Quadrajet problems

[nhramnl]

Interesting comment on the needle and seat, and definitely a possible contributor to the problem. I was having similar problems and called Dean Oliver, to discuss reasons why the car was so stinky, smoky rich. We confirmed the float setting and fuel pressure were right, and the next question he asked was "You're not using a .145 needle and seat, are you"? When I told him I was, his response was "Get it out of there; they flow so much fuel that they actually disrupt the fuel in the bowl". I went back to the next smaller needle and seat and the problem went away.