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Carburettor repairs / overhaul
SU, Solex, Weber, Dellorto, Pierberg, Nikki, etc etc etc.....
Modern fuels - There is very little doubt that modern fuels can be quite aggressive towards many of the materials used on classic cars. I'm not about to write a book on the topic, but let's just say it is already fairly well known and documented.
In addition to material compatibility, there are then difference in regards to both 'octane' and 'calorific' values when comparing traditional and modern fuels also. Octane and Calories are two different properties of the fuel, hence don't confuse the two.
When carburettors are blocked or need repairing?
The carburettors used on most classic cars consist of float bowls / reservoirs, jets, needles, emulsion tubes and various fine capillaries. It is incredibly easy for these to become blocked, and result in a carburettor/s which will not function correctly.
Sometimes they can be given a simple clean, however more often than not they can require a full overhaul and either a service kit fitted, or a more complete repair/overhaul kit fitted.
On the below pic, the green slime is what existed inside the float bowl of one carb from a set of twins........not difficult to see why only one carb was functioning!!!
Below are a 2 sets of Triple Zenith 40 TIN down draught carburettors.
- Fully overhauled
- Deep cleaned
- Pressure tested to observe maximum needle valve capability
- Float height set physically and via external sight measure
- Engineer blue'd on all gasket surfaces
- Prepped to Porsche's exact specification.
Mechanical Damage to Carburettors
Most carburettors have 'wear and tear' maintenance items which allow them to function.....shafts, bearings, needles, jets, floats, valves. In the worst case scenario, the result is petrol leakage and the risk of fire.
Of lesser severity is when the vacuum created by the engine can draw air in via a leaking spindle bush, diaphragm, seal or gasketed seem. Instead of pulling in a fuel and air mix as per the carburettors design, its far easier for the engine to pull in air instead.
Carburettor Repairs and Overhaul
On a 'case by case' basis, we are often able to carry out repairs and overhaul to almost all carburettor makes and models. As a general rule, we do this as an extension of our tuning work, to then be installed / setup & tuned by AG Classic Car Tuning.
Ofcourse....subject to the relevant overhaul kits being available!!
