How deep a hole am I digging myself into?

GPster · December 25, 2006, 11:59:12 AM

OK I've gotten this carb from Ebay that is evidently a Computer controlled quadrajet. Trying to get some information about this I seem to find out that they were common after '81 and what information I've gotten here is that it won't work like a normal carb. My next Ebay purchase was a mechanical fuel pump for an '85 4.3 liter V6. What are the chances of this thing being more powerful than the needle and seat of a regular quadrajet (before '80?) can handle? The library is closed for the holidays and all I have been able to find on the WEB is where to order a book and how much it will cost. Maybe if I look at Enjenjo's picture backward I can figure out how to make an adapter to change a quadrajet manifold to a 2 barrel. GPster

Dave · December 25, 2006, 12:47:15 PM

Joe that mechanical pump should be ok. I think you can buy an adapter to go from a q-jet to a 2 barrel. I made one years ago and i alos bought some too.
Dave

Here ya go .. Speedway motors 19 bucks well 19.95

model a vette · December 25, 2006, 04:41:45 PM

GPster-
The only block mounted fuel pumps for the 4.3s were for the electrically controlled QJets (like the one you have) or the QJets with the undrilled secondaries (actually a 2bbl). As jusjunk wrote those pumps will work just fine. I'm using one from an AstroVan because it has a return line to the fuel tank to avoid vapor lock.
You could also use pumps designed for the earlier 200 and 229 (chevy 3.

engines
AC (and BorgWarner)#s:
#41386 was used on cars & trucks 79-84 and the lines point up with no return.
#42325, #42497 were used on 1985 trucks, #42640 on 1986 trucks and have the return line and hose line pointed toward the frame rail and the pressure (carb) fitting pointed up.
#42331 has the return line and all the fittings point toward the frame rail. It is a long can pump which sticks up 1 1/2" to 2" higher than the other pumps. It MAY be a higher output pump because it is also listed for big block trucks 1986-90.
It looks like new pumps retail for about $40. Are you getting a better deal on EBAY?

GPster · December 25, 2006, 05:54:30 PM

Quote from: "model a vette"#42331 has the return line and all the fittings point toward the frame rail. It is a long can pump which sticks up 1 1/2" to 2" higher than the other pumps. It MAY be a higher output pump because it is also listed for big block trucks 1986-90.
It looks like new pumps retail for about $40. Are you getting a better deal on EBAY?

I mostly have been going after parts by application as listed on Ebay because I am lost and I'm trying to get by cheap because I have no idea whether this thing will run or not. I couldn't come up with any donor vehicles around here so I did the best I could from suggestions. To did away with the adapter plates I made to move the motor mounts (which got in the way of the fuel pump). I cut the frame mounts off to install the V8 and repositioned everything so that the V6 looked like the intended design (after I install a flat firewall). The 42331 pump cost me $9.95 plus $8.50 shipping which doesn't sound like a bad deal unless it is not useable, I could have returned a $40.00 pump. Got any hints about the computer controlled carbs? Could one be used as a 2 barrel without the electronics and removing all the secondary linkage? The hint was dropped that It would be rich and would not have a power valve. My ability to follow any book learning is shot and by the time I write a book I forget what I'm asking. Both of the items I bought I was the only bidder. Maybe that should have told me something. GPster

tomslik · December 26, 2006, 06:21:16 AM

ok, lemme es-plane.....the puter carb is gonna run pig rich all the time. the secondaries are not affected, this is all in the primaries.as i said before, throw puter carb away. start over....
that being said, it WILL run with that carb, but you won't be able to afford to drive it with that carb....

GPster · December 26, 2006, 07:52:07 AM

Quote from: "tomslik"ok, lemme es-plane.....the puter carb is gonna run pig rich all the time. the secondaries are not affected, this is all in the primaries.as i said before, throw puter carb away. start over....
that being said, it WILL run with that carb, but you won't be able to afford to drive it with that carb....

Thank you for the clarification. My original question was to try an get the engine to run. That carb was not solely intended to be the forever carb but that money was originally spent to keep me from rying to get it running on that flood victim of a quadrajet that I have for the 350 (which has been soaking in gasoline for 2 weeks so that I can get it apart). Without me turning this into another book. Thanks again! GPster

tomslik · December 26, 2006, 08:30:24 AM

seems to me there;s something that'll clean up that white crap that's gonna be in the inside of that flood carb, some kinda stuff like tilex or something.
maybe somebody else can remember for sure>

GPster · December 26, 2006, 09:09:44 AM

Quote from: "tomslik"seems to me there;s something that'll clean up that white crap that's gonna be in the inside of that flood carb, some kinda stuff like tilex or something.
maybe somebody else can remember for sure>

This is mostly Ohio River mud. GPster

Crosley.In.AZ · December 26, 2006, 09:12:51 AM

Quote from: "GPster"
Quote from: "tomslik"seems to me there;s something that'll clean up that white crap that's gonna be in the inside of that flood carb, some kinda stuff like tilex or something.
maybe somebody else can remember for sure>
This is mostly Ohio River mud. GPster

That CLR stuff can clean up some scum purty well. Sometimes you can not clean out the small passages when clogged with the corrosion..