i dont know what carberator to purchase for my engine so i can pass emissions?

Question

i have 79 el camino, replaced engine with 305 from caprice(80-8???) its been running for 3 yrs, but i cant pass emissions, to rich, the carberator that is on it now is computerized, my cars not, the mechanic jimmied it to run with no sensors connected. cant fix that i need to replace, looking into edelbrock(rebuilt) for about 189.00 from craigs, but what carb do i order that will fit, carb sits on an edelbrock intake manifold. pls help me i've been riding on 3 day permits(oops i messed up on a # of the vin) for 3 yrs.

Answer 1

The non computer ones go for around 200.00 rebuilt (Quadrajets) If you go edelbrock make sure it fits your style manifold and is smog legal of course.I've seen new one go for over 200.00 so you just may want to get a junkyard one and rebuild it. there is a juinkyard service here as well as parts stores to look up items http://painintheexhaust.blogspot.com

Answer 2

I assume you have a rochester quadrajet with the electrical connector for fuel enrichment. It IS useless without the computer controller. I also assume you've got an edelbrock performer dual-plane. That intake should have dual bolt patterns, and will accept spreadbore (quadrajet) style carbs and squareboare (most holley, edelbrock, etc carbs)

Do you have to run a quadrajet? Can you run a holley, just as long as you pass the sniffer?

A good holley vacuum secondary carb in the 650 CFM range would be best. A 4150 style squarebore Holley is easy to tune, and parts and knowledge is plentiful. You may need a few linkage parts, but thats easy to find.

I'd stay away from any rebuilt carb thats been monkeyed with. Most folks have NO idea how to tune a carb, and just ruin them.

FWIW, my fav carb is the earlier Q-jets, from 75-80. Properly rebuilt and recalibrated, they will outrun a big Holley, and get better gas mileage on the street. But then again, I'm running a much larger, heavily modified engine. For you, a small holley will be very close to right, right out of the box.

Answer 3

Heads Up!
Be certain that the carb is both the correct one for the car year (NOT THE ENGINE YEAR) and that it is correct for the emissions. Even if it will pass emissions at the pipe, if it appears to be a modification, or if it doesn't fit the air cleaner canister properly, or ir the choke doesn't work properly, the Tech will have no choice but to fail it. (It is his license on the line, not to mention a major fine and/or jail time for fraudulent test results)
Try Here------>

http://www.summitracing.com/

...and enter Edelbrock, then choose fuel delivery and select one that is CALIFORNIA legal. That will be certain to qualify all other states.
California legal will deliver all the performance you need. It is just classified differently for EVAP and a few other MINOR details.

Good Luck and Merry Christmas