Trying something new/Carbs

It sounds like a plan, I think you'll be pleased.
Imho, people usually go a little over the top in the carb dept.,
bigger,larger,wider, +taller usually sell better but for your
actual,typical driver they are not needed. There is nothing
worse than finding out you went too big [cam, header, wheels
etc.] and ruined the other end of the perfomance band.
People always talk about their "peak" hp numbers but
what % of the time is your eng. in that band?
good luck with your carbs.

Thought I'd post something I am doing Carb-wise and see what you think.

I previously ran 34 ICTs on my 1776, balanced Scat Internals, 044 Heads, 110 Cam, 1:25 rockers, 009 Compufire, etc.

I liked the ICTs but they were a little less carb than I was needing. Put on a set of horse-traded 40 IDFs and have enjoyed them after finally finding a semi sweet spot.

While prepping for the long road trip to Knotts (3400 mile r/t without side trips) I put back on the ICTs for ease of maint, great mileage, and definitely less tempermental as I change altitudes, density/humidity several times. I'm happy with that, as it seems like a good move for the trip. I also managed to sell the IDFs while down at a local Scat vendor to another custumer... all things worked out in that way.

While I was at this Vendor and Shop I watched a set of the new Solex Electric Choke duals being put on a mild 1776 on a Trike. I think they are either 34s or 35s. Anyway everyone incolved and standing by was impressed with the performance of the new Carbs. Afterwards I flipped though the SCAT info on these new carbs. Guess what? They had them in 38s also. So I ordered a pair and manifolds (use my linkage)

Seems to me that a set of one barrel 38s that are a piece of cake to maintain and set up might be a nice set up for a medium built quality 1776. Sooo I'm going to try them. I recognize that dual throat Webers are the best of all alternatives... but I'm looking for reliability for traveling, with a nice compromise in performance, the 38s should definitely give a kick well over the 34s. Thoughts? I think I'll wait until after Knotts to install them... 3400 miles is a long ways on something new & unproven.

Jim- What about Kadron carbs? They come in 40mm size, easily jetted, readily available for parts and are very easy to modify according to your particular needs. As an added bonus, they give off the appearance of tuning kits from the late 50s with their push/pull throttle linkage.

Jim, years ago I put a set of Kadrons on my 70 beetle and drove it for 50,000 miles. The carbs were adjusted every so often and that was all. No plugs idle jets etc., and nothing wore out. They would be a great choice for a 1776. The larger size (40 compared to 38) would be nice too.

I've used Kads and sure do like them. In fact I ran some that were set up by AJ. I sold those when I bought the IDFs (used). I was thinking, yeah dual 40 Webers... cool. Well they are good carbs, but not my pick for a cross country jog of 3500-4500 miles in a 1776.

Why these and not Kads? Just trying something new, Electric Chokes, etc. I may Modify some Original Style or Kad filters for the look. All I am out is the cost of the 38s.. have evrything else.

Sooner or later I'm going to a 2007/17 or 2110... so I'm just playing with it in the meantime. Who knows? Maybe these twin 38s will ptove to be just perfecto. I know the adjustment and look is almost identical to an ICT... the top half comes off for easy jetting access.. and hell, I'm just being different. Let's face it... if I am going to run a good reliable OKC-LA-OKC 1776, then I am not going to look to peak it out as I could with Kads ot IDFs. Just playing with balance bros... want to see if this is the perfect combo.

Jim,

I know EXACTLY what you mean about a pair of single barrel carbs vs. IDFs. I had dual 40s on the old car- what a complete pain in comparison to the ICTs. If anybody would come up with a decent looking (and working) linkage/ air cleaner for the Kadrons- I thinks they might be the hot setup for the real world 1.6- 2.0 liter engines used by most of us with kids still in the house. BTW, I finally put on the CB linkage and air cleaners you sent last spring. They look and work great. Let me know if I still owe you anything.

Stan, you don't owe me a dime. I was happy to help out!!! So, do you like the look?

Jim

Jim-

It's fantastic- My only beef about the Empi kit was that it looked... well, kind of.. um... inexpensive. The CB kit looks like it belongs on the car. Thanks again!

The biggest problem I have with my Webers is clogged idle jets, and I have fuel filters before and after my electric fuel pump. When I had my Kads I used the stock VW clear plastic fuel filter, which I changed once in the while, and I never had clogged jets.
Ron

Ron,

Clogged idle jets are only half of it. I seemed to get "the vacuum leak of the week" with the IDFs. The carbs were such a tight fit on the car that removing them to find the problem(s) was a lot harder than it should have been. My frustration with them exceeded the enjoyment I got from the extra power (when all the planets and stars aligned just right). I have no doubt that there really is no other option for making power in a 2 liter plus engine, but a pair of bigger one barrel carbs with a decent linkage seems like the ticket to me for something less. My (85ish hp) 1776 is OK with the ICTs. If I had a bigger engine, I'd need bigger carbs... and bigger exhaust... and bigger tires...

I love reading about the hp wars- its very informative, but my pockets aren't deep enough to play in that league. If I'm able to help some guy in a ricer feel beeter about his station in life by getting being left for dead at a light I wasn't racing away from- good for him... and good for me too. I'm OK with that. What I'm after is a hammer reliable, 100 hp, "correct" looking, easily maintained Type 1 powerplant. Just like Jim has.

Any of you guys running Dellorto 40's, or am I out here on the Frontier all alone?

I converted mine to horizontal discharge tubes (with the kit from CB) before I ever installed them to get around the clogged jet syndrome. Found after installation that they were running pretty rich (WICKED rich, if you're from RI) as the conversion article suggested (it mentioned dropping one or two levels once the conversion as made) so I'll be going down from the 140 mains I have in there now to 130's or so, and also install the CB mixture meter to make sure I'm where I think I should be (as I envy my son's EFI setup and making mixture changes with his laptop).

Haven't yet seen any problems with vacuum leaks or clogged jets (only been one season thus far) but I'll keep you posted.

Just wondering if anyone else has Dellorto 40's on a 2,110 with 044 heads and what jets you're running.

Thanks, Gordon

Stan, I think that I've got a vacuum leak too. I thought that it might be an exhaust leak, but I had my mechanic go through the exhaust very thoroughly (I put the exhaust on, so I figured that I screwed up). Exhaust is fine, but there is still a popping sound when I take my foot off of the gas and slow down.
The one nice thing about the 911 shroud is that I can unhook the linkage and fuel lines and take off the carbs and manifolds in about 15 minutes. Adjusting the center pull linkage, which sits at the back of the engine compartment, is not fun.
Ron

Gordon: I run Dell 40's. I only wish they were sitting on a 2110!(sigh).

BD