Carbureted cars
Discussion
MG, Triumph or similar might fit the bill - depending on your definition of affordable.
A GT6 might be nice with a fairly simple but great sounding straight 6 and triple SUs - very easy carburettors to set up and own. Not silly money like Healeys or E-Types. A bit more special looking and feeling than a 1990 Ford Fiesta.
A GT6 might be nice with a fairly simple but great sounding straight 6 and triple SUs - very easy carburettors to set up and own. Not silly money like Healeys or E-Types. A bit more special looking and feeling than a 1990 Ford Fiesta.
I don't really understand the question!
Most stuff pre 1980 had a carburettor. EEC 3 regs came in 1986 if memory serves and cats were mandatory by 1993 signalling the end of carbs on all but the most basic stuff. I think that the Peugeot 106 might have had one until 1994-ish but could be wrong.
Prior to that Mercedes, Volvo and Saab were early adopters of mechanical fuel injection but the basic ones had carburettors. They were common on American cars until the early nineties too.
I guess that you've never driven one? I've owned a few and other than adjusting the idle speed on one I never gave it a second thought.
Generally more chokes gives you a sharper throttle response. Some have a manual choke control so cold starting is a bit more tricky. They tend to be a little bit jerkier in some cases, especially in the standard fit progressive twin choke Weber (or its copies) found on Ford models and the like. SUs and stuff were a bit different but ultimately less tunable than fixed choke models.
Day to day you might have to pump the throttle to get it going on cold mornings, but most of the time you won't know it's there. The difference between a carb and an fuel injection system with a mechanical throttle is minimal.
To be honest I prefer fuel injection for a daily car: more power, better power delivery, more reliable. A proper system does everything a carb can do and a lot more.
That isn't to say there's no place for carbs, but they're old technology now.
Most stuff pre 1980 had a carburettor. EEC 3 regs came in 1986 if memory serves and cats were mandatory by 1993 signalling the end of carbs on all but the most basic stuff. I think that the Peugeot 106 might have had one until 1994-ish but could be wrong.
Prior to that Mercedes, Volvo and Saab were early adopters of mechanical fuel injection but the basic ones had carburettors. They were common on American cars until the early nineties too.
I guess that you've never driven one? I've owned a few and other than adjusting the idle speed on one I never gave it a second thought.
Generally more chokes gives you a sharper throttle response. Some have a manual choke control so cold starting is a bit more tricky. They tend to be a little bit jerkier in some cases, especially in the standard fit progressive twin choke Weber (or its copies) found on Ford models and the like. SUs and stuff were a bit different but ultimately less tunable than fixed choke models.
Day to day you might have to pump the throttle to get it going on cold mornings, but most of the time you won't know it's there. The difference between a carb and an fuel injection system with a mechanical throttle is minimal.
To be honest I prefer fuel injection for a daily car: more power, better power delivery, more reliable. A proper system does everything a carb can do and a lot more.
That isn't to say there's no place for carbs, but they're old technology now.
maxdb said:
I wouldn't recommend using a carb'd car as a reliable daily. They sound great running but it's the starting issues that get me. Stupid poxy distributor caps 
My wife uses a 1988 1.3 Mk2 astra (auto choke) and a 1991 Mk1 Nova (manual). They both start fine! What are you doing with the caps? Do you mean points?One benefit of carbs I think that is that if something breaks, you can usually get round it somehow. If a sensor goes duff, invariably the engine just won't go, or will eat your cat. converter if you continue to drive.
I will admit on a cold wet morning it's nice just to turn the key and go without priming or remembering to pull out the choke.
HustleRussell said:
Fleckers said:
a nice set of rorty DCOE's or do silly will a mahoosive Holly
love induction roar from carbs
much better then drilling holes in your airbox you a shopping trolly
Great minds think alike. love induction roar from carbs
much better then drilling holes in your airbox you a shopping trolly
FYI I'm not a shopping trolley.
It was like a f
king waterfall just on tickover.Twin 45 Dellorto's on my redtop.
However, just sometimes I prefer the reliability of injectors....no more of those routines you do, "full choke, press pedal ten times, wait for fuel pump to stop clicking, turnover twice, wait, repeat until it catches once as this is a sure sign it will definately start next time..."
TonyRPH said:
Back in the 80's I ran a MK II Escort with twin 40 DCOE Webers. At anything over 50mph, the induction roar made conversation in the car difficult.
But such a lovely sound, I had no desire to talk.
I had a Holbay engined Hillman Hunter. Yes, the noise was great, but the fuel consumption was sBut such a lovely sound, I had no desire to talk.
t, and petrol dribbling down into the brake servo and perishing the diaphragm every 1500 miles was just irritating.
Futuramic said:
I don't really understand the question!
I have never driven or owned a carb car. I think there is a perception that they sound better and the whole romance of the smell of fuel and the more involved start up procedure etc. Got me interested to learn more. I think they generally require a more hands on approach and fettling which, I feel, leads to a deeper bond with a machine.So...I want to know what peoples experiences are of carb cars, and which engines / cars in particular are most interesting without going into silly £ figures. Something I could aspire to one day perhaps.
It sounds already like the reality is probably removed from the actuality. In this age of limited free time , would it be more of a chore to own a pre injection car? Probably.
I heard the sound of a 993 in London the other day and at a slow crawl it sounded great. I'm aware it has a fuel injected motor but it just got me thinking about what other cars would produce an exciting and interesting sound at low speeds...
We've got a 1979 VW camper with a type 2 engine on PICT carbs. There's no real messing about with it; once you've set it up (I've done it once in about 30k miles) its pretty low maintenance. Had to clean the idle jet a few times after we ran it low on fuel (unscrew the jet, shake around in a jar of carb cleaner, marvel at the amount of dirt which came out, screw it back in). Cold start needs a prod of the throttle before you crank it to set the choke. It's a bit hesitant for the first mile or so, then as it warms the choke slowly resets itself.
Dizzy and points, that's another matter....
Dizzy and points, that's another matter....
Mave said:
You can have carbs without stupid poxy distributor caps
Carbs are of their time. Every other Saturday, assuming you cared, setting points, checking condensers, dwell angle, carbs, tappets, greasing the propshaft and trunnions, treating the rust and adjusting the fan belt.The sills, like the cars that needed them, have mostly gone.
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