okay here goes, my qjet still isn't running right. i've learned a lot from tinkering with it but i want this to run right, so i'm in doubt as what to do next..
send mine of for rebuilding (i figure shipping it from europe to the us and back will cost me around a $100) or buy one from ebay like one of these..

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ROCHESTER-QUADRAJET-CARBURETOR-350-CHEVROLET-TRUCK_W0QQitemZ250085692984QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33550QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

can anyone recommend a good source for q-jets?

I ended up abandoning my Q-Jet for a rebuilt one. Mine had many issues (worn throttle shafts, severaly warped base plate, and the choke linkage was all messed up).

I ended up buying one of these Jet Performance Q-Jets through Summit Racing: http://www.jetchip.com/products.asp?pid=23033 I've been very happy with it.

Here are two additional sources that people here recommended to me:

http://www.customcarbs.com/

http://www.performancecarburetors.com/

P.S. I'm glad I kept my Q-Jet...

Q-jets are great carbs when set right. Unfortunately I've only ever met one person who was able to do it.

I even bought a book and still couldn't do it. I took one in and payed a mechanic $150 and he couldn't do it either. Save yourself the headache and buy a Holley. Even rebuilt Q-jets need to be set up and adjusted.

I love the new carb, smooth engine runing, take off and no trouble from carb for long time... go fo it if your cam is not soooo big,,,,

if i get a holley i need a new intake manifold as well.. (or not?)

if i get an intake manifold i might as well get one for the vortec heads while i'm at it as i have those heads and a new cam anyway and stuff that in there..

but then i'd end up buying new valve covers, rocker arms, intake manifold and a carb.. with all the stuff that comes along with that it will cost me another $1000 easy.. i'm not sure if i want to spend that right now..

so i think i'll stick with a qjet and when the time comes for the head and cam swap buy an intake manifold for the qjet that fits on the vortec heads..

if i get a holley i need a new intake manifold as well.. (or not?)

Correct.

Adapter plates are available to go from the Q-Jet's spreadbore to the aftermarket's square bore pattern - but you would need to have enough hood clearance for the spacer...

There are clearly fewer choices for intake manifolds when you run a Q-Jet. For example, you can't get an RPM air-gap (at least not that I've seen).

maybe an adapter plate, holley 670 street avenger and a drop base aircleaner will do the trick.. i have a stock hood and stock intake manifold..

Please do not abandon the Q-Jet. It is a better carburator for the street than any Holley will ever be. It's trouble free when compared to any Holley.

We're going to have to assume that the engine is trouble free (valves, cam, no vacuum leaks, fresh gas, new fuel filter, good fuel pressure, fresh tuneup with quality parts--AC Delco spark plugs, spark plug wires, cap, rotor, and the HEI's inertial weights are free and not worn) before trouble shooting.

The things to look for on the carburator: are the throttle shafts tight or loose in the base? If loose, get a new/different carburator or send this carb to someone who can put bushings in the base to bring it back to factory specs. Are the vacuum lines hooked to the propper ports? Is there a vacuum leak between the base gasket and the intake? It's fairly easy to check with an unlit propane torch. Start the engine and let it idle. Move the unlit torch slowly around the engine. If the idle picks up you have found the leak. I have used starting fluid to do this but I do not recommend it as you can start a fire real easy if you aren't real careflul and if you spay too much of it around.

Q-Jets are not the big mystery that you hear about. They are fairly easy to rebuild but you do have to pay attention to detail. All the links have to go back on where they came from, the float height and drop is critical (as it is with all carburators), sealing the welch plugs with epoxy (they are on the bottom of the main body between the base plate and the main body), and replacing or repairing worn parts. Before the advent of digital cameras, I made diagrams of where every link went and how it was oriented. Now, I just take picturs of them before and as I disassemble it.

More on the welch plugs: this is the #1 reason why A-Jets run like crap. When they are leaking they cause the following symptoms: car starts like a cracker jack when stone cold. Runs like crap and fouls the plugs out. If the engine is warm and you shut it off, it's a bear to get restarted unless you hold the gas pedal to the floor. Gas milage goes down the tubes. Smell gas all the time. The ONLY fix is to epoxy the welch plugs which means rebuilding the carburator which dictates buying a fuel filter, float, and a rebuild kit.

There are tons of posts here that address the positve aspects of Q-Jets and how to rebuild them.

Carb spacers to adapt from a Q-Jet (spread bore) to a Holley (square bore). DO NOT DO THIS. It changes the vacuum signal(s) that make an engine run right. Trust me, I have done it when I was backed into a corner and had to put a induction system toether when I had no other choice. It runs like crap, has twice the chance of creating vacuum leaks, and it runs like crap. Did I say that it runs like crap?

I just googled for Q-Jet throttle shaft bushings and the very first site was this one which has a plethera of information and the bushing kits for the Q-Jet: http://www.quadrajetcarburetors.com/index.html

thanks Cardinal, i do like my Q-jet and had enough fun toying with it (i learned a lot from the people and previous posts here). I pulled her apart, cleaner her up, replaced all the gaskes and then started changing the float level, idle mixture and plugging any vacuum leaks i came across..
got her to run pretty decent until it started leaking at the throttle shaft.. there's a lot of play in there.. so i figured it's time to get it rebuild by someone who knows what there doing or to replace it..

i'll forget about the adapters then thanks for pointing that out to me..

Charlie,

I second the vote in favor of keeping the Q-jet.

I know there will be higher expenses being in Europe and shipping from the USA but it is a far better carb than what a lot of people think or give it credit for!

My suggestions are to check into JET Performance and The Carb Shop which are both reputable and in Southern California. These guys are into rebuilding and tuning the Quadrajets.

Hell! GM had them stock on Vettes, Chevelles, and Camaros for many years and they also perform very well in stock racing classes! Let's just be thankful that we don't have Mopars with Thermoquads! Yeeech!