Before fuel injection became the standard unit for dispatching gasoline to the spark plugs (to cause the necessary explosions to make the engine work), carburetors were used in the same manner. There were many manufacturers of carburetors, but the Rochester Quadrajet was the standard for many General Motors and Ford products for more than 20 years.

History

In 1965, Chevrolet, a division of General Motors, used the Rochester Quadrajet on select V-8 engines. By 1968, complying with nationwide federally mandated standards, all GM divisions began to use the Rochester Quadrajet carburetors.

Significance

The Rochester Quadrajet's emission and fuel efficiency allowed for many owners to travel greater distances on a tank of gas.

Function

The Rochester Quadrajet carburetor uses vacuum pressure to operate two or four barrels that mix the right amount of air and fuel to feed the spark plugs for igniting explosions in their individual cylinders.

Types

Rochester Quadrajet designed two types of carburetors that were emission and fuel efficient: the two-barrel carburetor and the four-barrel carburetor.

Identification

The Rochester Quadrajet is easily identified by the stamped mark on the side of the barrel casting that reads simply "Rochester Quadrajet." According to MRE-Books' online history of the Rochester carburetor, Carter Carburetor manufacturing was contracted to help make the Quadrajet. These carburetors are identified by a stamp on the side of the barrel casting that reads "Quadrajet Mfd. by Carter Carburetor for GMC."

Source:

Rochester Quadrajet Carburetor

MRE-Books: History of the Rochester Quadrajet Carburetor