For as long as I can remember, most people Ive known including mechanics and people on forums have always talked trash about quadrajets. I really dont know much about them, other than they came stock on thousands and thousands of vehicles for many years. Why do so many people hate them? Are they hard to tune or something? Poor design?

Great carb in my opinion.

Agreed...

When all you know is Holley anything else is "bad".

The QJ is a fine carb, but it is not a Holley and you have to learn it.

I ran QJ's for years on my Buicks. Very simple and easy to tune. They have the same issue as a TQ, the main wells can leak and cause a bad rich problem. Epoxy them, toss in a kit and learn to leave the freaking scondary spring alone.

The QJ is probably the most sophisticated street carb ever put on American cars. They work on race cars too although most guys use a Holley. But if you wander thru the pits at a NHRA national event you'll see a lot of QJ carbs on stockers that haul the mail.

This. ^^^^^^

Excellent carb if you know the ins and outs of them. I don't unfortunately but know a guy that can really make one work.
I think the biggest problem with them was that no one knew very much about them (kinda like a ThermoQuad on a Mopar ).


Tim

When a person does not understand how something works and they try to apply there EXPERT knowledge based on another design, and it doesn't work, they criticize it.

Nuff SAID

Agreed, Q-Jets and Thermo-Quads are excellent carbs (and similar in many ways)

They are complicated Carbs for a lot of people, and it scares them. Holleys and AFBs are pretty simple.
A Carter AVS is another more complex carb that got slammed as being a "bad carb" by those that didn't want to learn how they worked.

For most guys, Carbs are a mystery box that does strange stuff and they either work, or they don't. Then you add metering rods, adjustable air doors, and a second "choke blade" and most people think it can't be good.

These days, when good cores are reaching close to or beyond 30 years old, finding a good base to start from is getting more difficult. The whole idea of how any carb functions is getting complex to most current mechanics that have never messed with them. Finding someone capable of making the simple ones work correctly is hard enough, forget finding someone that actually knows how to make the complex ones work. Gene

I think your average hot rodder just really dont know how to work on them so they dont like them. But I agree they are a very good carb and when set up right work very good. Ron

All the parts and pieces scare most when disassembled but really quite easy to do if you pay attention and the work great.

Exactly!

Anything (basic AFB below) can look intimidating until you've gotten familiar with it

I just put headers on a buddy's 72 Chevy truck and have had his apart several times in the past few weeks changing jets and metering rods....They are great except for the choke rod is a PITA to install.

I prefer to tune via Diablo now-a-days. But I can still rebuild and tune any carb blindfolded. IMHO Holley's can't hold a tune for more than 5 mins. Q-J's & bogs all the way.

Is that a fact???


Sure like to see this dumped in yer lap...

Don't forget the blind-fold...

Apparently the word "exaggeration" eludes you for some reason. I'd get that looked at.

I recall your posts from the past...


Especially with regards to the Silver Bullet...


I'd say you have 'exaggeration' down pretty well...

Man Puzzle

Silver Bullet? I'm more of a budweiser kinda guy. In other words, I have no idea what you're talking about... refresh my aging memory via PM as not to clutter this thread.