Hi Cliff, I've torn down my Q-Jet with the serious idle issues and it does look like the idle tubes are mangled. Pictures are in my thread. One user also mentioned inquiring about a modification to the base plate APT that I am not familiar with. Anyway, if you have a chance to look at the photos, I'd appreciate your input and if your willing to put together a kit with your recommended components, I'd certainly appreciate it. I really don't want to go to a Holley Sniper.... Thank you, Steve Mansen

Forum is still up, was just on it yesterday.

What is you user name and email, I'll take a look at it....

Cliff, is your forum still active? I get a message saying Sorry Guest, you are banned from using this forum. This ban will not expire.?

Please disregard. He found the answer in a manual . I didn't have them marked wrong.

Sorry to bother you again Cliff. I have the pistons getting pressed on my Rods and the machinist phoned and said I had the rods marked wrong.. he say's he marks #1 from the leading edge of the block. I explained I marked them for there actual layout in the block 1357 drivers side 2468 passenger side. Is the Rod orientation with the locking tabs towards the cam. Thank you very very much.

Thank you Cliff, much appreciated.

It can be blocked off...

Goodmorning Cliff, one more question if you have a moment. If your not running a heater core can you block of the nipple on the back passenger head and the water pump outlet. Or do you have to run a hose from the water pump to the back of the passenger cylinder head nipple. Thank you. Ty

It's another wives tale with quite a few negatives and no positives. Here is what Lars had to say about it when I asked him:

Many years ago, I made the mistake of installing some pistons backwards. It did not work well at all, and I ended up doing a teardown to correct it.


The thought that a bunch of yahoos on a Forum think they know more about piston design than the engineers who design pistons is pretty absurd. Even when you have custom-made race pistons designed and built they are of the same basic design geometry with offsets and an oval cam-grind shape to compensate for asymmetrical expansion due to asymmetrical mass. There is a damned good reason the piston designers do not design the pistons to mimic a backwards-installed piston.

They did the piston offset on engine masters with Freiberger and surprise no horsepower gain. probably just cylinder thrust wear.