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I'm not sure if this is the correct location for this post, but if not move it an please let me know.
I have finished the testing for what will be Part 6. I'm in the planning/thinking about when and what testing will happen for Part 7.
I want to invite anyone to come to Livernois Motorsports and come watch, help out, keep me company, whatever. None of the testing I do is secret by any means and I really enjoy having people come and visit. There have been two people that have came and visited, Dave and Lloyd, and I'm pretty sure both have enjoyed it very much. Here are my current thoughts about what will be tested, along with the probability it will be tested.
1. Next time I arrive in MI for testing the engine will be configured exactly as a 1970 W-30. F heads, aluminum manifold, Q-Jet carb, W/Z manifolds, etc. We will test this in stock configuration (big thanks to Joe Padavano to letting us borrow the heads and intake to make this happen) and we will do some basic, "period correct' bolts on's like headers, O4B intake, maybe Air Gap intake, 800 CFM Holley spread bore, maybe things like the 850 double pumper, Torker or Victor intake, 1.7 rockers. Not sure about the maybe things, we will see where the initial testing takes us and call audibles after the basic bolts ons. Change of doing all this, 100% unless Livernois needs the dyno (this has happened once in the last year) or something catastrophic happens to the engine.
2. Finally have sucess at running the Batten heads on the engine. I have acquired a cast Batten big block intake (long story but these details will be discussed in part 6). I checked geometry this morning to run studs/guideplates, etc. This looks good. So all I need to do is put the sleeves in the pushrod holes with some epoxy and then assemble the heads. This will be tested with a few cams I suspect, but again, we will call an audible. Probably of this happening, I'd say 75% or greater.
3. Peyton Hunt of PDD has very generously agreed to port our Gen3 Edelbrocks for testing. Those heads will leave MI this week for Peyton. He will perform his best porting on those heads and send them back to us. If these heads are back in time, they will get bolted onto the engine and tested with various cams and intakes. Probably of this happening, I'd say close to 100%. If the heads come back from Peyton this will happen. We have not asked for special "cut to the front of the line", I wouldn't do that. So it's all up to Peyton. He's excited for us to test them and we are excited to test them.
4. Camshaft testing. I am having a special camshaft madey by a very good local company, LSM. They have made about 170 Olds custom cams in the last 10 years. Not a lot but this isn't a popular engine outside of our groups. This cam will be designed to optimize our current set up but not exceed 6500 RPM and not need more than about 10.5:1 compression ratio (I don't want to buy new pistons just a test). Probability of doing this, I'd say greater than 80%. We should have a design settled on this week and it will take Steve a few weeks to make the cam. That easily fits in our part 7 testing.
5. Building the stroker short block. The engine block has been honed. I have main studs coming for this engine so the block can be align honed and decked. Once this is done the rotating assembly needs to be balanced and then we can assemble it. This will entail polishing the crank, checking all the bearing clearances, ring gap and more. If we have proper bearing clearance we will assemble. Probably of this happening, I'd say 50%. I think we will be ready, but it's a matter of how much time we have to do it. I will order some 0.001 under bearings just in case we need them.
That is a pretty big agenda for a week to 10 days of testing. Dave, from MN, got to witness about 65 dyno pulls. There is a lot of head swapping and cam swapping that I detailed above, but I bet all of the above is close to 100 pulls if we get it all done.
The final question is when will we test? Good question. When this started a year ago, since it's funded by me, I told my wife I wouldn't make any special trips up to MI just for this testing. I am just finished up my second trip just for dyno testing (the others I piggy backed off other reasons to come here). So, to not break my promise anymore, I will be up in MI on 9/1 for Labor Day. I will probably come up mid to early the week before and stay until several days after Labor Day, depending on how testing goes. August 31st and September 1st we will not be working on the engine. I may make a quick trip up, tied to other things, but I would only work on the Batten heads and get my nephew to do some welding for me on some things we need welded. In full disclosure if I'm there and the engine is a full W-30, I'll have to make a pull or two...
Much of the work for the above session I will be preforming solo as my normal helpers probably won't make it, at least some days. So, any help is appreciated, even if you just sit there and talk to me while I'm changing parts. My sister and I own a very small house up in MI and one person can stay there with me to prevent the cost of a hotel and rental car. However, I do leave the house by 6:00am and typically don't return until 8:00-9:00pm. I work a LOT when I'm doing this. So if you stay with me, keep this in mind.
My e-mail address is in all of the write ups, so I'll post it here. If you are interested send me an e-mail at jerry@tandjw.com.
I'll add that Jerry graciously gave us an amazing tour of the Livernois facility when we stopped by on the way from Norwalk to Homecoming last month. It's a fantastic facility. He also has a couple of piles of pretty cool Olds parts hanging around.
Another item that we will be testing/developing is this; I have not mentioned much in the write ups about the Quadrajet "limitations" that we have ran into. I personally like the carburetor but it needs some "stuff" done to it to support more HP. John Heard will hopefully join me, if not I'll do it solo, and see if we can get a Q-Jet to support over 500HP. I have a plan in my mind on what to do, but we need to execute it and see what happens.
A dyno session with an L-69 Tri-carb set up would be interesting.
I would love to test that set up. I did have someone e-mail me about a month ago that had one and offered to let us test it. I responded but didn't hear anything back. If anyone has one we can borrow, it would be perfect to put it on the '70 W-30 engine configuration and see how it performs. I have spent a LOT of money doing this, and I'll still be spending some more, but buying this set up is NOT in the budget. I do have a friend here in FL that would probably let me borrow his (although I have never asked but it's not on an engine), but that probably means driving it up to MI, and I'm not sure I'm ready for a drive up and back (although I have a LOT of stuff to bring back). Anyone want to drive my F150 up and back?
My time there was totally awesome and the tour was amazing as well. Looking forward to helping out more the next time if needed. Let me know if I can be of help on any of your trips. You were roughly 1 1/4 hrs from the farm so now that we are back on a normal schedule and all of the farm duties are not on my Sweetheart and I anymore. I should be able to help out more if interested.
I would love to test that set up. I did have someone e-mail me about a month ago that had one and offered to let us test it. I responded but didn't hear anything back. If anyone has one we can borrow, it would be perfect to put it on the '70 W-30 engine configuration and see how it performs. I have spent a LOT of money doing this, and I'll still be spending some more, but buying this set up is NOT in the budget. I do have a friend here in FL that would probably let me borrow his (although I have never asked but it's not on an engine), but that probably means driving it up to MI, and I'm not sure I'm ready for a drive up and back (although I have a LOT of stuff to bring back). Anyone want to drive my F150 up and back?
jerry
Now you tell me. I could have brought one of those as well.
Probably. Lloyd has one that is going to bring back, along with a lot of other stuff, this month. It hasn't been ran in 40ish years, but hopefully Ron can get the carbs cleaned up, I can clean up the intake and we can make it happen. We won't know for sure until we get the parts in hand.
Another item that we will be testing/developing is this; I have not mentioned much in the write ups about the Quadrajet "limitations" that we have ran into. I personally like the carburetor but it needs some "stuff" done to it to support more HP. John Heard will hopefully join me, if not I'll do it solo, and see if we can get a Q-Jet to support over 500HP. I have a plan in my mind on what to do, but we need to execute it and see what happens.
jerry
Last time I checked, the Q jet has been making close to 700hp for years in Super Stock,
Last time I checked, the Q jet has been making close to 700hp for years in Super Stock,
I NEVER said it hadn't been done, you just assumed that is what I meant. You cannot find anything out there on how to modify your QuadraJet to support higher power. There are places you can send your carb, but nothing that's step by step. If you know, please let me know a starting point.
On a different note, what is your problem? Everything I post you attack. You are a school yard bully that is using this forum as your pulpit to bully me from. What did I do? I don't have a business. I won't build anyone an engine. I'm trying to make people smarter and more informed. All you want to do is throw stones at me. Please stop, it makes you look bad. If you have quality information to add, please add it. If not, shut up and stop this. If your attempt is to drive me out of the forum so you can be some kind of "king" it won't work.
I NEVER said it hadn't been done, you just assumed that is what I meant. You cannot find anything out there on how to modify your QuadraJet to support higher power. There are places you can send your carb, but nothing that's step by step. If you know, please let me know a starting point.
On a different note, what is your problem? Everything I post you attack. You are a school yard bully that is using this forum as your pulpit to bully me from. What did I do? I don't have a business. I won't build anyone an engine. I'm trying to make people smarter and more informed. All you want to do is throw stones at me. Please stop, it makes you look bad. If you have quality information to add, please add it. If not, shut up and stop this. If your attempt is to drive me out of the forum so you can be some kind of "king" it won't work.
jerry
Hey Jerry, It’s Mark in Florida.
Also, if you still need the RPM Air-Gap intake, please just let me know.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by oldcutlass; Jul 22, 2025 at 05:52 AM.
The Q Jet can definitely support 500hp +.
My 0256 ( with a little work) pulled over 500hp with iron heads and a stock intake.
It's limitations are in the single fuel bowl and configuration of float.
Much more can be done with the later 800 versions.
Of course it must be electronically fed.
Hi Mark from Florida. I challenged one thing of Jerry’s. I could challenge much MUCH more, believe me.
what do you think of his claim that C’s and J’s made the same power ? wild claims like that should never go unchallenged
I have data from the dyno to back up everything I post. You have harsh words but no data other than I did this, I did that. Data, bring data or be quiet. Better yet, come to MI next time I'm there and tell me what I'm doing wrong, since you are all knowing.
Another item that we will be testing/developing is this; I have not mentioned much in the write ups about the Quadrajet "limitations" that we have ran into. I personally like the carburetor but it needs some "stuff" done to it to support more HP. John Heard will hopefully join me, if not I'll do it solo, and see if we can get a Q-Jet to support over 500HP. I have a plan in my mind on what to do, but we need to execute it and see what happens.
I NEVER said it hadn't been done, you just assumed that is what I meant. You cannot find anything out there on how to modify your QuadraJet to support higher power. There are places you can send your carb, but nothing that's step by step. If you know, please let me know a starting point.
On a different note, what is your problem? Everything I post you attack. You are a school yard bully that is using this forum as your pulpit to bully me from. What did I do? I don't have a business. I won't build anyone an engine. I'm trying to make people smarter and more informed. All you want to do is throw stones at me. Please stop, it makes you look bad. If you have quality information to add, please add it. If not, shut up and stop this. If your attempt is to drive me out of the forum so you can be some kind of "king" it won't work.
jerry
We appreciate your work, the key to using a Q-Jet is the fuel system.
We appreciate your work, the key to using a Q-Jet is the fuel system.
So what did you do to the carb? I have ran 2 different Q-Jets and they both went lean over about 400 HP. Jets and rods didn't yield much improvement, but I have some ideas, after reading things, on what to try next time I get one on the engine. The fuel pump and line on the dyno seems more than adequate....
Here's some pictures of my Q-Jets, I run a 71 Buick 315 HP 455 F/SA that makes 516 HP, I will include a video, I also run a D/SA 350 HP 396 thats over 500 HP as well, both cars run well into the 10s. both have Q-Jets. I'd be happy to loan you one for testing. Now I didn't build them, one is a Harold Bettes carb that is so trick inside I hesitated to run it, but it turned out to be my best QJ, my other carb is a Vintage Muscle car QJ that Harold reworked, my 3rd one is a Deano QJ. This forum will not except my carb pictures, send me a e-mail and I will send them to you.
Thanks for taking the time to data/test these things and then post up what you found.
A few "others" should start their own thread instead of clogging up yours.
Thanks for taking the time to data/test these things and then post up what you found.
A few "others" should start their own thread instead of clogging up yours.
Thank you. You’d be surprised as there are more people trying to tear up my posts than there are people thanking us for all the work we’ve done. I appreciate your comments.
i will finish this project, no matter what the trolls try do say.
Jerry , thank you for all the information. I have printed it and refer to it for many solutions and future build templates. I did donate and feel this is an awesome endeavor you are doing for the Olds community.
So what did you do to the carb? I have ran 2 different Q-Jets and they both went lean over about 400 HP. Jets and rods didn't yield much improvement, but I have some ideas, after reading things, on what to try next time I get one on the engine. The fuel pump and line on the dyno seems more than adequate....
jerry
I'd think the q jets small fuel bowl is the issue to keep up.
Jerry , thank you for all the information. I have printed it and refer to it for many solutions and future build templates. I did donate and feel this is an awesome endeavor you are doing for the Olds community.
S/E Alaska temps are running between the low 50s to around 60 every day with little rain for a week or two. Before that it was very wet as usual. Jerry —we hope you have good weather like us. When we return, I will be sending you a contribution towards the cost of all your great work. Thank you for doing this.
Last edited by Tri-Carb; Jul 24, 2025 at 02:14 PM.
Yes, I live in Fairbanks but lifelong resident and been most places in state.
If you want or need any tips for a good visit don't hesitate to text or call 907-371-6551
My wife and I typically visit Fairbanks every few years in the fall or late winter, a Northern Lights thing. Next time we go up I will get a ahold of you. This is a trip with Daughter #3 and grandchildren #1 and #3 that ends with a cruise out of Seward. Initially we talked about flying into Fairbanks, but the 8 year old and 12 year old probably would get bored on the drive to Anchroage and then to Seward.....
One thing I used to do with my kids was take them to the wildlife viewing park just past Girdwood and the way to Seward. It is more open than a zoo and lets you get closer to the animals, at Girdwood Alyeska ski resort in the summer you can take the tram to the top and have lunch to explore trails. . There is a small indoor water park in Anchorage H2 oasis .
Lots of folks enjoy the winter lights.
Let me know next time in town.
