Q-jet throttle bushings

[Grim 82]

I just had a quadrajet rebuilt to replace my edelbrock 1406. I picked up the carb over the weekend, installed it on the pickup and got it running. Immediately I hear a terrible whistle and know that there is a vacuum leak somewhere. Everything is capped or hooked up so I mess with the throttle a little and find that the shaft bushings are sloppy, and if you move it around the right way the whistle changes pitch and goes away if you hold up on it. My question is this:
Have any of you guys had luck with the bushing kits?

http://www.summitracing.com/search/brand/JET-Performance/Product-Line/JET-Quadrajet-Bushing-Service-Kits/?autoview=SKU

http://www.tinindianperformance.com/Qjet%20parts%20and%20services.htm

[beastie_3]

Did you take it back to get it fixed instead?

[VileZambonie]

If you paid to have it rebuilt I would send it back. They can be a pita to replace in some cases. It's not that it's difficult to do but things can go wrong if you catch my drift.

[beastie_3]

I think they did a "how to" once on one of the powerblock shows on Spike TV.

[Grim 82]

I tried to help out the old hometown shop guy by throwing a little business his way, and had him rebuild the carb. It's 260 miles away so just stopping in for warranty isn't so easy. He will make it right for the fact that I paid and didn't really get what I paid for. When I talked to him today he said they don't make such a thing as a bushing kit. Well, a quick google search called BS on that idea. It would be cheaper to make that one work by putting new bushings in it if I can, but after this type of work I know I won't trust the rest of the rebuild to be any better. The guy that's building my 700r4 says buy a Holley, and he'll make that pickup run circles around a Q-jet or an Edelbrock. I know a statement like that stirs up a hornet's nest, but I have the ok from the better half to pony up the cash for a Holley if I want, or try to go cheap and put bushings in the Q-jet. Two factors in that decision is the fact that every time I tried to get by cheap with this project it has cost me more in the end, and this guy will sell me that new Holley at his cost. Suggestions?

[beastie_3]

I would try to replace the bushings before anything else.

[beastie_3]

You can read the article here http://www.powerblocktv.com/site3/index.php/magazine-articles-musclecar

it is the Dec 2009 issue. pgs 18-27 from musclecar.

[Grim 82]

Thanks for the link;  they make it look easy. Like Vile said, things can go wrong, and I don't want to end up throwing another $70 at it and have nothing to show for it, but I think now is the time to become proficient with carbs, because I'm never parting with this pickup. I have 3 Q-jets in addition to the one I just had built, so I can practice a bit. I'm going to order up one of those bushing kits and give it a go. I'd rather run with the Q-jet, cause if it ain't broke....

[krp33]

check out www.cliffshighperformance.com. Cliff is the best at tuning quadrajets. I recommend getting his book as well. He sells a throttle shaft bushing kit with the self aligning drill bit. He can also help you tune your quadrajet for your specific application.

[Grim 82]

Well, I just ordered the kit from Cliff. His kit was a little cheaper than the other ones. Thanks guys, I'll let you know how it turns out.

[bgctrading]

Buy cheap buy twice...Try to save pennies start spending dollars... What other analogies can I use??? By a new carb rebuilt ones in my experience no matter who or what has been done always have a few "glitches"

[beastie_3]

Clifford has great products.

I never had a problem when I rebuilt my carb...

[Grim 82]

Buy cheap buy twice...Try to save pennies start spending dollars... What other analogies can I use??? By a new carb rebuilt ones in my experience no matter who or what has been done always have a few "glitches"

I was thinking the same thing when I bought the new edelbrock, and it's been nothing but trouble. Either way, the parts are in the mail so we'll see how it goes.

[three8six]

Someone on here when I was havin problems with my quad suggested SMI Carburetor? I never used them I just did myself and it all came out good.

[Grim 82]

I got the bushing kit and installed them last night. Drilling the plate and installing the bushings was easy. Snapping the heads off of the little screws made it a little more involved than it needed to be, but overall a pretty simple repair. The tolerances feel good now, and it no longer has a vacuum leak there. It still runs really rich and smells like pure gas at the exhaust, and I haven't been able to adjust that out of it by turning the mixture screws. It still has a pretty good whistle to it, but if you put a hand over the front like you were going to close the choke it muffles the sound, so it's not an external vacuum leak from a hose, etc. Does that sound like normal air flow or is there something else wrong there? Like I said I can't get it to lean out and I have no confidence in the rest of the rebuild.