Thoughts on Thermoquads?
 

My '77 Doba has been stuck in my garage for the past couple months because of my frustration. The poor girl has got issues with the carb. Basically the Thermoquad on the 360 is seemingly impossible to tune. After doing a little reading, I've come to wonder if the carb itself is defective, and a replacement TQ needs to be found. I've also considered doing a Quadrajet conversion. I was really impressed with the QJ on my truck (GMC...I'm a Mopar guy for cars, GM for trucks :D) when I pulled it off for the rebuild, and put it back on with only 4 seconds of "tuning" needed for it to run flawlessly. Short story long, what is involved in doing a conversion from TQ to something else? Are there any really good rebuild/tuning guides out there? So far I've been using the guide on thermoquads.com, but that hasn't really worked out well. Again, possibly due to a defective carb. All I really want is to be able to drive my sweetheart without having to put as much gas in as I am now (5 mpg driving really lightly just isn't cutting it. especially seeing how I used to get like 12!!) Any insights you can give would definitely put you on the "good" list :D
Thanks folks...
-Jason

I like the Q-jet and I would put one on my Dodge if I needed a cheap working carb. I love the T-quad but older ones can have problems with the body. I am starting to hate all old carbs and If I can afford one for the application I prefer to go with a Holley because of the adjustability and parts availability.

I have had several vehicles with the thermoquad.. Actually was a great carb. Easy to tune. I still have a few.Many years ago I was able to find some one to re-bush the throttle shafts, main wear point

thermal quad
 

the thermal quad is a pretty good carb, to rebuild one you
have to know that there are "O" rings in the bottom of the
fuel bowls that get lost when dismantled. i really like the
Q jet. I used one on my mopar with a 340, took a little
doing but worked fine. down shift linkege was a small
problem. but other wise got lots good performace out of
it. remember there are two different size Q-jets 750 and 850
also when they get some age the base plate gets wore at
the plate where they come through the base plate.
i do have a good Q-jet, very good condition almost new.
e-mail me if interested.

Those fuel bowl O rings are a square cut type so just anything will not work..
Yes the throttle shafts get worn. That can be fixed by re bushing the shafts

What is involved in rebushing the main shaft? I've thought more on it, and I'd like to stay on the TQ. I'm thinking I'll do a rebuild before the month is out. Where do I want to look for wear/leakage? It's also possible that the floats got set a bit wrong. Seems the last time I went through it, I was in a hurry to get burning rubber :D

Grab the throttle shaft and wiggle it up & down to see how much play there is. You need to remove the throttle blades (be careful with the tiny screws they are staked in), remove the shaft and instal new bushings, (probably need to make your own). I have a good base plate for carb # 9234 TQ $35 shipped to you. Seems to me I had the shaft bushed, as the throttle plate screws have been changed

Here are some: http://www.throttleshaftrepair.com/products.htm

Sorry I been out a while. I've got a really great mechanic here in town, as honest as they come. Anyways, he's been in the business a long time so he should still have the setup to do it...but what is a good price for a throttle shaft rebushing job? Anyone know what Demon Sizzler charges to do just that? I can handle the rest just wonderfully. Thanks!