Over the years the term “billet” has become synonymous with many things. When the word billet is first heard someone might instantly think the object in question is either shiny or very expensive. This stigmata is something we attribute to the billet wheel boom that took place in the late ’90‘s. There were a few manufacturers that learned to use CNC equipment in ways that were never thought of on that small of scale. Billet wheels and polished goodies became wildly popular and suddenly only the best cars had these features. Technology was trickling down to people who liked to make custom stuff in small quantities - this translated to high expenses. Fast forward to modern day, CNC equipment has become more affordable and the programming required to run these machines is also more user friendly - this translates to lower expenses. So what exactly is a billet part? The term “billet” essentially applies to anything machined out of a solid piece of material - billet wheels are made using a solid piece of round-stock aluminium.

Though there is still a stereotype associated with the word billet, many companies actually save money by manufacturing with this method. CNC machines are very versatile and can machine many different parts in one day. If there is a program wrote for the part and you have the tooling to do the job the capabilities are nearly endless. Forging and casting parts can become expensive because of dedicated tooling and the need for large facilities to house all the equipment. CNC machines are compact and cheaper to operate in comparison.

We here at Quick Fuel Technology made a decision years ago to make several “billet” components. Our company has always put an emphasis on the best quality part money could buy at the best price. Billet carburetor components were the solution to both of our needs. A Quick Fuel Technology carburetor, depending on the series, will have billet parts in it somewhere; billet components allow us to have the highest quality parts and reduce the cost of manufacturing. Reduced manufacturing costs then get passed on to the end customer. Purchasing a new carburetor from us will allow you to get the best quality parts that are normally reserved for custom carburetors at a cost comparable to anything else out there.

So what about the nuts and bolts of billet carburetor parts? When it comes down to fuel metering and circuitry there is no reason you should use anything other than billet for your race application. Cast parts can be unreliable, difficult to machine, and non specific. Simply put, you can do more with billet for less. Quick Fuel Technology metering blocks and throttle bodies are CNC billet aluminium and come packed with features that would be very difficult to replicate with cast parts. Close tolerance, flat surfaces, and zero porosity are just a few of the reasons we made the switch from cast parts years ago. QFT replacement metering blocks utilize screw-in bleeds to determine orifice sizes, changing hole sizes is as simple as a jet change. Cast parts require drill bits and more press-in restrictions to get the calibration right. Anybody that spends time with a carburetor on a dyno can appreciate screw-in adjustability and will also tell you that there is no drill bit that will make a hole smaller.

As carburetor people it’s an easy decision when it comes to what parts to use but if you are still on the fence about what to do with your carburetor or maybe you want to talk more about specs, give us a call, we love to talk engineering and about what makes a carburetor tick.