1971 442 rochester suggestions

 

My preference would be to stick with Quadrajet with linkage for AT and close to the 1971 year, like 1969-73. It may not be a big deal that it is an Olds number but the cfm rating should be in the big block range. Biggest deal would seem to be to make throttle and AT linkage as well as choke compatible with your intake for ease of changeover.

 

I have tried Edelbrock and Holley. I am now running a 800 cfm quadrajet from a late 70's 403 built to my engine and drivetrain specs. Electric choke. Can't be happier. Performance, fast idle, all around best carb I have had on my 455.

 

The 73/74 Q-Jets are very good to use. They have excellent idle circuits for the first years of the EGR era. I used 73 on a 87 442 clone street car with a 350 and it never gave me any problems and ran great.

 

What you think about a couple of carbs#17081287 & 17059253
The owner claims they were from the late seventies Olds 350 and he had them for 20 years.

THANKS
joepenoso

 

350 jetting may be too lean for a 455 - burning valves and pistons isn't fun!
Find a 455 carb.

 

You may want to start by getting Lars Grimsrud's Q-Jet tuning papers, as lists all the Q-Jet original applications. He's a real good guy at v8fastcars@msn.com I'm also running a 77' 403 #17057256 Q-Jet on my strongly built 461 Jetted with a custom kit from H-O Enterprises in CA. Not sure if Ken Crocie's still doing this, but mine's spot on. Now #75 primary jets, #47K primary rods, #16 secondary rods, and #019 power piston spring. Hope this helps.

 

The 17059253 is a 800cfm unit, from a '79 Olds. Since it's been stored for 20 years, probably needs a kit put in it, and during the rebuild you can check primary jet & rod sizes.

 

Re-Jet


The late 70's carbs are great. They flow the best.

All can be re-jetted.
All can be modified for different idle bypass requirements.

 

Hope this helps:
http://quadrajetparts.com/decode-you...rajet-t-5.html
I think the 79 Olds QJ that you found would be a good starting point, just make sure you jet it appropriately. There are a lot of reference documents out on the web with stock jet numbers. If I recall, the 350's had something like 71 mains, a 78 454 truck carb I found had 75's.
I'd look for anything '77 and newer Olds with electric choke, swap the main jets, and order custom tapered rods from Ruggles.

 

thanks for all your help
joepenoso:d

 

The idle holes have to be enlarged with accuracy of 0.001.
I was reading ruggles book and wondering where to get such fine accurate drill bits?
Thanks
joepenoso

 

Joe, you can find them at a hobby shop that sells radio control stuff. You'll need a pin vise also. Rebuilding the Qjet with ruggles book is very rewarding. You will understand how it all works and why.