73-87chevytrucks.com
73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => Performance => Topic started by: txchainsawgogi on July 21, 2010, 03:07:41 PM
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On a 1978 chevy 5.7L 350. For now, while I'm fixing it up i'd like to add some power to it... but I'm not sure what to do.
Basically what are good more or less bolt on mods I can do?
I've got a performer intake lying around ill probably put on, what's a good carb to mate with it?
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Headers and dual exhaust!!!
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Headers and dual exhaust!!!
+1
If you want cheap and easy power do the headers and exhaust, recurve your dizzy and make sure your carb is tuned up. If you really want to wake up that motor swap your cam and get a hotter ignition.
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I've got a performer intake lying around ill probably put on, what's a good carb to mate with it?
A properly rebuilt and tuned Q-jet.
http://www.amazon.com/Rebuild-Modify-Rochester-Quadrajet-Carburetors/dp/1932494189/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279747984&sr=8-1
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I'd do an edelbrock carb I like them, but as they said headers, and exhaust, plus the intake, dist. work, maybe upgrade the coil, wires, plugs, do a cap and rotor too. Switch carbs and tune it, then maybe step up to a came upgrade and if you wanted to head upgrade like to vortecs or something aftermarket.
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Cool, is the performer intake gonna work with a quadrajet ok? I've got an HEI, what's a good kit to use to make it better?
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I've seen some msd kits but they were a bit pricey.
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A little rear gear will give you more kick in the pants. probably find a junkyard one with better gears for cheap.
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Cool, is the performer intake gonna work with a quadrajet ok? I've got an HEI, what's a good kit to use to make it better?
The quadrajet is a spread bore so it will fit if the intake is a spread bore. It's most likely a square bore though. I put in an MSD streetfire dist. and that has all the MSD guts in it. Then I put in the Moroso kit with different weights and lighter springs. The dist was about $150 I think and the spring kit was $13. You can buy all the MSD components to put in your stock HEI though. It's tough to beat a q-jet that's tuned right. I would keep it if I were you. I have a few that need rebuilding that I will eventually use on something. I have run the edelbrock 1406 and it was ok but now I run a 600 Holley and it's great. It makes good power but the mileage doesn't even touch a q-jet. The electric choke on the Holley is junk, and the edelbrock is the easiest to work on, IMO. Do you know what rear gear you have in it now?
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Performer intakes will work with spread bore or square bore carb.'s. Put that intake on and you can put the quadrajet or aftermarket square bore carb. on later.
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Depending on which intake it is, you may need an adapter. I have the EPS 2701 and the q-jet is not a direct fit. Something like the 2101 is designed to use with the q-jet.
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Doh! Sorry, you're right. I thought all performer intakes had the dual pattern. I jumped on Summit and see that the vast majority do, but there's a few that don't. Can he just look for a dual bolt pattern to determine if it takes either?
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If it has the spread bore it will fit the q-jet and aftermarket square bore carbs with this adapter.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2732/
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If it's a square bore it will look like this.
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Can he just look for a dual bolt pattern to determine if it takes either?
I think so, yes. The dead give away is the oblong intake holes that allow for the huge secondary flaps on the q-jet. I have adapted square bore carbs to stock spread bore intakes but never vice versa.
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If it has the spread bore it will fit the q-jet and aftermarket square bore carbs with this adapter.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EDL-2732/
So do I need a adapter for a edelbrock carb? Looks like mine is a spread bore?
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I think you need the one that I linked to. It looks like yours has the two bolt patterns so you just need the thin one to close up the gap.
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If I'm seeing it right you don't need an adapter no matter which way you go. Just the appropriate gasket.
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I thought edelbrock intake would take edelbrock carb with no adapters???????
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I had a holley intake like that one and it would accept s squarebore carb no problems. Best way to tell is if you got the carb drop it on and see.
For use with Edelbrock spreadbore intake manifolds when installing a square bore carburetor. Not required on EDL-2101 or EDL-3701 unless using a Holley square bore carburetor
that's what the link said and you have a spreadbore intake. If you don't have the carb yet get a square bore carb gasket sit it on and see if it'll seal and line up with the holes.
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I thought edelbrock intake would take edelbrock carb with no adapters???????
Yes, but keep in mind that intake is set up for replacing the stock intake but keeping the stock q-jet. Like I said, I have only adapted them down to fit on an OEM manifold, so I can't say for sure if it will work or not. It would just suck to get your new motor in there and have a big vacuum leak. But, look at the bright side, IF you need that plate it's only $6, and the thick ones to adapt to an OEM intake are $50. :)
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They jacked the price up on those plates too much I have bought a few of the thick adapter plates and the last one they wanted like $40 for it from advance and they sold it to me for like $35 or something. Yo used to get them for like $20-25 a piece.
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I'm pretty sure that intake is not strictly a spreadbore intake. Its made for either configuration. It looks just like the performer that was on my truck and when I put on an Edelbrock 1406 I called Edelbrock and they told me I was set, just needed the gasket. They were right. If you could find the model number and look it up on summit or other online site I think its description will be squarebore/spreadbore.
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Thanks guys! Lets get back to Texaschainsaws engine upgrades!
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If you haven't already purchased your carb don't do the usual bigger is better... if you use any larger than a 650-(maybe) 700scfm carb you will never get that 350 to run right without upgrading the heads. The reason why is due to velocity. The larger carbs flow a lot more air and if the rest of your top end isn't up to the task ie,..intake, larger intake runners on heads, the air velocity will not be sufficient enough to keep all of the fuel in the stream and then you will have pooling which will result in speratic throttle and uneven cylinder loading. You will never get the power you want out of a carb thats too big. Since you are not drag racing and it's only 350ci I'd recommend a holley 650.. but I'm partial to holley's and with their track record it's hard to argue.
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Put the new muffler on and tailpipe and noticed a lot of unburned fuel... well not a lot but more than I'm happy with. First guess was new plugs?
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Cool, is the performer intake gonna work with a quadrajet ok? I've got an HEI, what's a good kit to use to make it better?
Keep the hei and get a msd 6al2. the hei is great but needs a lil help and the 6al2 works great to improve spark plus they are cheap, cheap, cheap..
What size carb did you go with? it may be to large. or you may just need new jets. new plugs shouldn't cause such a rich condition unless your wires or contact point on hei are worn and not sending the power to burn the fuel.
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What about the 6al? How's that compare?
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Also, in looking for headers... what should I be aware of? Model specifics and such.
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What about the 6al? How's that compare?
The only real diffrence between the 6al and 6al2 is the al2 has 2 revlimiters that you can set. Either one is good. the 6al only has one revlimiter. The only major differences the 6al is digital and the 6al2 is analog. A lot of people prefer the analog to the digital because less electronics to go bad.
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Also, in looking for headers... what should I be aware of? Model specifics and such.
As with anything make sure it fits the vehicle you plan to use it in or you will have a real headache to deal with. Most companies are really good with fitment but they also make them to be easier installed before putting the engine in. If you want them to last spend the cash and get ceramic coated especially if u are going off road.
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is there anything out there like the msd 6al that's not a digital?
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Yes the 6al2, thats what they changed plus added another rev-limiter. 6al was the beggining model and now they are offering 40th anniversary edition buts it cost a lot more.
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http://sdparts.com/details/msd-ignition/msd6200
http://sdparts.com/details/msd-ignition/msd6420
http://sdparts.com/details/msd6421
Listed lowest to highest...take your pick they are all good. It just depends on if you want to upgrade later on. so the best thing is just pick one for now because anything is better than nothing.
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Hooker super comps are good.