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  1. #1

    Question Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    Guys....looking for some $.02......

    My 1976 454 Marine Power engines in my boat need to have the carbs "fixed". The floats have been sticking and it's gotten a bit hard starting. Carb rebuilds are about $250 these days up here in NW OH.

    So...got to thinking.......should I just rebuild or spend a $100 or so more each and REPLACE them with some new Holley's or other brand. They are the original carbs!

    Thanks for any insight you can send my way......
    Todd
    "Yachtzee"
    1976 36C Hatteras
    Catawba Island, OH

  2. #2

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    I used have each carb rebuilt every other year. then I got smart and got a neww edelbrock marine carb - didnt had to rebuilt since purchase.
    Akin Tosyali
    Hatteras 41 -Barbaros

    Chicago

    Barbaros, Hatteras 41' Before and after restoration

  3. #3

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    Rebuilt is a big variable. some shops machine the core and re manufacture it. others replace soft parts only. New edelbrocks sound like a good idea.
    Scott
    41C117 "Hattatude"
    Port Canaveral Florida.


    Marine Electronics and Electrical Products Distributor.

  4. #4

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    Are they Quadrajet carbs? QJs can be very troublesome and had several known problems, including floats that wouldn't float, casting plugs that didn't plug, and secondary air valves that seemed to be delivered new out of adjustment. When you add that to ham-handed 'tuners" who make adjustments or substitute parts to make "more power" (and which usually has the opposite result) you can end up with something that isn't going to work very well unless it's gone through in some detail and by someone who is familiar with the QJ issues and is prepared to correct them. A rebuild kit is, in all likelihood, not going to do anything useful unless the other issues are dealt with first.

    You CAN make a QJ work fine but bolting on a replacement Edelbrock would be less stressful. However, i would suggest that whatever replacement carb you decide to use, it should be bolt-on with no weird linkages to fabricate, no manifold machining, no trying to figure out how to get a choke to work, etc - just remove the old carb, bolt on the new carb and connect everything.

    Good Luck
    Mike P
    San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; Kent Island MD; San Antonio TX
    1980 53MY "Brigadoon"

  5. #5

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    quadrajets run so nice though when they are done right. they are a great piece of engineering
    FTFD... i drive a slow 1968 41c381

  6. #6

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    edelbrock, no holley.
    I believe edelbrock purchased rights to the Qjet then made several improvements, cant go wrong with Edelbrock.

  7. #7

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    Quote Originally Posted by 67hat34c View Post
    I believe edelbrock purchased rights to the Qjet then made several improvements, cant go wrong with Edelbrock.
    Correct. And while at it, why not throw on a higher performance intake? They can make a pretty decent bump in power, with no real downside other than initial cost.
    Dave
    "Saraswati" - 1980 53MY
    Galesville, MD

  8. #8

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    Unless you are going for more horsepower, I don't think a high rise manifold is going to give you very much, probably not enough to justify the cost of the new manifold. If you go with a new carb, give your supplier the specs on your engines, and get the correct size carbs. Oversizing a carb typically will burn more fuel with little increase in power. Newer always seems better, but a correctly rebuilt QJ works just fine.

  9. #9

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    This is meant in pure jest: Come on, man up and rebuilt 'em yourself.....even my wife can rebuild a q-jet unassisted (I was on the other side of the world).
    FTFD... i drive a slow 1968 41c381

  10. #10

    Re: Carbs - rebuild or buy new

    Quote Originally Posted by Boatnut View Post
    Unless you are going for more horsepower, I don't think a high rise manifold is going to give you very much, probably not enough to justify the cost of the new manifold.
    I wouldn't go high rise for a boat like this...but with PERFORMER MANIFOLDS (power band is idle to 5500 rpm). Performer manifolds are dual-plane, low-rise intake manifolds with a 180° firing order and patented runner design that you won't find in other brands. This patented design greatly improves torque over a wide rpm range for excellent throttle response, especially off-idle through the mid-range. Performers are ideal for passenger cars, trucks, 4x4s, tow vehicles and RVs. There are EGR and non-EGR versions. (stolen from the Edelbrock site). I ran one of these on my Donzi Sweet 16 that had a v8 transplant. Loved it.
    Dave
    "Saraswati" - 1980 53MY
    Galesville, MD

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