Questions for Quadrajet Users

[Oldsmoletick]

In a nut shell, I'm sick of my carter carb, I really don't like it, I'm sick of having to rebuild my carb every couple of years. I aquired a Quadrajet worthy of rebuilding, bought the book by Cliff Ruggles, and now ready to tear in, almost. I was wondering if anyone has used the rebuild kits from Napa, or Advance lately. If so, any problems with the ethyl enriched gas eating or ruining the seals? Or should I just put up the bucks and buy a good kit from a Quadrajet specialist?
Thanks.

 

[azmalibuwagon]

I don't know about the quality of the other kits, but I'm too poor to take a chance with my carb parts. So I bought several parts online from Cliff Ruggles last month, and can recommend going that way, especially for a first-timer like me.

Not only are the parts obviously high-quality, Cliff called me before shipping to confirm the carburetor number, to make sure he didn't ship the wrong parts. To me, it's worth a few extra bucks for that kind of service.

For a whole rebuild kit, you can call him and put together exactly what you want, along with some free advice from the man himself. Don't know what that's worth, but it's got some value.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Thanks for the input, I'm always leary on ordering parts from the internet, good to hear positive notes on his business.

 

[krazykyle]

spend the extra bucks on your quad,they are a great carb.i see guys that use quad jets on there cars and they are yanking the wheels right off the ground.i have an older quad on my 77 olds and couldn't be more happier.

 

[DRIVEN]

I haven't had any problems with failure yet. My state is notorious for having poor gas, if that says anything about the quality of kits. I think you'll like the Quadrajet compared to the Carter. The only 2 problems I have run into is worn throttle shafts and leaking plugs at the bottom of the bowl and the front by the inlet. New bushings and epoxy cures those issues.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/JET-201102/

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Thanks, I used to have a quad on my old Olds and yes I loved how it ran, but it never made it onto the new engine, and now I can't find it, lol.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Once you get into the Q-jet you'll wonder why you didn't sooner. The hardest part is getting the metering rods back into the jets since you can't see what you are doing. Other than that it's pretty easy. I use brass floats because I hated the nitrofil ones which absorb gas over time and you never know if it's good or not. Brass either floats or sinks and can be repaired. Jiffy kits have allways worked well for me but they are like $50 now. In fact, I rarely need a kit, I just buy the air horn gasket in bulk, that's the only thing that tears after repeated cleanings.

 

[Oldsmoletick]

Thanks Bonnewagon, good tip to know (brass vs nitrofil).

 

[Phoenyx]

I rebuilt mine (for the first time) with a Napa kit. Had no problems and still runs fine over a year later.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Yeah, Oldsmoletic, the float does NOT come in a standard rebuild kit so you might as well get the good brass one. Maybe the Carb Shop and other specialty vendors include it but a parts store kit won't. When you have a flooding/not flooding condition on and off driving you crazy- that's the stinking plastic float acting up.