88 Caprice w/troubles

[KasaRyan at aol.com]

Bill
If it's an olds motor - just put a pre-ECM Q-jet on it (try to stay pre-79 as 
the idle mix screws are accessible) and use a 75-80 olds HEI.  total project 
cost should be less than $100 including a carb kit.  BTW - I have had 
problems on olds HEI's with the wires to the reluctor pickup fracturing after 
20 years or so.  Cost is about 16 bucks for a new pickup coil.  Olds engines 
often run hot and thus are extremely sensitive to timing.  On my 350 I try to 
run at least 12-14 deg inital and 40 total.  You will need higher octane gas 
and a 160 thermostat to make this happen, but it will run amazingly better.  
Olds engines like lots more timing - you may need to use an adjustable vacuum 
advance to avoid knocking at part throttle accel.  Lots of people don't know 
anything about olds motors - so they swap out to a chevy and you can pick up 
olds engine parts for practically nothing.  A carb and dist will be easy for 
you to snag.  You can uyse any qjet- but only one off an olds or buick will 
have the choke heat tube and fuel inlet in the right place to allow for a 
no-hack install.

Dont worry folks - I'm still an FI guy - it's just that this is probably the 
most cost effective way out for this guy.

Ryan Hampl