Thread: Gas Milage Fix on my Chevy 350 and cold stall issue

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Originally Posted by Zombiebrew

I CAN'T FIND THE DATE STAMP ON THE ENGINE!!!! The block number is 3970010 so it's 69-79. But i have no idea what year the block is. I know it's got the smaller spark plugs "peanut plugs" so that means it must be post 1970? Doesn't really narrow it down.

I always get a chuckle out of you guys who assume that everything has been kept together through decades of trading, buying and selling. The only way you can know that every part started life together at the factory is to buy directly from the factory and never let the motor out of your sight. The peanut plug heads may or may not be original to the block. Take everything you have as a free-standing part on its own and you will be better off.

And I don't understand the obsession with knowing what year the block was manufactured. What difference does it make? If the block hasn't been decked, the suffix may still be visible on the passenger side block deck just in front of where the head would end. Sometimes it is hidden behind an alternator or other add-on.

Originally Posted by Zombiebrew

Also while i'm at it the engines been acting a bit wierd. When i cold start it i need to keep my foot on the gas and feed it up to 800-1000 rmps for a min or two or else it stalls........anybody have any ideas? I just put new plugs in (did it myslef! AC Delco)

I would purchase a rebuilt Quadrajet from Summit or Jegs, complete with warranty. At the top of my list for buying or having a Quadrajet rebuilt would be Cliff Ruggles, but I understand he has a one year waiting list.
Cliffs High Performance Quadrajets :: Qjet Carburetor Rebuild Kits, Parts, Quadrajet Rebuilding, Quadrajet Parts, Bushing Kits, Carb Tuning

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These are my opinions.
1 I don't like Edelbrock's. They are updated Carter AFB's and a PITA to work on.
2 I don't know anything about Demon's except I see they are now made by Holley.
3 A properly rebuilt Quadrajet is the best carb for the money.
4 A Holley 600 with vacuum secondary and electric choke would be my preference over
everything except the Quadrajet. With a Holley kit you can fine tune the secondary.
5 It's best to run a spacer if you use a Holley on a spread bore manifold.
6 Double pumper's and automatic transmission don't play well together unless it's race
vehicle that only sees wide open throttle.
7 I would use an electric choke as the advantages greatly out weigh the disadvantages

Wow thanks for the info! That's a huge help. I was interested in the block year because i assume that buying and fitting parts will be a lot easier with a year? Perhaps it's my ignorance. I'm going through the process of collecting cereal numbers and cataloging all the parts off this beautiful frankenstien.

NTFDAY: Thank you for all the help. So you say electric choke rules? Why is it so good? I am trying to figure out how all these parts work with each other.

2 Thoughts, and just my opinions. On the street with an automatic, Holley with vacuum secondaries works best. 600 is my preference but if the motor has the cubes, then 650 cfm. Hotter cam?, Headers? Ignition upgrades? Alloy Heads? then 700 or 750. Manual Trans? the same applies but double pump and/or mechanical secondaries.

Electric choke is easy to setup and the results are repeatable. Again, these are my preferences and opinions, we all know what that means right? LOL.

Originally Posted by Zombiebrew

Wow thanks for the info! That's a huge help. I was interested in the block year because i assume that buying and fitting parts will be a lot easier with a year? Perhaps it's my ignorance. I'm going through the process of collecting cereal numbers and cataloging all the parts off this beautiful frankenstien.

NTFDAY: Thank you for all the help. So you say electric choke rules? Why is it so good? I am trying to figure out how all these parts work with each other.

An electric choke does not require a heated coil in the intake manifold which makes it more efficient. They are just as adjustable and no they don't last forever. They require two wires, a ground and a hot wire from the ignition switch.

I suggest calling a QJet expert such as Shaun Murphy (google his name) and he can rebuild yours. We have had him do 3 different ones for us and they all were perfect out of the box. Do the fuel pressure measurement like Tech says.

Did your buddy check the timing?

This sounds like a few basic tune up items will do wonders.