I have a 1970 442 with a 455 auto. Need help deciding which carb to replace Q-jet. I have a fairly recent rebuild on a Q-jet but it seeps fuel from the top. Don't want to take the time to flatten the airhorn so just going to replace with Edelbrock performer or AVS2 series. I also plan to replace the intake at some point, maybe do the edelbrock top end kit with the new heads.

I have ram air with OAI. Will this work with the Airgap intake.

All input is greatly appreciated.

 

Your going from a spreadbore to a squarebore carb in which the intake manifold will not accept without an adapter.

 

Air gap won’t fit, wrong intake for your combo anyway.
The regular Performer should work with base mods. Whatever carb you go with buy a wideband O2 and tune it right.

 

Thanks for pointing out. can't get either manifold edelbrock offers till december but would like to replace carb now so will need to get adapter or try and fix Q-jet. I would like to get the airgap intake because i may do the heads and cam later and they would benefit more from the airgap vs low rise performer but this might change which carb to go with... decisions, decisions.

 

Most of the quadrajet rebuilders sell thicker airhorn gaskets. That might get you by until the edelbrock heads and manifolds are back in stock. The you can do cam, heads, manifold and carb all at once.

 

Thanks. I was thinking about doing a cam and heads down the road with the air gap intake. do you know if I would still be able to use the OAI air cleaner if I do? if not I will probably go with a performer intake.

Do you know if there is EFI i can go with that will work with OAI air cleaner?

 

Thanks Joel. This might be the way to go.

 

A carb change will also require throttle cable change or adjustment, fuel line change, vacuum line routing. Your 442 may wake up with a distributor recurve and carb rebuild. I hear good things about Everyday Performance they do both. I'm a do-it-yourselfer. Love quadrajets but I also like the new AVS2 design. As 4sp455 said the thicker airhorn gasket will help seal warped top plates, I use a fixture & oven to flatten castings.

 

You will be time, money, and effort ahead just to fix the Q-Jet. Get the thick air horn gasket and replace it.

 

Thanks shiftbyear. Everyday performance actually rebuilt the carb a year ago for the guy i bought the car from. I ordered a thick gasket and will try to flatten the airhorn. I like your oven idea. What temp and how long. Car runs great, good throttle response, good performance and still has points but the distributor is something else i was thinking of upgrading but will probably wait till I have issues with it or make other changes i.e., top end upgrade.

 

Thanks. I think that's the best way to go for now also. My intake is leaking from front and rear so I need to do something and will probably order an aluminum edelbrock performer. Do you know if the quadrojet will bolt on to performer intake and still be able to use the OAI air filter?

 

That is impressive.

 

i *think* there is a thread on here about that subject, IIRC you use a chevelle cowl hood base and w31 foam but dont quote me someone here knows for sure

 

This is one one thread that i started. I ended using non-factory pieces to make my hood functional but there are some other good options in the thread.
https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...arance-144272/

 

I may not be interpreting this correctly, but I’m seeing it as two separate questions.

Yes the QJet will bolt onto the performer. You will need to convert to an electric choke, but that’s just replacing the choke heater coil and running a 12V power wire.

I can’t answer about the OAI stuff.

 

300 degrees, I gradually tighten every 15 min. until flat. Turn off oven with carb inside and let cool for a couple hours. Main body plate has depressions for the primary boosters. Afterwords I also resurface the bottom of the airhorn casting 80% flat on a 12" disc sander. The gasket will take up the rest.

 

Guinessman,
I wanted to answer your one question about EFI and the OAI hood......I just recently finished installing the SNIPER Quadra Jet EFI system on my 1971 Olds 442 Olds (455 engine) restoration and it runs amazing. The throttle body unit is similarly sized to the Quadra Jet carb so everything lines up great with the standard intake and the hood foam seal. I used the W-30 aluminum OEM intake with the fuel injection and we dyno'd the configuration at over 550 HP. The upgrade questions you pose just depend on the investments you are willing to make in the fuel and ignition systems and what your end goals are.

Good luck with your performance choices and upgrades.

 

Thanks!

 

That looks awesome! I am kinda all over the place on deciding what i want to do. I just need to figure it out. Thanks everyone for your input.