[02Duramax]

I will be getting a 1983 Chevy truck tomorrow with the TBI on a 350 smallblock. How hard would it be to swap a Quadrajet onto it? Responses are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Corday]

If you're mechanically inclined, after finding a carb that fits, the job is easy.

 

[02Duramax]

I think I'm mechanically inclined enough; will a quadrajet bolt right on?

 

[Corday]

Tuned correctly, TBI is better even if you're planning to put in a "hotter" cam. I would strongly advise against your plan.

 

[02Duramax]

I don't plan to touch the engine, the old owner said it always ran better carbureted than it did with the TBI but I am going to try to get it to run good with the TBI first and if I can't, carbureted is plan b.

 

[wolfen1086]

if the carb doesn't fit right you'll need an adapter plate
but as for running better, I used to have a quadrajunk on a 76 Chevy with HEI ign and it ran better that ANY fuel injected engine I have ever had
I'm waiting for teh day the computer on my 93 Dakota dies, on that day I'm putting a Carter 2brl ontop

 

[02Duramax]

From what the TBI looks like, the carb will bolt right on. The next issue for me is if it will work or if I will need to rebuild it.

 

[Corday]

Of course you have no way of knowing until you have it installed.. IMO even though TBI is not as good as port or direct injection, I wouldn't replace it with a carb if the TBI was OEM.

 

[02Duramax]

I have no idea if the TBI is original. I found a quadrajet on ebay that looks pretty good the insides clean and the jets look ok from what I could see from the picture.

 

[Corday]

I meant if the engine came with TBI from GM.

 

[02Duramax]

I have no idea if it came from the factory with TBI.

 

[Corday]

The LT9 engine came with a Rochester Quadrajet. An owner could have done an engine and or fuel delivery swap.

 

[02Duramax]

I should have mentioned this earlier the 350 was pulled out of an '85 half ton and swapped in because the 6.2 diesel that was in it blew up.

 

[SpywareDr]

 

[02Duramax]

You don't have to swap the intake do you?

 

[SpywareDr]

Me? No. You, maybe. Did they swap in the video above?

 

[02Duramax]

Yes they swapped the intake.

 

[SpywareDr]

Unless you know better, recommend following their lead.

 

[wolfen1086]

if the tbi unit is vertical like a carb is them the only reason to swap intakes would be because the bolt holes don't line up, I used to have a 89 S10 blazer with a 4.3 TBI in it and when the computer died, I out a carb on top and it actually ran better
Currently I own a 1993 odge Dakota with a 3.9 magnium, and Carter makes a carb that is a direct fit to replace the air horn

 

[02Duramax]

I'm going to see if a quadrajet will fit and if it doesn't I think I'm just going to 6.2 Diesel swap it because that's what the pickup had in it before.