Q-Jets vs. 1409's

[Commissionpoint]

That is the question.

Anyone make the switch? Thoughts?

The only thing thats really bothering me is the square bore/spread bore plates at 60 bux a whack, but I guess thats how it goes on this one because I'm not changing the intakes.

[Stripermann2]

CP, I did the switch over this past summer. I can tell you that I wish I did it years ago...
They are more tolerant to the blend of fuel we run these days, can idle lower and smoother without loading up, quicker acceleration during the idle to planing transition...

I am not sure you'll need the wedge plates for the change over although Edlebrock makes a thinner adapter plate for spreadbore manifolds. If you do the swap, I am confident you will enjoy the results.

Oh one more thing, the mpg went up, especially on older port engine!

[Commissionpoint]

Hey thanks Jamie. Thats exactly the feedback I was looking for. Someone who had done it already and had time to make observations on the results. Thanks again man!

How do you feel the economy is compared to what you were used to? All signs point to same/slightly better burn rates, but I have nothing to compare it to. The Q-jets are fairly economical, but they are clunky. I kinda just want them gone.

[Stripermann2]

CP, the carbs are very simple. The fuel burn went down on both engines. With the new carbs, you get electric chokes wich will work great with. Minor pre adjustment at first. Less to adjust than the Quads too. Basically plug and play.

I just got tired of O/Hauling my Q-Jets every other season. I like the Quads... But love the 1409s. I got a great price on them too. $330.00 or something close to that.

[Commissionpoint]

I'm looking at about 360 a pop. I guess i should poke around some more. Haven't asked my normal parts guy yet.

[rossjo]

Keep the Q-Jets! Better fuel mileage at low-mid RPM and more power wide-open. Qjets do require proper setup, but will run well for years if you keep the Ethanol out of the system. Have owned many Qjets over the years, and still have one on my 26 Chaparral and my 77 Corvette. Love them!

[Commissionpoint]

I got the committee together to chew it over.....

100_1720.jpg (77.95 KiB) Viewed 5518 times

We decided on the 1409's.

Stay tuned for developments.....

[32pacemaker]

the Q-jets are great carbs and designed for cars with the small tripple boost venteri primary circuts great for fuel mileage when cruising on the highway and large secondarys for passing or going up hills when needed, boats are always going up hill if you don't beleive me hook up a vacuum gauge and see where the needle points, but are not designed for a boats. 1409 carburators are much more suited for boat engines. true you can pull them out of the box and they are very close but you can get a strip kit from edlebrock and tune them and get more fuel mileage because the kit comes with jets, metering rods, and metering rod springs. the Q-jets will not be in the primary circuts long before the large and inefficient secondary will start to open.

[RWS]

I got the committee together to chew it over.....

100_1720.jpg

We decided on the 1409's.

Stay tuned for developments.....

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Now THIS is DAMN FUNNY !

RWS

[rossjo]

I respectfully disagree on the Q-Jet vs 1409 on many boats -

There are a lot of misconceptions about Q-Jets. They can take a lot of setup time (jets, metering rods, height adjustments, etc.), but work great for economy + power. The 1409 will aloo require setup (proper primary/secondary metering jets, metering rod, springs, etc.)

The smaller primary bores (1.094" dia. = 0.94sq.in. on the Qjet, versus ~1.5" =~ 1.76sq.in. on the 1409) develops
over 50% more air speed and hence better fuel mix at speeds where the secondaries are not open.

At WOT, 750-CFM on the 454 will out-perform the 600-CFM 1409.

My 26 Chaparral with 454 and Bravo-1 gets about 1.8MPG cruising at 23knots ... never get that with a 1409. I agree that a heavier, underpowered boat would not do so well with the Q-Jet however, since it would have the secondaries open most of the time. In my case, I rarely run above 1/2 throttle - and then use "passing gear" for fun or pulling up skiers.

I have a Holley on my Sunbeam Tiger and don't care for it.

Qjets work great for a car or boat that is driven mostly at less than 1/2 throttle (secondaries not in use).

[Commissionpoint]

I feel ya on the low speed efficiency Ross. Right now my biggest problem is my fuel supply. I do not mean my lines, tanks, and pumps. I mean what comes out of the nozzle at the marina. The last couple of years all I can get is this "Captain's Choice" blend. Its basically an E10 blend with additives in it.

http://www.johnray.com/index/about-us-1 ... ne-16.html

The distributor makes all kinds of claims that its stable and whatever, but as everyone already knows once the Ethanol is in the mixture there is no getting it out, and you can add whatever you like, it still sux. Now I see in Soundings where all signs are pointing to E15. Great. Just what we needed. So that in a nutshell is why I am going to swap to the 1409's on my marine SBC's.

I'd be interested to see what a 1410 would do on that 26 Chap with the BB Chevy. You'll have to buy it and report back though. After I get done with ignition and carburation this spring I won't have too much cash left after I hit the fuel docks.

[rossjo]

Yes - the Ethanol is evil - see what happen when our Gov't pretends to be engineers (getting corn kick backs)? We still get E-Free here - thank goodness. Not sure why 1409s are better with Ethanol ... my Qjet worked with it (I'll not use Ethanol again if I don't have to though - doesn't last + less power).

No thanks on the square bore - took one off of the 454 and put the Qjet on - faster AND more economical. Like I said above, the 1410 would be bigger than th e1409, and the same 750 CFM as the Qjet - but the primaries are 75% more cross sectional area = decreased air flow rate = poorer fuel/air mixing = worse gas mileage.

Did you guys decide not to come down and get a free sailboat? Too much work sailing it home in my opinion - long trip north ...

[Commissionpoint]

The logistics of claiming that boat were beyond what time allowed when it was available. I still kinda regret not doing it. My buddy is a professional sailboat racer, and he would have been the one claiming it. I would have had to solo it up to NY Harbor though, and that also wasn't all that interesting to me. Always looking though. Maybe one of these days someone will walk away from a 40+ foot convertible meter boat.

[rossjo]

Yes - would be a long sail - especially if the motor wasn't functional (pure sailing).

Might be fun - but long on an unknown boat.

[Commissionpoint]

Holleys. My guy wanted to sell me Holleys. Ugh.

Might just end up getting the 1409's from Summit or whoever has the low bid.