Thread: Ahhh the Quadrajet

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The Q-jet was the one of the only (maybe the only) domestic carb to survive well into the EFI era. A well tuned one will give mileage and throttle response that is close to EFI. They get a lot of hate, but are probably the best pure street 4 barrel that you can run.

I think the hate comes from folks not understanding them. They are definitely more of a pain to tune than a Holley or Carter, but how often do you tune a street carb on a cruiser? Other than an occasional idle tweak or slight adjustment on the mixture screws (basic tune up stuff), I haven't done anything to the Q-jet in my 46.

Took me about a week to well tune the one on the basically stock 350 in that car. On the Power Tour we were knocking down 17-18 MPG on some legs without overdrive. We did have the 2.75 highway chunk in the 9". Not bad for a car that weighed well over 4000 lbs loaded and is as aerodynamic as a brick with rounded corners! The only problem I've had with it is the well plugs are definitely leaking a little now. Not a big deal since I have an electric pump and can prime it after it sits.

I have a bunch of old ones in a box, but I think I only have one or two really good cores left. I'll most likely go EFI the next time around in the 46 mostly due to the ethanol crap gas, but if not for that, I would go with another Q-jet.