Lately I have a yen to convert my 66 Beaumont 283 2 barrel to a period correct 4 barrel setup. (The L77 option - 220 horse 283)
I have been able to source a really nice stock air cleaner and a manifold but no carb yet. Anybody have one hanging around in the garage from around circa 1964/65 from a 327 or the 283? I should be able to buy a kit and redo it if isn't too bad.
Not sure if it will improve normal drivability as I'm quite happy with the low end torque of the two barrel but it does runout of steam when I pull out to pass so maybe the 4 barrel would help that.
I see Rock Auto still lists the old Rochester 4jet for the 1966 Chevelle, no Carter carb though. I believe that the bolt pattern is the same, not sure about the air filter mounting. I have a stock air cleaner for the Rochester 4jet (4gc) I can measure if you like. I dont know which carb is better, I have used both many years ago and didnt have any trouble with either. The biggest problem would be the availability of parts to rebuild these old carbs.
Were Rochesters the only carbs used in that 66-67 era on the Chevelle and Beaumonts? I have a Quadra Jet on my 66, and also have a spare completely rebuilt Quadrajet as a spare.
Thanks guys I haven't seen a setup like that for quite a few years so I'm not sure of the actual carb. We used to just call them the square box 4 jet.
Nevertheless Dave, if you have a few that would be correct for the 283 four barrel setup I'd be interested in the most rebuildable one you have (for a powerglide if possible)
Id check a shop manual to see what carb was available on the 283 in that year.
4gcs came on 283s and 327s up to the mid 60s, a 62 250 hp 327 has one, the 327 300 hp had an afb. I only know full size Chevy stuff. 4 gcs came on other gms too, all specd a bit differently. The 4
Low hp 409 had a 4 gc, they are rare and about 650cfm. The 283s were about 450 cfm, the afb in a 300 hp 327 was about 500. The 4 gc base was 2 different sizes, the 409 one had the large base, same size as the afb and I think a Holley too.
The afb uses the same jetting and most other parts of the edlebrock, which it evolved from. You want to match your carb size to your 283, too much carb is worse than not enough. Then find the right intake for whatever carb you get.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
Ken, can you post a picture of the intake you have? A Quadrajet intake is different than a Carter intake which is different than a 4 GC intake!
Quadrajet secondaries are much much larger than the primaries. If I recall, Carter secondaries are the same size as the primaries. What about the 4 GC carbs? Are the secondaries just slightly larger than the primaries?
Thanks for chipping in guys. I'm away from home right now. I haven't actually seen the manifold yet as my buddy just told me he has one locally. I thought there were just two, the quadrajet and the 4 jet style. He says it's not a quadrajet so given the new info I wont know for sure until i see it on Thursday on my way home.
The 4gc has a smaller and larger bore size, you should measure the bores to match them to the carb bores. By eyeball, they look the same.
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63 Parisienne sport coupe (The Big GTO), black, maroon interior, 409 4 speed; former owner of a 59 El Camino, 63 Corvette SWC, 62 Chev Bel Air SC. 1963- Pontiac top selling car in Canada
Mahone Bay, NS Still not old enough to need an automatic
