The best Carbs

[Jonny-Jimbo]

No, this isn't an argument for pasta or bread or noodles etc, but the car type of carb.

On to the point, currently my Vitesse has got HS6 carbs, that I believe to be totally standard internally, no spring or needle swaps, they're straight out of a 2.5S I think, and are still on the 2.5S long branch manifold. On the exhaust side it's a standard, but very good condition cast item after properly smashing my tubular system to bits on a speed bump. I also have an airbox that's twice as wide as normal with one large intake on the front, similar in size to a PI plenum chamber. It currently doesn't have a filter in there, but that hasn't been an issue so far.

Basically I think they're just too rich for a 2L, if I lean them out as far as I can the car won't start, and if I wind them to the leanest it will run, the plugs are black. I was planning on rebuilding the carbs at some point, but I was wondering if it would be worth downsizing. Would a pair of HS4's be too small for the 2L and would they even fit on the manifold?

Should I get some different springs and needs and see wht works best, or just scrap the HS6's and go back to the CD150's the engine was designed to run on, knowing they leak and are crap?

[piman]

Hello Johnny,


HS4 are the same size as CD 150 and would probably be easier to identify the correct needle for your engine. I believe that you can get suitable needles for the HS6 though, as post 1974 2000s used HS6 with BCY needles.

Note that whatever needle is installed the idle dimension is the same (or as near as) so if you set the idle correctly and you then find that it is too rich when driving, it sounds like a needle swap.

Alec

[GT6boy]

The HS6's can and should run really well on your car, with the correct needles/springs. Quite right to say the SU needles are pretty similar at tickover. Allied to taht manifold, you should be able to make it fly :). I'd stick with the SU's.

[Clive]

You can get those carbs to work, the old TT manual suggests bdm/bae needles. But do get an air filter, otherwise your engine will wear very fast. Those big cone ones are dead cheap too.
Of course it may be worn jets causing problems.

And on a std engine the hs4's may well be a better option? will bolt onto that manifold.

Clive

[Deleted User]

IIRC, Sprint needles are a good match.

[Jonny-Jimbo]

Hmm, I think I'll ring up Mr Carb tomorrow and have a chat with him. Whatever happened to all the mobile tuning companies? I know that there wouold be virtually no need for them now, but surely you'd ahve thought a few people would run a mobile carb tuning company?

[Pete Lewis]

but Carbs disappeared around the late 80's  they would only have the odd classic to earn the daily bread   so doubt if it would be viable   Pete

[Deleted User]

Jonny_Jimbo wrote:

Hmm, I think I'll ring up Mr Carb tomorrow and have a chat with him. Whatever happened to all the mobile tuning companies? I know that there wouold be virtually no need for them now, but surely you'd ahve thought a few people would run a mobile carb tuning company?

Everyone fits fuel injection. Last car I bought new with a carb was a Metro back in the early 90's and BL/Rover were always a good decade behind the rest of the industry.