Carburetor recommendation

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Fredo90

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2022
Posts
14
Reaction score
1
Location
California
First Name
Alfredo
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
5.7 V8
Good pick for a Holley on the GM spreadbore stock manifold is a 9895. Very tuneable and will pass emissions when set up correctly.

This carb has vacuum operated secondaries for smooth transition on a street truck. It also has an electric choke and ports for all the emissions. Brackets are available for auto transmissions, 700R4 or TH350C if needed.

Holley used to make spreadbore 650 CFM carbs that were model specific, but since these trucks are all 30 plus years old there are less specific choices.

Holley 9895 (click)

You must be registered for see images attach
Thank you I will definitely check it out!
 

mtbadbob

Full Access Member
Joined
May 9, 2021
Posts
617
Reaction score
920
Location
Montana
First Name
Bob
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
V20
Engine Size
350
Rebuild the Q-Jet, NOTHING will be better when tuned right.
 

Turbo4whl

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Posts
2,837
Reaction score
6,356
Location
Downingtown, PA
First Name
Wayne
Truck Year
1974
Truck Model
Jimmy
Engine Size
350
Rebuild the Q-Jet, NOTHING will be better when tuned right.

I won't disagree with this but, not everyone has the means and knowledge to rebuild an old Q-Jet. Just removing throttle plates to rebush the throttle shafts is a chore. Add resealing wells and trying to get the correct kit parts, and what about worn accelerator bore?

The OP asked about a replacement carb. New, ready to go. Me personally, have had trouble in the past with buying any so called rebuild Q-Jets.
 

HEG77k10

Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2021
Posts
45
Reaction score
34
Location
Adna, Washington
First Name
Hayden
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
Chevy k10
Engine Size
400 stroker
On my engine (400 stroker) I have a Edelbrock avs2 650. It’s basicallly the same as the performer series. Super easy to tune, easier than a Holley. Not saying they’re better but for a daily driver high hp engine I really like the Edelbrocks.
 

K5ride

Full Access Member
Joined
May 2, 2018
Posts
131
Reaction score
199
Location
Apple Valley, CA
First Name
Steve
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
C10 Stepside
Engine Size
350
Is your truck California certified or Federal? Is it over 8500 lb GVWR? For 1985 - If it's a California truck under 8500 lbs, it should have a computer controlled feedback carburetor. Federal or over 8500 lbs, would be a standard type carburetor. To pass smog inspections in California, make sure the carburetor you install is C.A.R.B. approved. Be sure to read the fine print. An example is the Edelbrock performer 1400. It states it is "50 state" legal. Then later is states it is only legal on 1980 and older. Here is a link for the CARB aftermarket parts that have been issued the executive order to be smog legal. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/applications/aftermarket-parts-database
 
Last edited:

Bextreme04

Full Access Member
Joined
May 13, 2019
Posts
4,135
Reaction score
4,984
Location
Oregon
First Name
Eric
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
K25
Engine Size
350-4bbl
Its going to cost you less money to have a GOOD rebuilder rebuild that quadrajet than it would to buy any new carburetor. If you didn't have a carburetor already, it might be a different story, but a quality rebuild of the stock carb is going to get you the best performance and probably be cheaper all the way around.

Cliff's High performance would be my recommendation. Cliff literally wrote the book on quadrajets and they will rebuild yours or sell you a custom matched rebuild kit if you want to do the work yourself.

https://cliffshighperformance.com/services
 

peats

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2016
Posts
288
Reaction score
236
Location
Pennsylvania
First Name
john
Truck Year
72k5, 81c10 short step, 83k10 short fleet, 03 SSR. 25 chevy doodlebug
Truck Model
k5 c10 k10 SSR doodlebug
Engine Size
406 360 6.2 5.3 171
Rebuild the q jet
 

tubehead

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 1, 2013
Posts
11
Reaction score
4
Location
australia
First Name
richard
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
c10 silverado
Engine Size
350
Fitted a rebuilt quady from summit racing to my ZZ4 crate motor 5 years ago. Truck is driven sedately to tire smoking hard. Very economical if I stay out of the secondaries.
Only issue is in summer the fuel in the bowl evaporates if it sits more than 3 days and have to crank the **** out of it to fire.Used daily it starts instantly.
 

Fredo90

Junior Member
Joined
Apr 13, 2022
Posts
14
Reaction score
1
Location
California
First Name
Alfredo
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
5.7 V8
Is your truck California certified or Federal? Is it over 8500 lb GVWR? For 1985 - If it's a California truck under 8500 lbs, it should have a computer controlled feedback carburetor. Federal or over 8500 lbs, would be a standard type carburetor. To pass smog inspections in California, make sure the carburetor you install is C.A.R.B. approved. Be sure to read the fine print. An example is the Edelbrock performer 1400. It states it is "50 state" legal. Then later is states it is only legal on 1980 and older. Here is a link for the CARB aftermarket parts that have been issued the executive order to be smog legal. https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/applications/aftermarket-parts-database
I didn't know any of that. I'd have to check the weight cause I'm not sure. I appreciate the info and the link!
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
41,854
Posts
903,562
Members
33,367
Latest member
texdave
Top