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The INSANE GM Carb Trick That Turned Slow V8s Into Monsters!

406K views · Dec 12, 2025 · Autos & Vehicles

Muscle Car Masters

37K subscribers

Comments · 1.6K

@MuscleCarMasters68 · 2 months ago · pinned
Why GM's CHEAPEST 2-Speed Was SECRETLY The Most INSANE Transmission Ever! <br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSC040Lek-c">https://youtu.be/mSC040Lek-c</a>
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@mjdart54 · 9 months ago (edited)
I started my career in 1977 at Rochester Products in Set & Pack  setting the Wide Open Throttle (WOT) on 2,000 QuadraJets, each 8-hour shift, then I worked myself into a new position aa a QuadraJet Mechanical Setter. I would set up to 7 different carburetor functions on (335) individual QuadraJets each night which was the expected quota. The BOC cars had a lot more settings than a carburetor for standard Chevrolets or most Pontiacs. The clean room which flow tested each carburetor using hundreds of vacuum pumps to simulate engine vacuum and solvasol which mimics gasoline, but was not flammable. The flow test maching adjusted fuel flow through each carburetor. The room was huge and was barometric pressure, temperature, & humidity were computer controlled for perfect settings. Imagine in 1979 when GM produced 9 million cars and a vast majority of them had QuadraJets. I latter entered an apprenticeship becoming a Millwright whose main task still working in this area of Rochester Products was keeping all the conveyors, vacuum pumps and many other prduction equipment running.
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@DonDon-gm3zu · 9 months ago
I remember i used to rebuild my own carbs in the 70s-80s now i am afraid to open my hood. I sure do miss the old days you could fix your car yourself.
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@drjohnsonhungwell5115 · 9 months ago
I had a 1971 Buick Skylark GS 455 with the TH400 transmission and the quadrajet 4bbl that car was very responsive no bogging when you'd punch it just long burnouts even rolling from 35 mph and the sound when those secondaries opened up was glorious. ....turning every head in sight
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@maryannmoran-smyth3453 · 9 months ago
As an engine builder, I would send my carburetors out for race cars to Bill Grant, racing and he did great job on them turning them into horsepower monsters it really woke up the engine… Rest in peace, brother
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@sergiosolis4538 · 9 months ago
Rochester Quadrajets, and 2 jet carbs aren't complicated. I was rebuilding them when I was a teenager.  The Quadrajet or "Q-jet" carbs were efficient and mild when they're just using the primaries for cruising.  They gave a nice kick when you needed more power. You just need to know and understand how it works and how to tune it. In my view, it did well for a stock unit.
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@todddenio3200 · 9 months ago
Once a person understood them, the Quadrajet was a great carburetor. In fact it was so great that even Ford and Mopar bought them to install on their engines.
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@larryschmidt977 · 9 months ago
One of the best carbs ever built,  better fuel economy and if you know what you are doing,  more power than a holley
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@jimmyjackass1805 · 9 months ago
I embarrassed a bunch of rich kids in there Camaro's in my Dad 1970 455 Buick Le-Sabre. In 1980 . Soon as I got out of ear shot of the House the air cleaner got flipped and the screwdrivers came out. The old Bias Ply tire fire. I was a menace.
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@idessaoutlaw · 9 months ago
Back in the early 70s I used to wax big blocks with my 68 SS 350 300 hp  Camaro because I knew how to tune my Q Jet carb.  just right.. I got 22 mpg cruising while still dominating the 1/4 mile.  I tuned my mom's 1970 Buick HP 455 to smoke everyone  on the road, from the 1/4 mile to top end cross country racing..I still love to hear the CHEEE WOMP sounds of the Q Jet carb and the dashboard vibrations💥😎👌
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@barryutube11 · 9 months ago
Smokey Yunik had already sorted out better breathing carbs long before GM figured it out. They fined Smokey many times  but allowed GM to carry on.
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@MarkReed-h4u · 9 months ago
Remember when we turned the the breather cover upside down.  You could feel it in your chest.
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