Intake question...

I have the Quadrajet carb off my '78 L82 being rebuilt. I'm considering replacing the intake with an Edelbrock Performer when I get the carb back. I can do away with the EGR equipment and clean up the engine's appearance doing this (the AIR smog pump was long gone when I bought the car), as well as eliminate potential vacuum links.

My question is does anyone have this combination or similar, and how does it run, is it worth it, etc? What about a comparable intake by a different manufacturer. I'm familiar with the Edelbrock plus I know it will fit under the stock hood without clearance problems.

My catalytic converter is long gone and a true dual exhaust system installed. This alone made a big difference in performance. I'm hoping changing intakes may help as well, though I've been told the factory intake is pretty good as is.

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Gunslinger
Frederick, MD

I have a 72 350 that I added a performer manifold and a 600 edelbrock, along with a comp cams xe262h-10 and headers with flowmasters. It was not all I hoped for, and I changed to a Holley 1850-2 600cfm. There was a great deal of difference with this carb over the Edelbrock, although I lost mileage with it. (about 2 mpg). I think that the addition of a cam and headers will enhance the manifold change.

I got rid of my as well.

hi guys, mind if I ask a question in the same vein?
I have a 79 L82 auto. pretty much stock except for a 3.73 rear end. I'm looking to increase hp and torque and trying to figure out which direction I want to go. Replacing heads and intake pretty much a given. Undecided on the carb. The car runs well with the original Qjet. Heard and read that they are good carbs so why change? Those of you who have replaced with Holleys and Eldelbrock, why did you? Is it just a personal preference or is there some advantage?
Thanks for any help you can send my way.
Hank

Hank, this is just my opinion, and I don't speak for anyone else, but the Q-Jet is a good carb. My personal opinion is that most people who knock the Q-Jet either are going on word of mouth that was passed on from a friend or friend of a friend, or they had a bad experience with a Q-Jet that "Gomer" or another "backyard hotrodder" tried to tweak.
Theres nothing wrong with doing your own work, but the problem lies when people who don't fully understand the task they undertake, and then blame the parts for any troubles the end up with. The Q-Jet on my '76 works fine. The Q-Jet on my fathers '81(?) Chevy 3/4 ton pickup runs terrible. Reason? My father "politicaly correct" assesment, the "Hill-billys" who tried tuning it before he got it.
My '79 Z-28 ran so well with the stock Q-Jet, mild cam, full duals w/headers, that I purchased a Holley Street Dominator intake, Edelbrock Performer 600 carb, and Crane Fireball cam and never installed them. The car ran well enough that I just never got around to it. I gave them to the new owner, still in the boxes.
I have personally heard pleny of complaints about Holley's, power valves, constant tuning, etc... If you are happy with the way it runs, leave it be. If You can't get the performance you want, replace it.

Any carb can be as good as another as long as it is setup correctly. I bought my Holley after having a couple of beers, not to sure I would have done it sobber, because I had rebuilt the Q-jet more than once and I still wasn't happy.

Had my leaky, seeping gas Q-Jet rebuilt and two months later is became my leaky, seeping gas Q-Jet again. Put a direct replacement Holley with electric choke from Mid America on it rather than try fixing it again. Best move I could have made...my Vette runs better than ever now.

I have tried Holley, Edelbrock, and Q-jet. I think that all of them are good carb's. The Holley is perhaps more performance oriented , and easy to tune, while the Edelbrock is more of a no hassle bolt it on and go unit. You better know what you're doing with the Q-jet, but done right it will give good performance, and is very reliable.
With any of them, the better you improve your engine, the better they will perform. Matching the parts ( cam, intake, heads, and exhaust) will let the components compliment each other. It's all a package.

have a 78 to with performer and 600 edel carb and a mild cam car gets crazy when you hit the pedal.even without the NOS

Guys, thanks for your input. I think I'll keep the Q-jet and see how performs after mods.
This backyard mechanic is sorely inadequate and way in over his head. Anybody know of a good and trustworthy mechanic in the Cleveland area that I could take my "hobby" to? Looked in the mechanics listing but didn't see anybody close than Erie.