How wierd is this?

[fasted55]

Ok, we're talking about a 1979 DeVille LeCabriolet with an unknown pedigree that I just bought and drove about 5 miles before taking it to my mechanic.  Cut to the chase, the quadrajet carb is being rebuilt and the brass tubes feeding the secondary were never drilled out - maybe from day 1.  He drilled through about 5/8" brass in each to open them.  Maybe it's not such a slug after all.  I just thought that's what an 8 to 1 compression ratio engine felt like.  Ed

[Gene Beaird]

Wow.  I've never heard of that, and I've been inside a TON of Q-jets.  I always thought those tubes were just that, brass tubing that was pressed into place.  Were these actually the lift tubes, or the vent tubes.  There's 4 of them for the secondary circuit, and two of them move fuel, while the other two move air. 

The engine compartment is spotless!  Nice car. 

[62droptop]

very strange, i guess these things do happen
about 22 yrs ago i bought a 78 ford bronco, after i used it for one winter with the 4wd engaged, it began leaking oil out of the front inner differential alxe seals

turns out the vent nipple was never drilled from the factory as guy i bought it from says he never usedthe 4wd much

[Chris Conklin]

That engine bay is a work of art.

[R Sotardi #11719]

 I considered doing that blockage on a Holley 4bbl, do to the horrid fuel consumption on a Ford 289. The car was 2600 lbs and the lightest spring on the vacuum  activated secondaries would not engage them unless uphill or heavy load. So... I considered blocking 'em off to save gas. But, in reality if the back bbls never open no gas is wasted anyway, so I never did. May be the prior owner was getting a flooding of the seconds and took a cheap way out ?  Or, he had a son that liked flooring the car and left dad with an empty tank... sure fooled him. Ron

[fasted55]

Hi Guys, The two blocked tubes are the fuel ones, not air.  Regarding the clean looking engine compartment, pictures are deceiving.  Prior owner did a quickie spray job.  As we've pulled the engine apart, I'm in for a total rebuild.  You should see how much sludge was in the intake and the oil pan.  I'm surprised the engine ran but that's probably why it was so quiet.  My cylinder compression is greater than 20% different between cylinders with two having pressures below 145PSI.  Someday this will be a nice car but by then I'll be so upside down regarding price.  But why should this Caddie be any different from any other car I've restored?  :-)  Ed