Anyone swap from Edelbrock to Q-Jet, or maybe the other way around, for direct experience with both... Pat Kelley is apparently planning it, I'm thinking seriously about it, has anyone already done it?

I'm fighting for performance and economy on my daily driven 383. Right now with the #1406 600CFM Edelbrock, I'm getting 14-15MPG. And I have this old Q-Jet off of a '72 Blazer in the garage, that just needs a freshening...

Will it be an improvement, or a mistake?
Performance comparison between the two?
Gas mileage between the two?
What do I have to watch out for on the way -- linkages, adapters, cable hookups, choke...
I suppose I need an adapter to fit my square bore Performer RPM Vortec manifold -- will hood clearance be an issue with my 14x3" air cleaner?

Cheers,
mark.
'71 Fodor
383 "Smokey"

As far as I can see, the choke is the biggest issue. Most have a divorced choke which attaches to the manifold in a couple different ways. I don't know about the Vortec RPM but the regular RPM does not have provisions for this. The Performer does have a mounting place for the stove. There is no way to convert to an electric with these carbs (the carb body is totally different). I have been checking into this and the 78-85 Q-jets can be had with electric chokes. A local carb exchange has them in a universal calibration.

Man, I'd just about give my right arm for 14-15 MPG http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif.

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Pat Kelley
66 El Camino, daily driver
67 El Camino, STRIP/street (7.392, 92.70, 1.63 60', 1/8 mile) 355 powered
Pat's Page (Dynamic Compression Ratio Calculator, car specs, Spark plug reading info) (http://cochise.uia.net/pkelley2/)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by hd99fxst:

I'm fighting for performance and economy on my daily driven 383. Right now with the #1406 600CFM Edelbrock, I'm getting 14-15MPG. And I have this old Q-Jet off of a '72 Blazer in the garage, that just needs a freshening...

Will it be an improvement, or a mistake?
Performance comparison between the two?
Gas mileage between the two?
What do I have to watch out for on the way -- linkages, adapters, cable hookups, choke...

Cheers,
mark.
'71 Fodor
383 "Smokey"<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

In the long run, you will probably be better off with the Quadrajet. When you first bolt it on you may get better or worse mileage with the QJ. Either way, the mileage potential for the Qj is better than it is for the Edelbrock. You might just need to do some tuning.

Since you are putting a 72 QJ on a 71 Chevelle, it should bolt right up. The divorced choke should be the same. Don't know too much about the 72 QJ, but I know that the late sixties QJ's give great mileage. In fact, my 1969 QJ with stock rods/jets delivered great performance and better fuel economy than 4 stock post-1971 Qj's that I compared it to.

Mike



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BDE 327:
Bored .030", balanced, TRW 9.35:1 pistons, Crane Energizer cam .454" 216 @ .050", Trick Flow heads, Edelbrock Performer, Quadrajet.
Home page: http://home.peoplepc.com/ppages/viewpage.asp?MemberName=mbey
327 photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/unclepennybags_2/lst?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/

Street car, Q jet is almost always a better choice. Like has been said the choke can be a problem depending on the year.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Pat Kelley:
I have been checking into this and the 78-85 Q-jets can be had with electric chokes. A local carb exchange has them in a universal calibration.

Man, I'd just about give my right arm for 14-15 MPG http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Pat,
I've found that there are a lot of little things that you can do to just about any QJ to really help it shine performance-wise. I'm really a big fan of 800 cfm BOP units.

16 mpg around town should be no trouble. Of course, around town daily driving is a totally different ballgame than a steady state long highway cruise. For that you should be able to get 20.

Mike



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BDE 327:
Bored .030", balanced, TRW 9.35:1 pistons, Crane Energizer cam .454" 216 @ .050", Trick Flow heads, Edelbrock Performer, Quadrajet.
Home page: http://home.peoplepc.com/ppages/viewpage.asp?MemberName=mbey
327 photos: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/unclepennybags_2/lst?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/