. Well, ya get what you pay for i guess ($300). What do you recommend?

(I know im an idiot when it comes to cars, but the more i ask and the more i do helps, thnx for the patience.)

 

If money is a problem:
get rid of the lines with bolts and get some nice rubber caps for the ports

Look at someone elses motor that has a q jet whichever line they have that goes to the distributor, use that one

if there is emmisions stuff on there remove what you can ( if it looks like it is not doing anything) if your unsure leave it just in case

If money is not a problem
Get a new carb meant for a non emissions engine


Dont worry about questions, I know a lot more now then I did 5 years ago, for one reason, I asked questions and learned what I could...... If you can,,, post a pic of your engine that would help a lot so people know what you have and dont have as far as emmisions and computer controlled stuff.......

 

New carb it is Sounds like a trip to pepboys to get a 750 edelbrock. Ill see if i can borrow a digital camera from someone and get a pic asap for any further Qs. Thans alot man:hail:

 

You'll be happier with a 600cfm, especially if you have a 305.
The 600 will have better tunability, and manners with a -street- 305 or 350.

Bigger is not always better, remember that.


Ron

 

Tunability is always good. I have 2 Qs: What does the factory Q-jet pump out? How does the edelbrock intake and the mysterious cam work come into play with the choice of carb?

(these should probably be in the Carb section, sorry)

 

I had similar problems as you. I ditched the Q-jet for a 600 Holley (like 199 at advanced, well worth it). The holley is very easy to tune and adjust. Your car should run fine if all vaccume lines are caped, except you will need one to run to the distributor and to your brake booster. You may also want the line that runs to the interior for the climate control. If you have an EGR valve, you might as well run a line to that as well.
Also, it is often overlooked, make sure the carb gasket is sealing (I had a stripped bolt holding my carb down, inducing a leak and it drove me crazy trying to find the leak).

You should have no problem finding an early HEI distributor at a junk yard. I'm not sure which year they ditched the vacume advance, but i'm sure someone here knows.

 

Thats funny, i just snapped a bolt at the surface of the intake today. Time to go buy a torque wrench or something. Anyway, im headed to Ecology pick a part tomorrow to get the distributor. Im thinking about getting a performance coil for it as well (45,000v) like it says in the tech article (HEI for performance). I need to replace wires and plugs anyway. My friend has a Edelbrock 650 chilln' in his garage. Ill try that out and see what happens. If it explodes ill post pics of the aftermath for every one to laugh at j/k

 

Thats not good enough, we want pictures WHILE its exploding

 

LMAO, I shall do my best! im all excited now, muchos garcias.