Hot Rods Simple intake manifold/carburetor question

Hey guys… Quick question. See the attached photos of the bottom of my carb, and my intake manifold. Are they compatible? Or do I have to use the adapter in the picture with the orange manifold?

The carb is a Holley the manifold is in Edelbrock Performer, and the adapter is on an old Rochester Quadra jet manifold

 

Thank you in advance

 

Your Performer intake is for a spreadbore (Quadrajet) carb, as is the orange factory one, but that one has an adapter to convert it to squarebore, like your Holley carb. So, adapter to the Performer also, to fit your Holley. Personally, I HATE adapters, but you have to work with what you have. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

Yep. Just like he said.

 

Edelbrock made a thin steel plate that you used a gasket on both sides of to go with that manifold so that you woulden't have to use the thick adapter. I believe they are still available from Edelbrock, or I may have an extra one.

 

don't need an adapter, you need that plate, you can buy it...

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/edl-2732

.

 

I didn't realize I was creeping behind the carb in the photo hahaha.


Thanks for the advice guys. I'll see if I can find one local tomorrow so I don't have to wait. Just out of curiosity what happens if one runs it without the plate? Of course I am not debating I am just curious

 

usually you get a vacuum leak.

 

That makes sense

 

Would it behoove me to just get a used quadrohet? I found one for what it would cost me for the plate and gaskets

 

I wouldn't trust it unless it's a known good-running carb, or unless you're really good at rebuilding them. They run great when they're working properly. I bought a re-manufactured one from summit years ago. I got it for around $250 but I think they're around $300 now.

 

I'm pretty experienced with fixing used Qjets, so I don't hesitate to rebuild an old one and run it. Some times it takes a second one to get a good carb. If you haven't messed with them, you might miss a few tricks about them. But you can usually find one for free if you're not looking for it, and the kit and float and choke pull offs and stuff are usually available for a reasonable price. Beware that there are a lot of varieties of Qjet, and the ones that came on 1970s Chevy 350s seem to work best for me. The choke style should be matched to the intake you have...heat tube or divorced spring with rod...so don't just go buying any old carb, do your homework, or stick with the carb you have.

 

The gaskets that I bought have for individual holes, like the original Rochester intake manifold. I'm ***uming that's OK, even though the Edelbrock only has two oblong holes like above, correct? I decided to use the plate out of sheer exhaustion from beating every little thing to death and the desire to just simply get the car done. Hopefully I don't regret it…

 

Perhaps a stupid question, but why not just use the gaskets one on top of the other?

 

I would trim the excess out of the center so just the perimeter of that gasket is there, it's just a blockage otherwise.

 

X2. I would trim it so that no gasket surface is exposed.

Exposed sections of gasket will dry out, and possibly de-laminate. You know where it goes after that....

 

Not the easiest process so far but I am t******* it

 

this raw cardboard surface where it was trimmed is OK to exposed to air and fuel?

 

A bit of hardening gasket shellac should seal the exposed sections up nice. Check around the real auto parts places for it, doubt any chain stores still carry that stuff.

 

Ok thanks

 

not the gasket I would use for that....but you should be able to make it work.

My guess is it's getting harder to find carb base gaskets, since cars haven't used them for like 30 years

 

Any idea what these are for?

 

Squirrel I hope that's not the case… There are so many small blocks running around, as daily vehicles, and as toys, I certainly hope that we don't experience some crazy increase in scarcity and price for simple things like gaskets. If that's the case, maybe an X-Acto knife in a sheet of generic gasket is the way to go more often

 

the round thing looks like a rocker arm pivot ball.

I think we'll be able to get gaskets for a long time, but finding them quickly at any parts store will be more difficult.

 

Good call… It's always good to have a local parts store that you know stock the stuff. I do… Two of them. They are a blessing. As I grew older, perhaps I'll grow more patient, two, and use rock auto more. Those little round things were originally used as a washer on the carburetor bolts… I'm not going to use them again

 

Unless it's an emergency I never adapt anything to anything. Get a carb that matches your manifold or visa versa!

 

Unfortunately funds are not permitting right now. I'm going to keep my eyes open for an Edelbrock but for now I have to run what I have

 

I was under the impression that your engine was rebuilt by someone.
If rocker arm pivot balls were installed, as washers on the carb, keep a watchful eye on the engine, as a whole, as you progress to the day of "start up".

 

Haha good call. Yes, I will. Ironically that was tonight. More in that in my bills thread