I'm rebuilding a 1979 Oldsmobile 403 and just got around to the carburetor. I have two Quadrajet 4bbl, one off the original engine and one off a 1978 403.

The original one is stamped 17059253, meaning it's meant for a manual transmission but the car has always been auto. There are also some pretty big differences between the two carbs, even though both engines and carbs came from the same model car. The original has a solenoid and vacuum choke but the other is manual choke and no solenoid. I don't know much about Quadrajet carbs and need some help choosing between the two for my project.

Also, any good pictures/diagrams/videos on how to properly set up the carb would be a big help. Thanks!

 

Why, because it's an odd number? Hint: don't believe everything you read on the interwebs. In 1979, you couldn't get a manual trans behind any Olds 403 motor, or behind any Olds V8 with a 4bbl.

 

I didn't realize you couldn't get any Olds 403 with a manual tranny in that year. Seems odd that they would stamp the carb for manual when you couldn't even get one.

 

One more time. The odd = MT, even = AT myth is NOT TRUE, despite what Cliff Ruggles or anyone else on the interwebs may say.

Every single BBO installed in a Delta 88 or Ninety Eight in the 1968-76 time frame came with a '251 carb and a TH400. The 69 H/O with TH400 came with a '251 carb. The 70 W30 with MT came with a '256 carb. 1970 442s with AT came with a '257 carb. 1970 W31s with both AT and MT came with a '255 carb. 1968-69 W30s with both MT and AT came with a '254 carb. QB 350 motors with MT came with a '250 carb.

Should I go on?

 

To my knowledge they never made a quadrajet with a manual choke. Somebody has been into that one or at least converted the choke.

 

Exactly, no manual choke carbs from those years. Use the complete carb and recalibrate as necessary. Both will be 800 cfm with very lean idle calibration.

 

Also that is not a vacuum choke, it is a hot air choke. Both carbs would be that same design. The vacuum diaphragm is also called a choke pulloff.

 

Get a copy of Cliff Ruggles quad book. And check out his web site Cliffshighperformance.com for good parts and info. Lots of info for the novice carb builder.
There are other sources out there that are good. I only have experience with his stuff though.
I have the California version of both those carbs.
If either one is in good shape, they are a good core to start with.

 

I have a nOS Q jet choke unit i may sell