Carbs on a road going Chim?

[ClassiChimi]

Just dreaming really but has anyone converted a Chimaera to carbs.
Is it a reasonable suggestion, is it possible or a waste of time...
Has any of you crazy mechanical types had a go, I'm sure you could get more power?
No ecu, old school induction roar and fettle it with a screwdriver!
So what's the draw backs, over fuelling etc?
I'd bloody love it,,, I suppose you'd have fuel economy like Phazed 5.5
If it can be done what carbs should I be looking at,,, I'm thinking early Tuscan RV race car,,, the one before they used the AJP
Can anyone enlighten me. Cheers Alun

[ClassiChimi]

Ok I'm already thinking that carbs won't go under the bonnet, so we'll go ram air with a hole in the bonnet and a Great big American style induction intake, or maybe flutes like a race car,,,
Don't suppose it'll pass the emissions test either,,,
There must be a way.

[QBee]

I eat plenty of carbs, but still fit in a Chim.....

[ClassiChimi]

The silly things I come up with late at night?

[NZ fan]

This. Is what you need ITB's low enough to fit under the bonnet but still fuel injected. If they weren't so bloody expensive I'd have them on my car (have to ditch the 14cux though ...no air flow meter on these guys). http://www.triumphroverspares.com.au/page.asp?pare...

[900T-R]

All the benefits of individual throttles as per 4 twin choke Dell'Ortos, none of the drawbacks of going back to carburettors...

[carsy]

If only they weren't so bloody dear. Do they reAlly have to be that price. Some nice gear at that triumph rover place tho.

[pjac67]

My Wedge (390SE) in the classifieds runs very smooth (I didn't do any of the work)...

[domV8]

Emissions fail at MOT time..?

[900T-R]

carsy said:

If only they weren't so bloody dear. Do they reAlly have to be that price. Some nice gear at that triumph rover place tho.

If you look at the individual components though, it's hard to see where significant cost could be taken out. The JE crossover manifold is sixhundredsomething quid if I remember correctly, which is fair enough for a low volume alluy casting of this level of complexity, then you have four Jenvey twin throttle bodies, two ACT carbon airboxes, throttle linkanges and various sundries - it all adds up.

[ClassiChimi]

900T-R said:

All the benefits of individual throttles as per 4 twin choke Dell'Ortos, none of the drawbacks of going back to carburettors...

Luck at those mothers, so what power gain is likely with that set up, I'll start looking.
It's all pointless because you'll never pass emissions,,,, ideas anyone,

I'd love that lot. Hang on,,, cost of ecu's and mapping and all the rest,it's not so expensive if it offers a real power gain?

[ChilliWhizz]

Alun, Ian (rosey) has the JE xover and jenvies on his Griff... I've been thinking about this for some time now, would stop cross cylinder contamination (I have a lot of cam overlap), so smoother running particularly at low revs (in theory), but opinions from various knowledgable sources suggest maybe no more than 20bhp extra.... At over £3k a go that's a lot of dosh for 20bhp... Supercharger route is far better bang for buck than the ITB's..... Unfortunately for me I'd need low compression pistons and a new cam before fitting a SC, which makes that bloody expensive ££ per bhp too.. I'm stuffed... Besides which a new conservatory takes precedence over power upgrades at the moment. Then there's the imminent body off and refurb... the new en-suite.... restoration of the B roadster.... the Triumph Thunderbird I've had my eye on... the 60" telly (the 55" doesn't quite fill the gap in the corner in the new gaff), and, er, oh yeah, a set of triple R's.

Sorry, slight hijack, just needed to get it off my chest

[Boosted LS1]

Surely a holley would fit nicely into a Chim. They're easy to tune and set up. I'd want to shield it from exhaust heat though and provide cooler air to it.

[ClassiChimi]

Jeez, I have a shoulder injury that keeps me up all freaking night some days hence the insane time if day to be on here....
Richard we are more alike than I thought ,,
I hear you Mate.
So much to do and so little time and dosh to do it,,

Well am I mad or what, boosted LS
When I was 17 I helped re build a RV 3.5 that we then fitted into a Mk 1 Capri
We also fitted a Holley carb and a fast shift kit in the auto box...
I remember that carb and the sound,,,,

I don't seem to remember the carb being an issue to set up
But I can hardly remember doing it anyway!

I might speak to Perry with the Tuscan race car,,,
See the vid that's a 450 engine I think?

So tomcats heads,,,,
As the heads are our real restriction what is it about them, I hear they produce loads of power so why are we not using them???
I have so many questions
I'm sure they are so aggressive they don't idle brow. 3 k not exactly road friendly.

Richard I'm hear you clearer lol, it might make only gain 20hp but it would sound like 50 !!!???
I miss the old school induction roar.
I'm just living in the past again,,

Thing is I have to change ecu and that's not exactly cheap,,, 2.5 k fitted and fettled so if I thought I could get it road legal I'd be looking at carbs more seriously.
Is there a way around the law,, I dunno, change engine number to some old unit running a carb, something!
Cheers for the replies boys

[phazed]

I built a kit car some years ago.

I rebuilt a 3.5 RV8 with a piper cam and stage 3 heads.
I also fitted a Holly 4 barrel carb with matching manifold all brand new from some yank parts shop.
It ran super smooth straight out the box with only adjustment needed to idle speed.

Richard, as nice and individual as Ian's ITBs are, you won't see that much improvement on yours, not so you would notice.

I drove Ians car at Bedford TD and a lovely thing it is as well!

I would say it has similar power and performance to mine but somehow feels different to drive, (maybe it's because it's a griff!).

[QBee]

What's a tomcat head, Alun?
Sounds like something that stays out all night, fights with the neighbours, and pisses on your pussy.

[ClassiChimi]

Hahah, as usual Anthony I'm making it up as I go along, tomcat wildcat,,, something like that,,,,,
Peter,,,, mmm,
Ok back to reality and what ecu to go for....
There's a story there too!!!!

[N7GTX]

ClassiChimi said:

Don't suppose it'll pass the emissions test either,,,
There must be a way.

From the MOT manual:

Vehicles Fitted with a different engine

Test according to which is older, engine or vehicle.
e.g. A 1995 car fitted with a 1991 engine (of whatever make), test to 1991 standards for emission purposes.

Note: The onus is on the vehicle presenter
to prove engine age.

Your average MOT tester, especially if he /she is under 25 years old, will probably not know what carburettors are. May have heard of them from his dad. So, if he is presented with a Chim on a (say) '96 plate, will be given a print out showing test to cat emissions.
But, open the bonnet and show him the carb set up and he will immediately think he's gone back to the 80s. He's unlikely to ask you to prove its not the same engine as engine numbers are often hard to find and anyway, how can he tell when it was made?

I am sure you can find a TVR friendly MOT place as many others have?

[ChimaeraKev]

Hi guys and gals!

First time poster, long time lurker. I've recently acquired a 4.0 Chim which does have a Holley carb conversion on it, sadly it has been sat for a few years but does start and run. It's currently being stored in a friends garage but I'll try and get some pictures of it on here.

Kev

[ClassiChimi]

Hi Kev, welcome, yes some pics would be good,,, just shows it can be done.