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Hot Rods help with an Edelbrock carb

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by austinsailor, Mar 6, 2021.

  1. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    I've searched a bunch on how to adjust my choke on my Edelbrock 4 bbl, non-electric, and am not having much luck. If someone is familiar with them and would give me some pointers off line I would appreciate it. It's on a 350 Chevy if that matters.
     
  2. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,038

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    What style choke do you have, any pictures?
     
  3. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,798

    jaracer
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    If it is a non-electric choke, do you have a choke stove to heat the choke spring?
     
  4. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    Here are some pictures. Not an electric choke, not a manual choke. I’m more of a single barrel old Mopar guy, but I think the choke on the front (smaller) barrels should close, they never do and it’s not obvious to me how the should.

    It’s very hard starting, lots of pumping required, or a shot of starter fluid. Been that way since I’ve owned it.
     

    Attached Files:

  5. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    Here’s a top view.
     

    Attached Files:

  6. That's a Rochester Quadrajet carb. Edelbrock did make a clone of those, I'm not sure if that's one or not. Anyway, there should be a choke thermostat on the intake manifold that links to the choke linkage on the right side of the carb to open and close the choke valve.
     
  7. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    Says Edelbrock on the front, so must be the clone. I assume the choke plates on the front (smaller) should be closed when cold. I guess I just need to study the darned thing more tomorrow. It’s a challenge to get to see everything, but would this have something that gets heat from the crossover in the intake to control it? I wasn’t able to easily manipulate anything to get the choke to close to find a starting point. Searching on the web only brings up electric chokes, which are pretty simple.
     
    Center of the Galaxie likes this.
  8. The choke thermostat is supposed to sit in a pocket in the exhaust crossover part of the intake manifold. It has a link that comes up and hooks up to the choke linkage on the side of the carb. Some aftermarket manifolds may not have a place to mount a choke thermostat. Open the throttle a bit to allow the choke valve to move to the closed position.
     
  9. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    Choke doesn’t move, opening the throttle doesn’t make any difference. I understand that you need to open it to get it to set to the position it should be for the temperature, just seems to be fixed.

    I’ll spend some time tomorrow trying to figure out the thermostat part.

    This has helped get me on a good path. Thanks.
     
    Center of the Galaxie likes this.
  10. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,038

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    Last edited: Mar 6, 2021
  11. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,798

    jaracer
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    I think you need to look at your picture closer, it clearly says Quadrajet. From what I can see in your pictures, you do not have any thermostatic device to operate the choke. That is why it doesn't close.

    It looks like your carb is what they call a "divorced" choke. You need a kit like this to make the choke work. It looks like your manifold had a well for it to fit in. divorced choke.jpg
     
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  12. Bob Lowry
    Joined: Jan 19, 2020
    Posts: 1,574

    Bob Lowry

    divorced 4.jpg divorced 5.jpg divorced 2.jpg View attachment 4998345

    Same set up was used on many Holley's in the mid-60's. Here is a picture of how it should be set up on your Q Jet.
     
    Last edited: Mar 7, 2021
    jimmy six likes this.
  13. TA DAD
    Joined: Mar 2, 2014
    Posts: 1,490

    TA DAD
    Member
    from NC

    That is not the right carb for that manifold. That manifold has a egr valve (blocked off) and the carb for it would have had a dial type thermostat with a heat tube coming out of the manifold going into the choke head. I would find a non-egr manifold and then use the choke setups others have shown.
     
    saltflats likes this.
  14. egads
    Joined: Aug 23, 2011
    Posts: 1,423

    egads
    Member

    Does it have Edelbrock on the intake or the carb ?
     
  15. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,335

    deathrowdave
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    from NKy

    Everything suggested is the answer to choke issue . There are 2 flaps on the top of QJet one is choke one is secondary air flap. I have never touched a QJet with a stuck choke flap . If the top has been removed and linkage not reconnected in the inside of the carb body this could cause the frozen choke flap also . To make it work as designed , you need carb swap or manifold swap .
    I was looking at the image of the throttle cable connected to the carb . Something looks odd to me also in that image . Never saw throttle cable connected to the lower part of the throttle arm and going towards the front . Always connected to the top of the arm going towards the rear . Maybe I’m looking at the image incorrectly , this is not your issue , but I think once it’s running correctly this could cause some issues in safety .
     
  16. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    As to whether it’d Edelbrock or not - there is a tag on the forward edge, which I can’t get a picture of, which has the Edelbrock name. It’s held on with s screw, and I supposed they could take another carb, modify it and put their name in it.

    I’d tell you what it’s on, but I might get banned, so let’s just leave it that it’s a factory setup. The front throttle connection is correct and proper for what it is. All the rest of what is mentioned will be studied closely today starting when I go to the shop in a little bit. I suspect at this point that it has been wrong since it was manufactured.

    If you want more details feel free to pm me, I’d be happy to discuss it off line in detail.

    Thanks again for all the pointers.
     
  17. deathrowdave
    Joined: May 27, 2014
    Posts: 4,335

    deathrowdave
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    from NKy

  18. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    The spot the coil mounts on in the pictures above is flat. Mine is angled and has a plate on it.

    I cannot get the choke plate to move, carb is coming off so I can study it and figure out what is amiss. Something besides missing the choke spring is going on.
     

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  19. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,038

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

    As TA DAD said this manifold would need the heat tube that fits in place of that plate.
    The choke stat would look like this.
    20210307_101417.jpg
    That rubber hose on the bottom right would go to the heat tube, the other tube would go to the back top of the carburetor.
     
    TA DAD likes this.
  20. TA DAD
    Joined: Mar 2, 2014
    Posts: 1,490

    TA DAD
    Member
    from NC

    That is the right set up for the manifold
     
  21. saltflats
    Joined: Aug 14, 2007
    Posts: 13,038

    saltflats
    Member
    from Missouri

  22. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    The plot thickens. Got the carb off, found the mechanism was zip tied so that the choke could never move. Now, except for the missing divorce spring setup, it seems to be as it should. I can probably get that in a day or two, might have to make a wedge to make it fit on the mount, but I think I’ve got a plan. No idea why things are the way they are, but I suppose it doesn’t matter now.

    Thanks to all you guys.
     

    Attached Files:

    David Gersic and Bob Lowry like this.
  23. austinsailor
    Joined: Nov 27, 2008
    Posts: 83

    austinsailor
    Member

    Went back and read the newest post that must have appeared while I was slowly typing - now I don’t even have to make anything!

    You guys are great! Thanks.
     
    Bob Lowry likes this.
  24. Elcohaulic
    Joined: Dec 27, 2017
    Posts: 2,213

    Elcohaulic

    Go on e-Bay and get a choke cable 6' long and connect it up to the choke linkage. The cable set up is the best I think..
     
    KoolKat-57 and Bob Lowry like this.

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