[A.W.Dille]

I was given this carb today and thinking of using it on my 350 in my Grand Prix. Even though it's a Chevy carb with side inlet ( I have some aluminum fuel line to make a new line) I'm wondering if this will work well since I'm changing the heads (67 143'a), changing to a 69 iron intake (from the 73 I was using) and I took the 4* advance out of the 068 cam. One plus I see to this carb is the electric choke which my 85 originally had but wondering about the secondaries as the vacuum pull off mounts to the rear. Also the plugs have been removed to expose the adjustment screws to I don't have to worry about that. Any advice on this carb (yes I do have Cliff's book) or should I look for a front inlet carb.

[Kenth]

Nice 800cfm casting Truck unit using the single upper main air bleeds and .036" power tip M-rods.
May work fine as is, with a new kit, float and pull-off, but i would open the idle needle holes from .056" to .090, idle tubes from .033" to .035", replace the #72 main jets with #74 and set the APT 4 turns up from seated for starters.

[Cliff R]

+2 nice carb.

I'd have to research the number but it may be a rear pull-off only model. No big deal there, just a tad harder to work with that the front pull-off models......Cliff

[A.W.Dille]

Cliff, yes it is the rear pull-off. I'm not sure where to run the vacuum from for the pull off and was wondering if this carb might be worth using, sounds like it may be.
Thanks Kenth. From what you said this may really wake my 350 up.

[Cliff R]

Any full manifold vacuum source from the carb will work for the pull-off. Some have a port at the rear of the baseplate beside the 1/4" NPT threaded hole. That carb is a very nice unit, I use a lot of those for our custom carburetors. The rear pull-off can sometimes be troublesome, they will hit other items bolted to the intake, may interfere with drop base air cleaners, etc.

The rear pull-offs can be harder to modify for quick release than the front ones, so I convert most of them to front pull-off during the rebuild to make things easier all the way around......Cliff

[A.W.Dille]

Thanks Cliff. I'll be using a 69 intake and have already checked it for clearance and with trying to stay with the basics on this engine I don't think I'm going to have a problem there. I have inspected the carb further and have found the secondary metering rod hanger to be bent, but I have a 72 800 cfm Buick carb I can take the hanger off of if it'll work with my present metering rods or would it be better to try to straighten the present hanger? As far as air cleaner I have an Edelbrock air cleaner base I may try to modify as I'm not crazy with the idea of using the stock single snorkel air cleaner housing I've been using in the past. Plus with the hood clearance being limited on the G-body I need to try to get all the clearance I can. Thanks for the help.

[Cliff R]

About 7 in 10 hangers will be bent, happens when folks install the top without removing the hanger and metering rods. No big deal to bend it back so both rods are even, takes less time than it took me to type this.

I would recalibrate the carb exactly for the new application, it will need some help for an 068 cam in a 350 build, and upgraded for this new fuel, we can help there when you are ready to do the build......Cliff

[A.W.Dille]

Thanks Cliff. I like the idea of changing to the front pull off as the linkage (I discovered this evening) to the secondary air flaps is missing and I haven't been able to locate where it connects behind the choke housing. What carb would be best to obtain the necessary parts to convert this? I'm hoping to have the engine back together this week and hoping to fire it off around next weekend.

[Cliff R]

All you have to do is contact the shop, we have everything required to get the carb where it needs to be, rear pull-off or converting it to a front pull-off. I've built hundreds of those units since we went full time in this business 11 years ago, and stock every single part for them.......Cliff

[A.W.Dille]

Cliff I'll giving you a call the first of the week. Thanks again. Alan

[Cliff R]

Sound great! Headed out to plow some snow here in a few minutes. We're getting blasted pretty hard here in Ohio today, wind chill below zero and temps are dropping over the next few days. They are calling for -18 degrees actual temperature by first of the week.....Cliff

[A.W.Dille]

Well an update. I found some parts carbs today at one of the local yards I frequent. One has the part number of 17058204 and has the front pull-off and linkage. Only thing I see from mine is the linkage from the rear mounted choke pull-off, and some type of heated /vacuum choke on the parts carb and wondering about how much difference in the linkage from the choke setup on the parts carb to mine with the electric. Everything else I found as far as parts carbs I may get for extra secondary metering rod hangers and metering rods and hopefully some different jets and metering rods. All are the side inlet Chevy style carbs.

[Icefan71]

A.W.Dillie, I have the same 2 carbs as you. I rebuilt the 17058204, but I hacked up the butterflies. I found the 17059206 locally dirt cheap. I'm interested in how your swap turns out. I'll probably end up doing the same thing, putting the 8204 front pull-off onto the 9206.

[Cliff R]

The airhorns are not the same, so they woln't swap out.

You can swap out the shafts, and can convert to a front pull-off, but will have to make a stop for the air valve as it will not be present, allowing the secondary airflaps to open too far.........Cliff

[Icefan71]

Originally Posted by Cliff R

The airhorns are not the same, so they woln't swap out.

You can swap out the shafts, and can convert to a front pull-off, but will have to make a stop for the air valve as it will not be present, allowing the secondary airflaps to open too far.........Cliff

OK thanks for the heads up.

[A.W.Dille]

Thanks Cliff, I haven't gotten them yet, was going back today.