1970 Rocket 350 - Which carb ???

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old October 22nd, 2009, 06:05 PM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Aceshigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 2,200
1970 Rocket 350 - Which carb ???

Guys,

Got my 1970 Olds Rocket 350 with a Holley 1850 (600cfm) sitting on top of it.
BTW - the Vacuum secondary I circled I already found out what that was. LOL
I'm not a carb guy......I'm not very savvy with these.
DSC018381024x768-2.jpg

Now I'm at a point where I am going to add an electric choke to it, to
resolves some of the cold starting issues I have with it. BUT.......

I have an option to get a Holley 3310 carb (750cfm) for $100 in new condition.

Now here's my question......
According the mathematical equations for carb selection , RPM, and volumetric efficiency I really only need a 600cfm.

But some people are telling me I should get the 750 because it's a better carb.
Thoughts ???
Aceshigh is offline  
Old October 22nd, 2009, 07:06 PM
  #2  
Registered User
 
svnt442's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Palm Bay, FL
Posts: 4,249
If the car is running good don't mess with it!!!!
There is no need to swap carbs just because someone says this one's better than that one. Personally I think you should find a good quadrajet and put it back on there, but that just my opinion and you know how that goes.
svnt442 is offline  
Old October 22nd, 2009, 07:53 PM
  #3  
78cutlass
 
78cutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 134
find a #7040250 Q-jet core, and send it out to Greg/Bill, of Sparky's Carb Svc, and they'll have that SBO 350 burning rubber! Check out Sparky's website...

Last edited by 78cutlass; October 23rd, 2009 at 02:45 PM.
78cutlass is offline  
Old October 23rd, 2009, 03:26 AM
  #4  
Registered User
 
70 cutlass s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: KY
Posts: 1,489
A 600cfm is big enough for a 350 its good up to 300hp plus some. The 750cfm would be nice for a stock 455. I would stay with the Holley I like them better than Q-jet but that's just me. If its running fine leave it on. Just add the choke.
70 cutlass s is offline  
Old October 23rd, 2009, 11:27 AM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Aceshigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 2,200
Well that's the problem.....the carb runs fine once the car is warmed up.

But getting it started is a real pain in the ***.
I have to pump the pedal 1-5 times while cranking several times if the
car has been sitting over a day. If it's been a few hours, it's okay.
After finally getting it started from a cold start, I have to hold the pedal to roughly 2,000 rpms
or it will instantly die. I have no choke at the moment. I read below in that hot rod article that
the idle circuit in the 1850 is kinda weak too......even adjusting it, I got nowhere.

So I've been looking at electric chokes for this 1850 which is the 45-223 from Holley.
THey sold that 750cfm yesterday apparently......kinda sucks, but the idle circuit in this 600cfm is weak.
They said if I'm having trouble with the idle circuit not being enough.....go 3310.

That's per this Hot Rod article anyways.
http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/6...ons/index.html

Last edited by Aceshigh; October 23rd, 2009 at 11:50 AM.
Aceshigh is offline  
Old October 23rd, 2009, 01:22 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
junior supercar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: suburbs of Chicago
Posts: 1,620
I'll go x3 on the 7040250 qjet
junior supercar is offline  
Old October 23rd, 2009, 02:24 PM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Aceshigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 2,200
Originally Posted by 78cutlass
find a #7040250 Q-jet core, and send it out to Greg/Bill, of Sparky's Carb Svc, and he'll have that SBO 350 burning rubber! Check out Sparky's website...
Cost to gain considerations here.....
I found that this Rochestor Qjet is the stock carb on this motor, but what is the REAL benefit ??

What am I looking at in terms of investment VS gains in improvements??
My carb actually does run good once it's started. REAL good actually.

If I'm investing $250 or more to do this, it's not worth it to me.

Last edited by Aceshigh; October 23rd, 2009 at 02:27 PM.
Aceshigh is offline  
Old October 23rd, 2009, 03:05 PM
  #8  
78cutlass
 
78cutlass's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 134
There's nothing like a fine tuned Q-jet. In my case, I tasked Sparky's with rebuilding a '70 Olds 350 Q-jet core (#7040250). Sparky's shoehorned a late model Q-jet's 2004R linkage to it, since I have a 4-speed OD transmission. Like that, the TV cable will have the correct geometry.

The carb was custom tailored to my engine too. It started out as a crusty core purchased on Ebay for $58.00. I got a stunning carb back from Sparky's that performs like a fine tuned VIOLIN :-D. Sparky's does topknotch work! Here's pics of the carb:



Carb4.jpg

Carb5.jpg

Carb2.jpg

Carb.jpg

Carb10.jpg

Carb11.jpg

Carb12.jpg

Carb13.jpg

Carb6.jpg

Carb9.jpg

Last edited by 78cutlass; October 24th, 2009 at 11:35 AM.
78cutlass is offline  
Old October 24th, 2009, 03:34 AM
  #9  
Registered User
 
70 cutlass s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: KY
Posts: 1,489
When a Q-jet runs good there hard to beat. When they start having problems when a rebuild won't fix because all the parts are worn out than you just want to beat them with a hammer. Know a complete rebuild would be worth it, but you already have the Holley it might be easier to fix the Holley so the choice is yours. I ran a 600 Holley on a 350 had no problems pump it 2 times than hit the key start right up. The 750 would have to be pumped when you first start it too.
70 cutlass s is offline  
Old October 24th, 2009, 10:56 AM
  #10  
Old(s) Fart
 
joe_padavano's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,301
Originally Posted by Aceshigh
Well that's the problem.....the carb runs fine once the car is warmed up.

But getting it started is a real pain in the ***.
I have to pump the pedal 1-5 times while cranking several times if the
car has been sitting over a day. If it's been a few hours, it's okay.
After finally getting it started from a cold start, I have to hold the pedal to roughly 2,000 rpms
or it will instantly die. I have no choke at the moment. I read below in that hot rod article that
the idle circuit in the 1850 is kinda weak too......even adjusting it, I got nowhere.

So I've been looking at electric chokes for this 1850 which is the 45-223 from Holley.
THey sold that 750cfm yesterday apparently......kinda sucks, but the idle circuit in this 600cfm is weak.
They said if I'm having trouble with the idle circuit not being enough.....go 3310.
Your starting problem is your non-functional choke, pure and simple. The electric choke kit, once adjusted properly, will solve that problem.
joe_padavano is online now  
Old October 25th, 2009, 10:06 AM
  #11  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
Aceshigh's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: USA
Posts: 2,200
Thanks Joe, that's basically what I was trying to find out in the end.
I wasn't sure if the Holley 1850 was too weak or not in the idle circuit or if an electric choke would resolve my issue.

I closed the choke completely by hand and tried starting it.....but it didn't fare so well.

Originally Posted by 78cutlass
There's nothing like a fine tuned Q-jet. In my case, I tasked Sparky's with rebuilding a '70 Olds 350 Q-jet core (#7040250). Sparky's shoehorned a late model Q-jet's 2004R linkage to it, since I have a 4-speed OD transmission. Like that, the TV cable will have the correct geometry.

The carb was custom tailored to my engine too. It started out as a crusty core purchased on Ebay for $58.00. I got a stunning carb back from Sparky's that performs like a fine tuned VIOLIN :-D. Sparky's does topknotch work! Here's pics of the carb:
Looks absolutely stunning....but what did it cost $$$ ??

That's my main concern. Cost.....and MPG.
I'm assuming I'm not going to see much of a difference in MPG.
You all might scoff at the MPG bit.....but I HATE paying the arabs for fuel.
So I'll invest thousands to get better fuel efficiency as I did in my 2nd gen Camaro with the LS1 / 4L60e.
I'm not a purist......so Fuel Injection is a consideration for me if the Q-jet from Sparky's costs a chunk.

Holding back the cost , makes me think this was a good chunk to invest in.
I can't deny it's absolutely stunning to look at for a show car engine bay.

Now I see you have a 200-4R and a Qjet......so what kind of city / highway MPG #'s do you throw down realistically ??
I know a guy with a 78 Camaro with a Q-jet and T-56 six speed and he gets pretty damn good #'s on the hwy, IIRC 14 city/25hwy.

Last edited by Aceshigh; October 25th, 2009 at 10:14 AM.
Aceshigh is offline  
Old October 25th, 2009, 02:29 PM
  #12  
Old(s) Fart
 
joe_padavano's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,301
Originally Posted by Aceshigh
I wasn't sure if the Holley 1850 was too weak or not in the idle circuit or if an electric choke would resolve my issue.

I closed the choke completely by hand and tried starting it.....but it didn't fare so well.
Yeah, depending on the air and coolant temp, it usually wants to be partly, but not fully, open. The automatic (electric or hot air) will adjust accordingly.
joe_padavano is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
JPMDaddy
Small Blocks
28
January 14th, 2019 08:41 PM
rustycragars
Transmission
3
December 25th, 2016 06:06 PM
Aceshigh
Transmission
3
January 13th, 2010 04:40 PM
thomaswatk
Cutlass
2
March 22nd, 2007 01:31 PM



Quick Reply: 1970 Rocket 350 - Which carb ???



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:58 PM.