NEW TO THE AUTOMOTIVE STUFF BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND AN 86 ELKY WITH ONLY 51K ORIGINAL MILES. MY QUESTION IS THIS, IS THERE A HIGHER MILEAGE/PERFORMANCE/DEPENDABLE ALTERNATIVE CARB TO THE STOCK ROCHESTER THAT IS EASILY SWAPABLE?
8O

Alternative to the Rochester carb that's easy to swap and going to give you better gas mileage...don't think soooo! You could go to a smaller CFM four barrel, but if too much smaller CFM, then you'll starve the engine of fuel. If the carb is not well tuned, or needs rebuilding, it may help to fix it or replace it. But here's a lil tune for ya ta sing and dance too. :banana: "With a TBI, or a TPI, or an EFI...EIEIO." :screwy: I guess the song's a lot easier and cheaper to sing and dance too...isn't it?

TBI would be a good route to go, and won't hurt the piggy bank too badly.

It sure seems a lot of people want to replace their ECM controlled Rochester carburetor with a different carb. I sure have not found one that qualifies for passing emissions tests where they are required. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

Doug

I'd get a performance quadrajet or a very well rebuilt one. I think the quadrajet is one of the best all around carbs if you do everything right. Quadrajets can be tuned for performance and your is probally computer controlled get a jet chip and maybe a new 02 sensor and you should be set. Most people ditch the quadrajet for something else and say they have gained power but there is more to it. They probally changed intake manifolds which is a big help. and the carb is probally new so its going to seem better than a 150,000mile quadrajet. THe quadrajet i one baaddd carb but you have to know how to tune it. Don't know if that helped but kinda tired of people dissing my buddy the Mr. Quadrajet. Man he knows when to save gas and then he knows when to get up and go.

Keep in mind, If your electronic Qjet is in good working order, the primary side can offer good fuel economy and your free to play with the secondary as they are not controlled by the ECU and function the same as the old stuff.
Mike