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Car Forum / Oldsmobile Cars / March 2004455 Toro intake & ignition change...
I've got a '73 Toro with a stock 455/Quadrajet on it and points distributor. The carb is a generic rebuild and I'm not real happy with it. The original Quadrajet was waaay better until it puked. Got replaced by a shop and don't know where they got the replacement. They also replaced the distributor because they "broke some wires on the old one," and I'm not 100% sure the replacement dist. is as good as it should be either. (Before the work was done, I was getting 22 MPG highway and now I barely get 15-17 MPG on the same trip. Obviously, something's not right.) Have checked, adjusted, and re- checked dwell, timing, points, plugs, wires, connections, hoses, gaskets, etc.... anything I could think of that might have an effect on fuel economy and/or performance and I haven't been able to nail anything down as being the culprit. Small improvements here and there, to be sure, but nothing has gotten me back to what I had with the original (OLD) parts. So I was thinking: What if I junk the carb, distributor, and intake and replace it all with a good HEI, a professionally rebuilt Quadrajet (am probably going to have Sparky's do that for me), and an aftermarket aluminum intake? Have heard of some intakes causing clearance probs with the Toro's hoodline and/or the HEI dist. Anyone have any experience they'd like to share? ~~Shock~~ Go for the HEI and carb. The HEI came in in 74 and 75 so I'd look for a Toro from those years. (Is there one?) That's what I did with my '73 Riviera; got an HEI off a late 74. You caould try tuning the carb you've got. > I've got a '73 Toro with a stock 455/Quadrajet on it and points distributor. > The carb is a generic rebuild and I'm not real happy with it. The original [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > ~~Shock~~ > Go for the HEI and carb. The HEI came in in 74 and 75 so I'd look for a > Toro from those years. (Is there one?) That's what I did with my '73 > Riviera; got an HEI off a late 74. > > You caould try tuning the carb you've got. Well, I haven't been able to find another Toro, but I DO have a complete high output Olds 403 that came out of a Smokey & The Bandit Firebird (or was that a T/A?). Think it's a '76 or '77 motor. Distributor's good and the motor ran like a champ before the car it was in was junked. Have tried all the usual adjustments to the existing carb but have gotten to the point where any further gains will have to come from air door adjustments, main & primary rod changes....maybe even a complete rebuild just to be sure everything's as it should be in there. And I'm not real comfortable with my ability to do any of that stuff. Heard about Sparky's on the Real Olds Power forum on the web. Several guys in there have had carbs done by Sparky and they all just rave about the improvements they've noticed. Seems like a pretty safe bet to me.... Now. Just gotta find an old, non-electronic Quadrajet for him to work his majik on whilst I drive the one I've got.... ~~Shock~~ I've gotten decent rebuildables off eBay. Nice old 750 cfm quadrajets. >>Go for the HEI and carb. The HEI came in in 74 and 75 so I'd look for a >>Toro from those years. (Is there one?) That's what I did with my '73 [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > ~~Shock~~ I have several Toros (66,67,70,72), one of the 67s has been mine from new. My first observation is that I have never seen anything close to 22 mpg from any of them, more in the range of 17, if lucky at today's highway speeds. Although I am aware that there was a final drive ratio change (to a lower ratio) at least by the 1971 model. I am not sure about the 71 and on series but the 1966 through 1970 series utilizes a special low rise manifold to allow the hood to close and a special version of the Qjet. I don't have my info handy, after a move, to check the differences in the carb. Someone may know, as I don't remember (I am concentrating on early Starfires the last couple of years), but I remember that the heads on the Toro 425 were different and may have had larger ports. I never knew if similar differences were used in the 455 version of the engine. The distributor is nothing really special unless you had the optional capacitive discharge ignition system. While I don't know, but I suspect your vehicle was leaning out if you saw mileage that high. Although I have never driven the 71 and on series very much so my view might be clouded. Gerry > I have several Toros (66,67,70,72), one of the 67s has been mine from > new. My first observation is that I have never seen anything close to 22 [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Gerry Gerry, Thanx for the info on the Qjet. Haven't heard that before, but I'll certainly check into it. Wouldn't surprise me though, given the large number of "model- specific" parts on the Toro. All I know for sure is that every aftermarket manifold I've looked at says it won't clear the Toro hood. Shame. Maybe I'll see about having a stock manifold Extrude Honed.... My fuel mileage numbers aren't as scientific as they probably could be, but I've been using the same method for more than 10 years on every car I've owned. When checking my mileage on highway runs, I record my odometer reading at the pump, fill up ('til the pump shuts itself off) immediately before getting on the highway. Upon my return, I pull up to the same pump and park in the same spot, facing the same direction (to compensate for any slope), and fill up with the same grade of fuel (always premium for the Toro) using the same pump nozzle as before. I then record the gallons it took to fill the tank, record my new odometer reading at the pump, and do the math. Like I said: maybe not as scientific as it could be, but hey. A guy can only be so neurotic, right? LOL Don't know for sure what my final drive is, but from what I've seen elsewhere on the 'net, I suspect it's 3.07:1. I think I saw somewhere that the earlier Toros had a 3.21:1. (Anyone who knows otherwise, please feel free to jump in and correct me if I'm wrong as I've still got a lot to learn about these cars.) Have also wondered if it's possible to go to a numerically lower final drive on one of these...say, maybe a 2.75:1? Should be good for highway runnin'.... Sure would like to have a look at those Toros of yours some day. Absolutely love the one I was lucky enough to stumble across. Don't know how I ever drove anything else. ~~Shock~~ >Sure would like to have a look at those Toros of yours some day. You ain't alone, brother! I love the Toros and Rivs from those days. Not just great cars, but works of fine art as well. After seeing cars like that (even just pics of 'em), I wanna puke my guts out when I see what's being produced these days. I was born a generation too late! :( Anyway guys, enjoy the heck out of 'em (even if the carb isn't exactly what you'd like). Just my $0.02 from a person who's quite envious of you both. :) Rick |
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