Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

[Brian B.]

I am hoping for suggestions to solve a problem with a quadrajet equipped car that we are getting running after it has been idle for years. It will idle ok and if you increase throttle VERY VERY slowly with the car in neutral it will run at the higher RPM. However, if you try to accelerate at all normally. It will immediately stall. Ideas?? BTW, I am NOT a mechanical boy genius, So please try to keep it simple... Thanks

[Russ S.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Most likely your accelerator pump is stuck. You will need to remove the top of the carb to get at it.

[Jim T.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Agree on the accelerator pump being the problem. It can also not be capable of doing the pump function in delivering squirts of fuel.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Accelerator pump, then check the power piston spring. I've seen them stick too - or had one missing in my 72 when I purchased it.

[Brian B.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

It does squirt fuel. Any other suggestions?. Could it be ignition advance or something electrical?

[Patrick H.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

It does squirt fuel. Any other suggestions?. Could it be ignition advance or something electrical?

Might not squirt enough to be useful, and the power piston spring and/or assembly could still be working poorly.

It only takes a few minutes to remove the air horn from a Q-jet and look at the accelerator pump as well as check the power piston operation.

Patrick

[Edward J.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Brian, I noted from your profile you have a 62 Is the carb. a quadrajet or Carter WAFB ? maybe its a different car. if its a quadrajet Patrick has likely has got the correct fix, sometimes after sitting idle and not started if a small fragment of dirt gets lodged in the metering rods they will stick in the down position and you will get a flat spot on accel. In any event since the air horn has to come off you may as well get a rebuild kit. or send out for a rebuild.Taking a carburator air horn for someone not very experienced with carburators can be a task.

if you have a table to sit and with good light and a manuel or blow up of the carb you'll see what is required. just take it one step at a time.

[Stuart F.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Carburetors are not really rocket science. Anyone with a little common sense can tear one down to clean and put a kit in it. Best though to pre-educate yourself with a service book just, if for no other reason than to give yourself some confidence. Take your time and be methodical about it, then use the service book to guide you in reassembly.

Stu Fox

Self Taught on 4GC's, Q-Jets, WCFB's and AFB's. Done Holley's too but hateum (except the old 3-bolt 2-barrels).

[Brian B.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Its my brother in law's newly aquired 64 Impala with a 4 jet. The AFB on my 62 runs great. But the carb on the impala is a disaster. The entire engine / carb / electrical is suspect but the carb seems the most likely suspect. You guys and girls have been so helpful with my 62 issues that I hoped for some more good advice.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

Bring it over and we can play with it.
I'm just across the Lake.

Lake Michigan, that is.

[Wayne G.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

I am hoping for suggestions to solve a problem with a quadrajet equipped car that we are getting running after it has been idle for years. It will idle ok and if you increase throttle VERY VERY slowly with the car in neutral it will run at the higher RPM. However, if you try to accelerate at all normally. It will immediately stall. Ideas?? BTW, I am NOT a mechanical boy genius, So please try to keep it simple... Thanks

If the pump is squirting OK as you can test that on car you should see a nice steady stream that should be fine at idle and not driven it should not stall. Sounds more like it is running out of gas? or the main are not giving enough fuel. even the power piston stick it should not really stall.

Is it more a starving for gas? Maybe check the float... I have run many of Qjets with the top off the carb to test and check things out, not a easy task but it can be done...

Take or go get some GUITAR strings and run them down all the holes you see maybe just something stuck as it sound like you say the carb has been sitting with todays gas man can it get sticky in those small rods and holes real fast... I have had great luck with runnin 4 cycle oil and a mix of gas stor on the heavy side to clean out many carbs and store a car that way, just make a mess with the smoke when you start the car( I know I hear the nah sayers on the snowmobile oil or weed wacker oil, thats more for corrosion prevention and piston ring lube tho.... You can also spray the holes and air passages with 2+2 carb cleaner. if the carb was never messed with a rebuild is easy just don't bend anything and pretty much take it apart and put it back together with the kit parts just go slow and lay thins out on paper as to were they go...???

I am a wiz at Qjets... a real fin carb, almost as bad as my crossfire or a 60 FI to many since they know not what they are doing. In is something that is like even a trans once you do 5-10 you get the FEEL of it all...

Look online there are many great QJET sights and documents on how to setup and tune and troubleshoot...

Oh here ya go the mother load on troubleshoot the QJET!

http://www.florida4x4.com/tech/quadrajet/index.php

Good luck!

[Cecil L.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

It would be helpful to accurately identify the carb. If it is original to the 64 then it should be a Rochester 4 jet, which is a different carb than a quadrajet.

[Brian B.]

Re: Quadrajet Stalls on Acceleration

My fault, Not specific enough. It is a 4Jet.