Help! Is finding a replacement carb for '80 L82 really this tough?

[Albee]

Getting my '80 L82 back on the road, after about a 6 year storage. I'm told I need a new (or rebuilt) carb. I bought a Holley 600CFM (that the Advance website said would work) but the tech tried it and no-go. I'm looking for budget-friendly / utility, rather than performance. Other major concerns - I need it to drop in w/ no modifications, and it has to fit under the stock hood. I'm beginning to think my only option is to have the original re-built. Any suggestions (other after-market options or re-builders) are very greatly appreciated.

 

[6880 Mike]

Purchase a rebuild kit, purchase Mr. Roe's book, and rebuild your original.

 

[Albee]

Not really an option -- I get into trouble replacing kitchen sink faucet-washers . I know next to nothing about this stuff -- but, (from what I thought I knew) -- I really didn't think finding a drop-in replacement for s small block Chevy would be this big a deal --- Thanks for the thought, though --

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

It isn't a big deal unless you try to fit a square peg in a round hole. A square bore Holly will not fit on a spread bore manifold no matter how hard you push. Any adapter will raise the total height and the air cleaner will not fit. Finding another qjet with the exact date and numbers you presently have will be very expensive and time consuming and unless you're entering the car judging stuff, money wasted.

Find a rebuilt qjet or better yet send yours off to be done by a professional.

 

[Albee]

Well, I've got access to boxes / packing, and a credit card or 2 with room until I hit their limits . The only thing I need is some suggestions on who / where to send it to have it re-built. Obviously, reasonable turn-around time, and reasonable rates are key -- . Anyone have good experiences with re-builders that they care to share? Again, Thanks.

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

Maybe Lars will drop by and offer his services.........................

 

[White75]

Contact Lars and see if he has a rebuilt one to sell or see if he'll rebuild yours.

 

[HD2KC162]

Rebuilt Rochester Q Jet Available @ Summit Racing

You might want to look into Summit Racing part #64-7637 which is a rebuilt Q jet for your car if you can't find a rebuilder for yours. In this case Holley is rebuilding a GM (Rochester) carb which will have the correct bore spacing for your OEM manifold and the necessary electric choke.This is a M4ME model carburetor, that is not computer controlled but does have an electric choke

Price about $360 . Might get you where you want to go which is "plug and play". Don'f forget a fresh gasket.

Holley 64-7637 - Holley Remanufactured Carburetors - Overview - SummitRacing.com

 

[lars]

In answer to your initial post question, "Is finding a replacement carb for '80 L82 really this tough? " the answer is "yes." Finding nice, replacement Q-Jets is becoming very difficult, if not impossible. For the most part, "rebuilt" carbs being sold on eBay are worthless, and finding unmolested original carbs is becoming a rare occurrance. If you have an original carb that has not been altered and modifed by a commercial builder, this carb is hands-down your best bet for rebuild and use.

The last thing you want to do is buy a "rebuilt carb" from someone like Summit, Holley or your local NAPA store. If you want to know the facts about "rebuilt" carbs, drop me an e-mail request for my "Commercially Rebuilt Carb problems" paper. Those carbs are complete crap - nothing but unusable junk. If you like the idea of tearing your hair out with problems and issues for $350, buying one is a good idea.

If you're interested, you can also send me an e-mail request for my carb rebuilding services info. The other 2 reliable sources for a good rebuild are Henry Olsen with Ole's Carbs in CA and Cliff Ruggles.

Lars
V8FastCars@msn.com

 

[lars]

Update:
Al sent me his carb for evaluation and setup. The carb had a broken airhorn, and the "mechanic" working on it had lost several parts and broken a few other parts. With a few parts scrounged from the donor carb pile and a little tuning and setup, the carb tested out great and runs fine. Al is back on the road again.

Lars

 

[Albee]

the ending to the story --

I did send the original Rochester to Lars. MAJOR kudos sent his way -- the work was A-1, the cost was spot on with the estimate, and turn-around time, in my case, was less than 2 weeks, shipment to receipt. If YOU need carb work, check with Lars.

 

[mr.beachcomber]

...The last thing you want to do is buy a "rebuilt carb" from someone like Summit, Holley or your local NAPA store. If you want to know the facts about "rebuilt" carbs, drop me an e-mail request for my "Commercially Rebuilt Carb problems" paper. Those carbs are complete crap - nothing but unusable junk. If you like the idea of tearing your hair out with problems and issues for $350, buying one is a good idea...

Unfortunately, this is so true it hurts. I've seen rebuilt carbs from Guatemala, Mexico, and parts unknown assembled incorrectly and usually spray-painted with gold paint. (Dead give away that you just wasted your money.) In my own experience, after running a shop with "factory-trained" mechanics who never grew up fiddling with carbs, I found that they could follow instructions, disassemble, and reassemble a customer's carb, but could neither tune the carb or recognize past abuse by previous owners. Their philosophy was keep replacing parts until the problem is fixed.

If you have an older model Corvette with a carburetor(s), it pays to learn all you can about your particular model carb from how it works to how it came from the factory. Real carb rebuilders/tuners are a rare breed nowadays.

Thanks Lars for keeping another carburetor-equipped Corvette on the road!

 

[Albee]

Amen, Brother

Unfortunately, this is so true it hurts. I've seen rebuilt carbs from Guatemala, Mexico, and parts unknown assembled incorrectly and usually spray-painted with gold paint. (Dead give away that you just wasted your money.) In my own experience, after running a shop with "factory-trained" mechanics who never grew up fiddling with carbs, I found that they could follow instructions, disassemble, and reassemble a customer's carb, but could neither tune the carb or recognize past abuse by previous owners. Their philosophy was keep replacing parts until the problem is fixed.

If you have an older model Corvette with a carburetor(s), it pays to learn all you can about your particular model carb from how it works to how it came from the factory. Real carb rebuilders/tuners are a rare breed nowadays.

Thanks Lars for keeping another carburetor-equipped Corvette on the road!

Amen, Brother.

 

[shark454]

Not really an option -- I get into trouble replacing kitchen sink faucet-washers . I know next to nothing about this stuff -- but, (from what I thought I knew) -- I really didn't think finding a drop-in replacement for s small block Chevy would be this big a deal --- Thanks for the thought, though --

It took me many years to find the matching numbers, correctly dated, carb for my 72 454 automatic. I paid quite a bit for a carb in poor condition. If you can't rebuild the original, please save it for a future owner.

Good luck!