Replacement Carb for a 401

[62electra225]

I have a 62 Electra 225. It's got the 401, and I was looking for a good reliable carburetor. I have the original Carter 4-barrel in it and was told it would cost 600-800 (off the top of the head) to rebuild. It's a daily driver/cruiser. I'd prefer gas mileage to big performance gains, and most of all little to no regular adjustments. What would you recommend? Or should I have them look over the carb to get a better idea of rebuild cost?

[Smartin]

I moved your thread here...it'll get answered faster if you post in the correct forum:TU:

[Buford]

Carter AFBs are easy to work on...why not buy a kit and some carb cleaner, and with a little patience and attention to detail, build it yourself? You'll save hundreds of dollars and be proud as hell!
Frank

[62electra225]

Thanks Smartin.

[62electra225]

I had considered that. I just wasn't sure if I could do it without screwing it up or something. Mine needs new linkages, also. The main reason for a replacement would be to get better fuel efficiency. I was told that the original carbs were horribly inefficient. I've been reading up on the quadro jet and that has peaked my interest. Although I was also told that I'd need a conversion plate, So if anyone knows about that route I'd appreciate info and a source for the carb. And one more question. I was thumbing through an old PAW catalog and saw that Edelbrock had a replacement for the q jets. Also, what CFM is mine? Is there any indicators on the carb itself? Thanks for all your help.

[BuickStreet]

Hi ya 62Electra (what's your name again?). Good to see you made your way to this site. This is Bill from BuickStreet. I suggested that you come and find your answers here. If you can find the numbers on the side of the carb then we can tell you what size it is.

[62electra225]

Thanks Bill. My name is Nick I'll go look in a couple of minutes. Thanks again. I remember you telling me to look on Ebay for a q-jet but all there was listed was rochester ones. Is that the same?

[Smartin]

Rochester makes the Quadrajet. I also believe that Carter is the parent of Rochester:puzzled: :Do No:

[flynbuick]

Nick:

You can send it to john Osborne In Ky. and it will cost around 225 to rebuild it depending on what it needs. It may save you from some linkage struggle to reuse the same carb. I also like Carolina Carbs in Wilmington NC which has a national mail order repair and rebuild service.

[62electra225]

Well, I must say that I feel dumb. I had my brother's carb mixed up with mine. Mine is a Rochester 4 jet. I looked for numbers, but the only other think "written" on it was patent applied for. Any thoughts or experience on this carb?

[BuickStreet]

Nick, there should be a little silver tag which hangs off the carb somewhere that has number on it.

Rochester made most Quadrajets. I have one of the few quadrajets that where made by Carter during 1975 when the workers at the Rochester plant went on strike. GM said "Fine, we'll get our other Carburettor plant to make them instead - enjoy the sunshine" and so a few Carter quadrajets where made.

http://www.buickstreet.com/images/q-jet-closeup-quadrajetmfdbycarter.jpg

I'm not exactly sure if there is a carter squarebore-to-spreadbore adapter made. I have a carter squarebore-to-holley-squarebore adapter which originally came in my car so I'm going to hazard a guess and say that a normal holley-sqaure-bore-to-spreadbore adapter isn't going to be an exact fit. You may have to sort this out before you go too much further. I solved the problem by finding an original 1966 spreadbore manifold and use a 1 inch riser to add a bit of oomph by even-ing out the mixture distribution and allowing all runners to pull from the entire carb.

here's a pic of the two manifolds side by side...

[BuickStreet]

...and here is the a pic of the adapter for a Holley squarebore on a stock Nailhead (carter squarebore) manifold.

[62electra225]

I looked and looked and looked some more. The metal tab must have come off or something. I didn't find anything. I searched all over on it using a mirror for underneath and the only writing on the carb is 4 jet, RC, and Patent applied for

[62electra225]

Would any of you guys know the bore type on the original manifold for a 62 electra with the 4 jet Rochester?

[BuickStreet]

Nick, the second picture I posted (the black manifold) is from my 1966 401. I would call it a "Carter-type" and you can see it without the adapter in the first picture I posted (where both types of manifolds are next to each other). I believe all 401's had the same manifold regardless of year, they came fitted with several types of carbs. Rochester 4 jet or Carter. Only in 1966 did Buick offer a different style of manifold and that was to fit a spreadbore Quadrajet.

In the first picture you will see them side by side. The best thing you can do for yourslef is to buy a wrkshop manual. All this information is in there.

Does your carb look like this one? (see pic).

P.S. If you sign your posts with your first name or build yourself a signature by going into your User Control panel and when you post make sure that you tick the "Use signature" check box it will make it easier for all of us to remember your name. Not trying to be funny, it's just that we are a fairly friendly bunch here and like to call each other by our first names.

[BuickStreet]

Here is a close up pic of where your Identification tag should be on your 4 jet Quadrajet...

[62electra225]

That looks like my setup. As for the tag, nothing is there.

I have a chilton's manual but I'm guessing you're talking about a shop manual. I'll try to hunt one of those down.

[BuickStreet]

Yeah, get yourself a proper Chassis manual. They're about 3 inches thick and will put any self respecting telephone directory to shame. Invaluable information and makes for fascinating reading...yeah, yeah I know...I should get a a life if I find chassis manuals fascinating reading but what can I say, it kind of seems to have the ability to take you back to those days.

[62electra225]

Yeah I found a site that has a authentic one, as well as a site that has it on CD-ROM. I think I'll go with the authentic one. I don't want to go to my computer in the middle of doing something on my car and get it all greasy. As for the carburetor situation, I found a place online http://www.ponycarburetors.com/main.asp
that rebuilds 4 jets. After reading through it all and talking to them through e-mail, they sound like htey really know what they're doing. They have lots of experience with them and know all what to do to make them run better than new. Any thoughts?

[62electra225]

I just received an e-mail from Edelbrock recommending a carb along with an adapter plate. The carb is #1406. It's a 600 CFM AFB carb with electric choke. My question is; Is 600 CFM too little for the 401? It seems kinda small. Although, I'm not really looking for a big performance increase, I just want better gas mileage, without losing performance. Do you think this would be a good route or do you think the above mentioned post is a better one? Thanks to everyone for your help and patience. Hopefully tomorrow I should have some pics up of my stuff as well. The website is http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/index.html

Summit has it for $259.99 the adapter plate is from TD performance part #2064

The rebuild is 289 +cost for extra parts.

[BuickStreet]

Well Nick, my car originally had a 725 Holley on it when I bought it. When I went to a 750 Q-Jet I got more power, When I went to an 800cfm Q-jet I got even more power. I'm going to try dual quads next. I'd say that a 600 is way too small because when I had the 800cfm Q-Jet on the Dyno, at top revs it started to pull vacuum :eek2: which means that it can stand even more cfm or it might have been that the intake manifold was the restriction.

All I can say is that in my experience and from what I've seen expressed on this and other sites most large Buick engines (400+ cubic inch) love big carbs and your 600 isn't very large at all. However, for economy I think that a properly tuned Q-Jet is the way to go. Or buy a Datsun and enjoy your Buick on weekends only. But dn't forget that with a smaller carb you will be deeper into the throttle to accelerate the same amount so you might end up defeating your purpose by going to too small a carb.

Go for an 800cfm Q-Jet from a 1971-1975 Big Block Buick and have it built correctly. You will enjoy good economy (if you step very lightly on the throttle) and good power when you need it.

[cadmanzx]

NICK,
I CONTACTED TERRILL MACHINE INC. IN DELEON TX FOR PARTS. THEY HAVE CARB KITS FOR $25. 37-67 CARTER, 55-71 ROCHESTER, 36-61 STROMBERG. ALL SAME PRICE. THEY ALSO HAVE GASKET SETS, OIL PUMPS, ENGINE PARTS ETC. FOUND THEM IN HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS. NO WEBSITE. REAL NICE AND KNOWLEGABLE. 254-893-2610.

[62electra225]

Here's some pics of the carb. Don't know if they'll help but they're there in any case. As for the Q-jets, are there any suppliers or would I have to go to e-bay? I'd prefer one that's ready to be bolted in (I wouldn't have to get it rebuilt and everything)

[62electra225]

.

[62electra225]

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[Justin]

What does an adapter plate do to performance/mileage?

I have the Edelbrock 1406 on my 65 401 without an adapter plate.

[txgwildcat]

What's wrong with the carb you have now?

[KEVIN]

If you were quoted 600-800 by someone that does carb rebuilds, its time to move on to a new mechanic. The original 4 bbl carb on my '64 401 cost me about 250 to have rebuilt. Runs great.

[62electra225]

Besides needing rebuilt, not a whole lot. I've heard negative things about the 4 jet as far as efficiency goes, that sort of thing. I'm looking for fuel efficiency more than anything right now. Whatever I do I MUST do it soon. So I've been floating the idea of getting my 4 jet rebuilt while I still look for a manifold that will accomodate the Qjet. I figure if I get my current carb rebuilt and I do find a manifold later on I could sell my carb and intake to my brother who also has a 62 Buick just with a 2 barrel though. I think my car is losing fuel. Last time I took my air cleaner off there was a small puddle of gas collected in one of the recessed areas outside the barrels. It's just gonna be a pain having my car out of commission as it's my daily driver. But it has to be done. After that I think I'm gonna go HEI then new shocks, then dual exhaust.

[txgwildcat]

Rebuild it yourself, just like anything else in life it just takes doing. Maybe you could find another cheap core to practice on? Most carb kits come with detailed instructions and pictures, super easy!

[craig]

i thought that you were going to a 66 nailhead manifold?? that would use the qjet carb of 800cfm?:beer

[62electra225]

I am. Now that I actually found a manifold. So I guess no one has to waste their time with this thread anymore. Unless they want to. My brother has a 62 LeSabre with a 2 barrel and he might want to buy it, so this info could still be used.

[JohnK]

ttt

[62electra225]

????

[poison heart]

I have a '59 Electra and I don't know which carb mine is. How can you tell? I was thinking of getting a 600cfm Edelbrock to replace the stock carb. Would this be an alright replacement? Also do I need to get that adapter for the manifold? Any info or sugestions would be much appreciated. Thanks

[Dan K]

The 401 motor was pretty much the same internally through '66, when either a 625 cfm Carter AFB or the early Qjet were offered. I would think the 600 Holley is too small. The dual Quad is 2 barrels too big(experience). The Carter is nice as it's a mechanical linkage and once set-up, is reliable and absolutely predictable. It also has the correct kickdown attachment point. Their big weakness was leaking fuel bowls after long service, but this can be corrected by most shops. I like the 625 AFB more than Qjets(too many vacuum bugabears) and Holleys. Dan