Vauxhall Nova 1.3 with Kent Cams

[joea145]

Hi i need some help. I just put a 1.3head on a 1.2 bottom end. I have got kent cams with solid lifters in the head but it wont idle at all and to start the car i have to floor the throttle. I think it has a fueling problem as i have left standard 1.2 carb on there. Does anyone have any idea what carb i should put on there, or if it isnt the carb what do you think the problem is ? Thank you for your help, Joe.

[Justin S]

so, you have put a potentially larger valved head, with a higher lift cam onto a small capacity engine and hope it will run OK?. Have you dialled the cam in using a vernier etc to optimise the timing? If you increase the performance of the engine without any change to the fueling etc. Are you sure on being a carb, as some later novas had single port injection etc. If you have the original carb on there, invariably if you have done nothing else, it will be running weak. As to changing jets if it is a carb, then you will need to know what carb you have. Weber and Dellortos 'may' be rejetable, others may just be the standard carb, which is set up for low fuel usage on a 1.2. Your best bet would be to double check cam timing, ignition timing and then focus on fueling. You may be able to get a replacement carb, which will fit the manifold from Dellorto in Reading ( can't remember the company name, although my mum lives 200 yrds away !!) The other thing which you might have missed is a breather not being plugged up etc.

[joea145]

Just messed about with the timing and mixture screw on the carb and its running alot better, still wont idle but revs ok with a bit of miss fire at low revs. I think it has lost compression as it is very slugish, could this be valve clearence as the followers on the lifters are standard and i think you get upgraded ones when u buy the ajustable solid lifters. Also thanks for the help justin

Edited by joea145 on Sunday 14th February 18:54