Thermoquad on Edelbrock performer

[Dino]

I'm almost done rebuilding the TQ so before I take it to the shop to have it installed, what parts do I need?

Currently I have an Edelbrock 1407 with electric choke.  I want to swap the 1407 for the TQ 6545S.  Do I need anything linkage wise and can I use the electric choke still?  I did install a 1215 crossover block pan.

Before you ask why I'm taking it to a shop, I have no clue how to tune a carb or timing, that's why.   

Oh and engine is a '71 440HP

[John_Kunkel]

Since the 6545 TQ is a factory carb, it was intended to be used with a divorced choke....so the common Carter electric choke won't work on it.

[Dino]

Since the 6545 TQ is a factory carb, it was intended to be used with a divorced choke....so the common Carter electric choke won't work on it.

Good to know.   

So is the choke pull off on the carb all I need?  Since it's a factory carb can I assume the current linkage works as is on the TQ?

[471_Magnum]

What intake? TQ needs a spread bore intake. Stock 71 440 intake is square bore.

Have to have the correct choke thermostat for the carb intake combo.

Divorced choke is going to be very slow to open with the crossover blocked. It will work, but it will be slow. Currently running a TQ on my small block with crossover blocked. Fine in warm weather, but I can drive about 10 miles before it opens completely in cold weather.

[Dino]

What intake? TQ needs a spread bore intake. Stock 71 440 intake is square bore.

Have to have the correct choke thermostat for the carb intake combo.

Divorced choke is going to be very slow to open with the crossover blocked. It will work, but it will be slow. Currently running a TQ on my small block with crossover blocked. Fine in warm weather, but I can drive about 10 miles before it opens completely in cold weather.

Edelbrock Performer, non RPM.

Ever since I blocked the crossover it takes quite a while for the engine to warm up with the 1407 in cold weather as well, but nothing too bad.  I hope to get this one running a bit better though.  Do I need to buy a separate choke?  What are the options?

[471_Magnum]

You'll have to do some research on which thermostat will fit that intake, but it should work.

[471_Magnum]

Oh... you'll also need an insulator gasket.

[71charger_fan]

I've been running a TQ on a Performer since the mid-'90s. When I installed it, the guy at the auto parts found me a listing for a Dodge truck 360 non-electric choke that worked perfectly. I don't remember what year application it was though. I'm soon switching over to a Performer RPM and Edelbrock carb.

[Dino]

Thanks guys.

What type of insulator gasket?  The rebuild kit came with what looks to be a 1/4" thick spread bore gasket.  Will that do? 

I'll look for that choke, thanks for the tip!  Why are you switching to the eddy carb if I may ask? 

I ordered new brass floats for this carb since I was told by many to not trust the old foam floats.

Do I need to get anything for the linkage or will the existing linkage simply bolt onto the TQ?  I need to get this carb on there asap, I can't drive my car anymore, the fuel smell is unbearable.

[471_Magnum]

What type of insulator gasket?  The rebuild kit came with what looks to be a 1/4" thick spread bore gasket.  Will that do? 

Yep.

[Dino]

What type of insulator gasket?  The rebuild kit came with what looks to be a 1/4" thick spread bore gasket.  Will that do? 

Yep.

[71charger_fan]

My TQ is leaking gas at the throttle shaft. For the cost of a TQ restoration, I decided to try to the Edelbrock with an electric choke. With the TQ and the thermostatic choke and exhaust crossover blocked, the choke often didn't pull all the way off to allow the secondaries to open in cold weather.

[Dino]

My TQ is leaking gas at the throttle shaft. For the cost of a TQ restoration, I decided to try to the Edelbrock with an electric choke. With the TQ and the thermostatic choke and exhaust crossover blocked, the choke often didn't pull all the way off to allow the secondaries to open in cold weather.

Does the choke not allowing the secondaries to open cause a problem?  I ask because when I drive off from home ona cold day, I need to go real slow and I try to drive the car like gramps would so the engine can get to its ideal operating temperature slowly and gradually. 

I'm not a big fan of the Edelbrock carb and since all I had to invest was a $10 rebuild kit I figured it's worth a shot.  I did just spend a whopping $25 on new brass floats so this better work!   

[71charger_fan]

It's only a problem in that the car's kind of a dog running on just the small primaries. I guess it probably helps fuel economy, but that's not why I have a four barrel 400.

[471_Magnum]

My RR is anything but a dog running a thermoquad. Couple of lean spots I'm tuning out, but throttle response is incredible (which is the reason for the small primaries) Pulls great through 5000 rpm. What's limiting me is trying to suck 410 cubes of air through a 340 intake. Don't let anyone tell you thermoquads aren't high performance carbs. They were competition carbs in their first iteration and were later adapted for OEM street use.

[Dino]

Ah I feel better now.   

I spoke to my local mechanic who is goint to tune it for me, or at least try.  He said he hasn't done one in ages but he said once tuned right they're pretty hard to beat. 

[471_Magnum]

They can definitely be a PITA to tune. Lots of measuring and bending. Follow the adjustment procedure EXACTLY as written. Don't deviate from the order in which adjustments are to be made.

Demonsizzler wrote out a tuning procedure. Google it.

[Dino]

They can definitely be a PITA to tune. Lots of measuring and bending. Follow the adjustment procedure EXACTLY as written. Don't deviate from the order in which adjustments are to be made.

Demonsizzler wrote out a tuning procedure. Google it.

I think I have it.  It's a 14 page guide or something like that, it's on my home pc.  I also have a '72 TQ tuning guide.  I hope I don't screw it up.

Do I need any special tools to do these adjustments? 

[Dino]

Oh, I also downloaded the 9 part youtube video's on these carbs so I 'should' be okay to fine tune this....I hope.

I do understand that once the carb is all done, the timing will likely need adjusting and since I wouldn't know where to start I'll have a mechanic do that part.  I do hope to get the carb running on this engine myself though to save me a few bucks.

[71charger_fan]

Thermoquad's the best carb I've ever owned. Mine's just worn out. When the secondaries won't open, it's still very responsive to throttle input, it's just not going to make much power. When it finally warms up enought to allow the secondaries to open, it's awesome. If the Edelbrock doesn't live up to expectations, I'll have the TQ restored and switch back to that.

[Nacho-RT74]

going back to the OP... TQ and regular performer intake are a straight bolt on job