On an 86 el camino with a 305 is there any other kind of carb I can use besides the quadra junk ? If so, must I get rid of the cpu ? If so,how would I pass smog check because Im in california ? any help would be appreciated. thank you.

The Q-jet is a very good carburetor, not junk as you refer to. I've rebuilt several and they run very well. You're better off bringing your Elky to a qualified mechanic and having them either rebuild the carb or replace it with a rebuilt E4ME Q-jet.

If you decide to replace the computer controlled Q-jet you'll need to replace the computer controlled distributor as well and eliminate the ECM. It will definetly flunk your California emissions inspection as a result.

I purchased the el camino from my grandfather who had just taken the el camino to a mechanic due to carb problems. The mechanic sold him a "rebuilt" quadrajet that (in my opinion) runs worse that the original.
After all that I have heard and read it seems to me the only option is to get the one I have now adjusted properly or buy a new one.
thank you for your input.

I think the Q-jet is a great carb. I bet 90+% of the problem blamed on the carb are actually a vacuum leak or out of range ECM sensor. I vacuum diagram, cheap scan tool and a shop manual will go a long way to fixing most "carb" problems.

A properly rebuilt and adjusted Quadrajet is a very good carb. Trouble with them is that very few people can rebuild them and make the bench setings properly. This includes the so-called experienced rebuilders. I know because I have tried several of them. Then, to pass emissions, the carb. must be fine tuned on a running engine equipped with an ECM. A perfectly rebuilt unit that is not properly adjusted on the running engine will not pass emissions.

I have dealt with local and out-of-state rebuilders with poor results. When my local guy retired, I found myself SOL. After dealing with a couple of out-of-state rebuilders, I found one that is absolutely superb. He is in Pittsburgh, California. The company is named Recarbo. They have a web site.

Great thing about Recarbo is they install your carb on a running engine equipped with an ECM and make the final adjustments. All you have to do is mount the unit properly and it runs great right out of the box. I prefer their service to purchasing a remanufactured unit from an auto parts house (I looked at them in the past). With Recarbo, not only are you buying their expertise, but you are getting a carb ready to bolt on and run. I think their product is adjusted so as to pass California emissions right out of the box. That way, if your engine does not run correctly from the get-go, you can be reasonably certain the problem is not in the carb nor the adjustment of the carb, but somewhere else.

Good luck with that Qjet.

Thank you very much for your info,it will help me alot.