Rochester M4ME on 305?

[Looter]

Thinking about upgrading the carb on my 1978 305 from the stock Rochester 2GC to an M4ME off an ‘86 C10 that’s in my local yard, with the intake it’d be about $70

Is the power difference worth the work and money?

Also is the stock intake on a 2BBL 305 the same as a 4BBL sbc (yes they’re both first gen sbcs)

 

[fleming442]

Hehehehe. I remember doing this on my 1st car (78 Caprice, 305) when I was 16. Of course, back then I didn't know what I know today. Performance wise, I think it slowed down, but it sure sounded cool when the secondaries opened! Don't forget to flip the air cleaner lid, so it sucks in all that hot air, too.

 

[foxtrot]

If the MAME is from the car at the yard, how do you know what condition its in? I would have it rebuilt first. While your at it, upgrade the cam. With the MAME upgrade & the cam, you will feel some gains.

 

[pontiacgp]

if you drive the car with only the mains open with the 4 barrel you will lose performance but gain fuel economy. You'll gain performance when opening the secondaries. If you are buying a quadrajet and intake for $70 the quadrajet is basically a core that needs a rebuild unless you are extremely lucky.

 

[Bonnewagon]

Been there, done that, got a "T" shirt that says "IDIOT", I wasted a ton of time and money on a 1980 Firebird 301 and in the end the 2 barrel worked better. There is a reason it came with a 2 barrel carb. If it has dead gears in the rear, single exhaust, small cam, and is a heavy car with a small low performance motor then that is all it needs. To get a 4 barrel to work right you must up grade everything else to compliment it. A change of rear gears will actually wake the car up better than a carb change.

 

[Michael Watts]

I would run an 1979 or earlier Q jet if you are going to run one . Or around a 600 CFM carb. Then have it tuned

 

[pontiacgp]

If your 2 barrel is working good I'd stay with it. You get off the line quicker with a 2 barrel and the 2 barrel will nevder run out of fuel no matter what revs you're at. We ran a 500 Holley on our GM crate 604 in our sportsman car and it never ran out of fuel and was still pulling all the way to the rev limiter set at 6300.