Erik, I'm not dissing the TQ, just describing my experience. I think the
key is something you said "well tuned and running". This seems to be a
problem unless you are a carb god. I rebuild mine and was unhappy with it
so I bought a 'factory rebuilt' one and it was never right. Others on the
list have had similar issues and yet others have had no problems. I got my
information on leaking and warping from my local carb guy and this list. My
carb guy (Mr White) was the one who told me about adjusting the float level
to solve the hot start flooding problem. This trick solved the hot start
problem and was implemented by numerous folks on this list.
I know several people who have replaced their TQ with the aluminum carter
and they run great compared to the old TQ. Instant starts even after
sitting, no off idle stumble or bogging, and no diddliing with it all the
time. Price is about the same and you don't need to be a carb god to get it
right. (I'm not a carb guy)
I certainly agree that spreadbore carbs can give great mileage. I got 15
mpg once on my 73 in a long highway trip. The GM quadrajet is a great carb
with basically the same design.
On a side note, regarding 800 CFM, while the TQ can flow that, most stock
engines will not need 1/2 that, especially on a small block. Do the math
and even on a 440 up toward stock readline 550 cfm is plenty. I don't think
MOST (but certainly not all including D2) Imperials get to 5000 rpm very
often and prefer driveablility over WOT response. I've always heard that
over carbing an engine causes drivability issues and this is also my
experience. I've bought several cars that someone bolted a huge monster
carb on that ran like crap. Put the stock carb back on and everything was
all better..... Don't know, not an expert but it worked for me. Kind of
like single weight oil in old engines reducing visible smoke. Works for me!
KerryP
Patch panels fabricated
Pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx
dte.net/57imperial
Imperials -- 50 Limo, 57 roadster, 61's, 62, 68 Convert, 73, a 66 300 and a
bunch of lesser marques
----- Original Message -----
From: erik kalm <erik_kalm@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 10:45 PM
Subject: Re: IML: '73 resto' project - TQ carb question
>
> Hi Kerry
> Don't know where you have been getting your TQ info from, but while they
> were made of "plastic", they are generally not know to crack or leak and
are
> very easy to tune and live with. The TQ came into existance in the late
60's
> actually coming into Chrylser use in 71 (?), and was THE 4 barrel from
there
> until Carter got out of the carb business in 1985.
> Reknowned for there great throttle response and awesome fuel economy, they
> are, as I said before, probably the finest street carb ever. Tho parts are
> getting scarce due to Carter no longer supporting it, they are still quite
> readily available thru commercial rebuilders. Demonsizzler, who comments
can
> be easily found on Moparchat.com, is the TQ guru. Can make them work even
> better. Has a huge supply of spares. Any other carb, after a well tuned
and
> running TQ, is definatly a step down.
> How many other 800CFM carbs can you drop onto a 318 and still get 20 MPG
> with?
> Erik
>
> >From: "Kerry Pinkerton" <pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx>
> >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Subject: Re: IML: '73 resto' project - TQ carb question
> >Date: Mon, 2 Jun 2003 05:33:31 -0500
> >
> >The Thermoquad I had on the 72s and 73s is definitely different than the
> >aluminum bodied carter available from Summit, Jegs, etc. Mine were
plastic
> >bodied and known for cracking, leaking, and generally being difficult to
> >live with. Are we talking about the same carb? I don't know what carb
> >came
> >out AFTER the plastic thing as I've never messed with 74s on up.
> >
> >KerryP
> >Patch panels fabricated
> >Pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx
> >dte.net/57imperial
> >Imperials -- 50 Limo, 57 roadster, 61's, 62, 68 Convert, 73, a 66 300 and
a
> >bunch of lesser marques
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: erik kalm <erik_kalm@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> >To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> >Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 10:31 PM
> >Subject: Re: IML: '73 resto' project - TQ carb question
> >
> >
> > >
> > > Umm, Kerry?
> > > The TQ is THE Carter spreadbore. Helluva carb and much better than the
> >poor
> > > quality AFB copies that Edelbrock is cranking out. Much better than
the
> >AFB
> > > too!
> > > And for what it's worth, I think the TQ is probably the finest street
> >carb
> > > ever made. Just have to make sure it is set up right.
> > > Erik
> > >
> > > >From: "Kerry Pinkerton" <pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx>
> > > >Reply-To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > >To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >Subject: Re: IML: '73 resto' project - TQ carb question
> > > >Date: Sun, 1 Jun 2003 20:42:55 -0500
> > > >
> > > >Jim, GREAT NEWS! Congatulations. Even baby steps are wonderful
> >things.
> > > >
> > > >My 73 Saga has some tips regarding the TQ but as I remember it, my
carb
> >guy
> > > >told me to take the top off, and hold it upside down in my hand and
set
> >the
> > > >top of the float (actually bottom) to be 1 INCH above the upside down
> >carb
> > > >top. He said to forget what the manual said, anything else will
allow
> >the
> > > >carb to overflow when the carb heatsoaks and flood the engine.
> > > >
> > > >If you have everything screwed down, somewhere you either have a
pretty
> > > >good
> > > >vacuum leak or the float is stuck open and gas is somehow being drawn
> >into
> > > >the manifold.
> > > >
> > > >Fwiw, I wouldn't put much effort into a TQ. I think they are crappy
> >carbs.
> > > >I'd bite the bullet and get a carter spreadbore.
> > > >
> > > >BTW, are you coming to Carlisle in July?
> > > >
> > > >KerryP
> > > >Patch panels fabricated
> > > >Pinkertonk@xxxxxxxxx
> > > >dte.net/57imperial
> > > >Imperials -- 50 Limo, 57 roadster, 61's, 62, 68 Convert, 73, a 66 300
> >and
> >a
> > > >bunch of lesser marques
> > > >----- Original Message -----
> > > >From: J. Stacey <jstacey@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >To: Imperial Mailing List <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > > >Sent: Sunday, June 01, 2003 9:31 AM
> > > >Subject: IML: '73 resto' project - TQ carb question
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > All,
> > > > >
> > > > > For those who don't care about the background to my request, I've
> >put
> > > >that
> > > > > part at the end of this note.
> > > > >
> > > > > I am doing a shade-tree, ground-up restoration of a '73 4drht.
I've
> >now
> > > >got
> > > > > to the point where the completely overhauled 440 was first started
> >up
> > > >this
> > > > > weekend (Friday).
> > > > >
> > > > > I also put a kit in the Carter ThermoQuad carburetor myself. The
> >engine
> > > > > finally started after several failed attempts, (too embarassing to
> >say
> > > >what
> > > > > things were preventing it from starting at first!). All in all,
> > > >everything
> > > > > is quite satisfactory, and it is a real pleasure to hear her run
> >after
> > > >all
> > > > > these years, but there is still one small problem....
> > > > >
> > > > > The engine continues to run at about 800 - 900 rpm even with the
> >primary
> > > > > throttle plates COMPLETELY closed and the idel mixture screws
turned
> > > > > COMPLETEY in against the stops!!! I am wondering if this could be
> > > >caused
> > > >by
> > > > > the float level being too high? I have conflicting specs between
> >the
> > > > > instructions that came with the carb kit and the FSM. I went by
the
> >kit
> > > > > instructions and set the float level at 1.0 inch (height of the
> >bottom
> > > >of
> > > > > the float above the inverted bowl cover w/gasket). After I had
the
> > > >thing
> > > > > assembled, I noticed the FSM says 1 1/16 inch, which would be a
> >LOWER
> > > >level
> > > > > of gas in the bowl.
> > > > >
> > > > > Are there any TQ experts out there that could comment on this? I
> >don't
> > > > > really want to take the carb apart again, but obviously I will if
I
> >have
> > > >to.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > >
> > > > > Jim Stacey
> > > > > '73 4drht slowly going back together
> > > > > Near Toronto
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > BRIEF BACKGROUND
> > > > >
> > > > > I started this in the early '80's at which time I gutted the
> >interior
> > > > > (except dash), removed all the front-end sheetmetal, etc. and
stored
> >all
> > > >the
> > > > > parts in the attic of my garage. What was left of the car in
tact -
> > > >body,
> > > > > doors, glass, subframe, engine & tranny - was stored in various
> >friends
> > > > > garages, delapidated sheds, etc, over the years until the fall of
> >2001
> > > >when
> > > > > the old girl finally had to come home at which point I could not
> >ignore
> > > >her
> > > > > any longer.
> > > > >
> > > > > I had the engine (which turned out to be a '68 high performance
440)
> > > >totally
> > > > > rebuilt professionally with special cam and pistons. I removed
and
> > > >totlaly
> > > > > disassembled the stub frame, front suspension & brakes, steering,
> >rear
> > > > > springs, axle and brakes and sandblasted and painted all these
> > > >components.
> > > > > I removed all the dash, wiring harness, heater & A/C, steering
> >column,
> > > > > parking brake, etc., from the interior - all that is left is the
> > > >headliner
> > > > > at this point.
> > > > >
> > > > > I have re-painted all inside the cowl and air plenums, the
firewall,
> >and
> > > >the
> > > > > floor (inside & outside with undercoating on the outside as well),
> >back
> > > >to
> > > > > about the rear of the transmission. (Only went that far back for
now
> >to
> > > > > accomodate installation of the engine & tranny).
> > > > >
> > > > > I now have the stub frame, front suspension, rad yoke, radiator,
> >engine,
> > > > > tranny and first part of exhaust back together - all that is
> >required
> >to
> > > > > start the engine.
> > > > >
> > > > > I picked up some used rear quarter panels, and a bunch of other
> >parts
> > > >from
> > > > > Kerry P. in Feb '02. My son is good a MIG welding, so after I
> >finish
> > > > > painting and undercoating the underneath side of the floor pan and
> > > >trunk,
> > > >I
> > > > > will start on putting in the new quarter panels. After that I'm
> >going
> >to
> > > > > study Kerry's latest 300 painting saga and start on the body work
> >and
> > > > > priming. Don't think I'll ever have the nerve to try painting
the
> >car
> > > > > myself.
> > > > >
> > > > > I think MAYBE by the end of next summer I might just have her
> >driveable.
> > > >My
> > > > > goal is to take her to Carlisle in July '05.
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks for taking the time to read my story.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
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> > > >
> > > >
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