New carburetor on '67 Riviera A few months back I posted a thread inquiring whether I should have my Quadrajet rebuilt on my '67 Riviera, or buy a new carb from Edelbrock, or another manufacturer. I had the Quadrajet rebuilt but have been having trouble with it since I put it on the car. The most serious issue is the bowl gasket getting wet. The guy who rebuilt the carb for me has been working with Quadrajets for many years and came highly recommended. He says that its common to see some moisture on the bowl gasket, although I'm doubtful that's true. In this case, it gets really wet, sometimes I can wipe up gas from the side of the carb (front and throttle side). He's looked at it again, but can't find the cause. Between that and having choke problems and inconsistent performance, I decided to buy a new carb and be done with it. I know many guys advocate sticking with the quadrajet, but I'd like to hear what else I can do. I'm not putting another penny in this carburetor and I'm sceptical about another rebuilt quadrajet. I checked out an Edelbrock model #EDB 1406 (600 CFM with electric choke). With the Quadrajet adpater kit #EDB 2696 and the air cleaner #EDB 1002 , it sits at 7 1/2 inches, exactly the same height as my quadarjet and current air cleaner. So I would have hood clearance with that setup. The problem I'm seeing though is with the linkage. The 'S' shaped lever on the quadrajet where the throttle arm connects to the ball, and works the transmission control switch and dash pot would be a problem. I haven't found an adapter kit from Edelbrock for this application. Has anyone used an Edelbrock carb on the 430's original intake manifold? If so, what was the solution to this missing braket on the carbs stock linkage? Any other info on new carb setups anyone has installed on the 430 would be helpful also. Thanks, Danny Gallant '67 Riviera
A properly functioning Qjet is hard to beat. Send it to John Osborn Performance (jop@aol.com) and never look back. His setup will cost less than any new carb and you'll get a ton of good feedback here on JOP work.
Ken, A 600 CFM Edelbrock wouldn't even get your 430 to a clean idle. It just isn't enough carb! Whoever rebuilt your carb, whether he came "highly recommended" or not, most probably either didn't know what he was doing or just made a mistake. Sounds like your floats are too high. John Osborne is where you should go. Your Riv came with a Q-jet and will run awesome with one. The linkage is all setup for one and the fuel lines are designed to work with THAT Q-jet. Unless you want to start modifying things, just stay with the stock carb. John will return to you a PERFECT carb. Bolt it on and fahgeddaboudit!
Yardley - I beleive your post is better directed to Danny, not me. I have already talked to him in depth about why the 600CFM is a no- no and if he is going to use an edelbrock at least go with a 750cfm. I also showed him what he would have to do to make the edelbrock work on his 430. Not the simplest thing in the world but it is do-able.
Thanks guys, Yeah, Ken sent me some pics and an excellent description of the mods I'd have to make to use an Edelbrock. I'm not sure that there truely is something wrong with my Quadrajet after further digging. I think that the reason my bowl gasket is getting wet is that I don't have the proper base gasket to cover up the open heat risers on the intake manifold. A few months ago I had my carburetor rebuilt, but I couldn't adjust the mixture and idle speed. The adjustment screws just didn't do anything. After looking extensively for leaks with my usual mechanic, I ended up having a different guy look at it. I took the car to him because he had a Sun diagnostic machine and we thought he might find something we couldn't. He noticed that the heat riser ports in the intake manifold were going straight to the carb, so he put in wood pegs and sealed them with silicone. I wish he would have asked me before doing that. The carb ran better after he did that, but only up until recently. I took the silicone and wood pegs out today. I've been told that the base gasket to be used with this engine and carb is meant to deflect heat and keep the carb 'warm'. It seems that without the proper base gasket that the fuel can get overly hot in the bowl and actually bubble up. I can't seem to find out what the part number is for this gasket though. Someone recommended plugging the heat riser ports with freeze plugs, which would make sense also. So that's my current situation... So many knowledgeable folks here and on the ROA list have strongly recommended that I stick with my/a Quadrajet, that I'd really like to figure this out. Anyone know which base gasket I should use (or maybe a carb spacer)? If not, I'll try to find freeze plugs small enough to fit. Thanks, Danny '67 Riviera
Sorry Ken, I DID mean Danny... Do you have a shop manual? On early Rivs (I'm not sure if it is your year or not) there was a heat shield installed from the factory for this very reason. You could be missing that shield. Contact the ROA tech advisor for your 67 (I think it is Darwin Falk and he really knows his stuff!) and see what he says. If you need a shield I *MIGHT* have a line on one... But let me know asap! PM or email me! I might even have access to an original gasket (probably worthless now, you can see what it looks like...)
my 67 400, has a thin metal gasket that is used under a normal gasket, presumably to keep exhaust gasses from destroying a regular gasket.
Thanks guys, My '67 shop manual makes no mention of the tin plate gasket. However, I found out which is the recommended gasket (FelPro has the 60001). If I use that gasket, the carb runs terribly rough and I can't adjust it. The tin plate plugs 'most' of the heat risers and the carb runs well with it and a standard Quadrajet gasket. I have a plate from from Napa (G12270). This is really thin, metal gasket like you said Joe. I think the carb still needs to be in the hands of a pro rebuilder though. Even with the above setup, it runs well, but the bowl gasket still leaks...even after the guy who rebuilt it lowered the float a hair and replaced the gasket. Danny
just to be clear, are you talking about the gasket between the airhorn and the bowl, or the bowl and the throttle body. the thin upper gasket, or the thicker lower gasket.
after changing the jets a few times, my gasket was starting to get eaten up right where the front mounting bolt passes through, probably from overtightening ou: . i needed a quick fix because i was going to the track and the carb was leaking so i sprayed some of that red gasket sealant on both sides of the gasket, let it tack up and put it back on the carb. it solved the problem for me. as a side note, the top surface of the bowl has little ridges in it that need to compress the gasket for it to seal. heck, im sure you checked, but maybe you have the wrong gasket or maybe its on backwards.
Thanks for the info Joe! That could very well be the case for my carb too. I'll take the airhorn off again and put in a new gasket - with some of that red spray gasket sealant. Is that a Permatex product?
Carb Heat Shield Source If anyone's still interested, Classicbuicks.com has them, $13.00 for the shield and gasket in a kit: Classic Buicks Heat Shield Kit Just bought one myself...
