nick69 Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Hi guys,Ive just bought a rebuild kit for my CD150s and went to sell an old pair of HS6s. Now im thinking whether I should rebuild the SUs and put them on??Whats peoples opinions on SUs on GT6s???I see some people are having problems setting them up!!Nick :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 dellortoes ;) hehe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 STROMBERGS!!!!!!!!!They are fantastic carbs, the only thing the SU cack has over them is needle choice.But Strombergs are great!Only weakness is the diaphragms, replace them every 2-3 years. £5 quid and 5 mins!SUs eat thier spindles quickly, tempermental too, they go out of tune quickly - thats why there are so many books on them, you need the help!Rebuilding old Strombs is pee easy too!SUs are only so popular as cars with more cache than a Triump, like Jags and Austin Healeys had them.Strombergs are even suitable for Aero engines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nick69 Posted May 13, 2007 Author Share Posted May 13, 2007 Ah right so good, rebuilt and set up strombergs are more suited to our engines?I dont really fancy getting into replacing the front dash pot tbh. If it was an easy swap out and they were as good then I might have done it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Jones Posted May 13, 2007 Share Posted May 13, 2007 Nowt wrong with Strombergs in good shape. If going SU, for preference use the later HIF style (at pictured above). For info, the Sprint SUs had shorter dashpots as standard........Nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 Isn't there a theory that was never really proved? SU's gave you slightly more power but worse economy. Strombergs the other way around. Hence why they never put Strombergs on Spitfires.Although, didn't some US spec Spitfires have Strombergs? A very very small number.Or is that just an old wives tale?When I put twin SU's on my engine I did notice an improvement in torque. But then, I only put them on because the Stromberg was knackered so can't really comment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rotoflex Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 I think all post-emissions regs (1968 or so-on) US Spitfires had CDSE Strombergs.My Spitfire & TR6 knowledge is limited mostly to casual observation & interest in what I can strip off them for the GT6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 There's only more documentation on them because they were used on more cars - and more needles means more choice when it comes to tuning them. They're fine if you have a totally stock car - but not so if you want to mod it. Also more people tune SUs so know what they're doing.SU's don't go out of tune any more than a Strombergs... and the spindles don't wear quickly - it's just most sets are knackered by now and need redoing.There are arguments for both...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 The bit about the books was tongue in cheek James.But I firmly believe, that so many people want SUs or switch to SUs because of the old fallacies that a 'real' sports car has SUs.They DO wear their spindles quickly, I've had it confirmed by a trader, you get blow by through the bushes after about 40k miles, Strombs regularly make 100kMy own experience is with 2 sets of HS2s. One less than 10k old the other nearly 35k old.The newer pair go out of tune on a monthly basis, whilst the older pair sometimes last 3 weeks. The latter pair however need rebushing as they are gone!Having experience those, I wouldn't touch any SU but the later Metric onesIn terms of needle selection, you are correct SUs can't be beat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mac Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 SU poor economy? I get 45 mpg on me SUs, that's prety good fer an old banger ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 14, 2007 Share Posted May 14, 2007 On both my 1500 and my Mk3 the SUs never went out of tune... if they go out of tune that quickly then there is something wrong with them...The reason they are the choice for sports cars is because of the needle selection and the number of people able to tune them properly... if people are building modded motors you're not going to go for a carb that isn't flexible enough to do what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
junkuser Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 http://www.team.net/www/morgan/tech/carbs/Stromberg.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Quoted from jcarruthers SU's don't go out of tune any more than a Strombergs... and the spindles don't wear quickly - it's just most sets are knackered by now and need redoing.There are arguments for both...!I'll hang my overalls up then! SU's have kept me busy in the workshop for the past 30 years, very nice source of income thank you very much. Not scientific by any means but on average SU's (at least on Triumph's) need a set of spindles/butterflys every 30-40,000 miles. Needles and jets can be worn out in less than that. For Strombergs double those values at least. Our Chicane is about ready for another carb rebuild it's Strombergs were treated to a full rebuild at 100,000 miles. Now at approaching 300,000 miles it's time again. If it had been fitted with SU's they would have been on there sixth rebuild now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 It's a common myth that the Stromberg needle selection is tiny. Look in the Burlen catalogue the list is huge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 But the info isn't out there is it? I know I struggled to find any when I knew it was time to change my needles. With regards to the SU's it was dead easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Burlen catalogue should be your bible. They are Mr SU & Mr Stromberg (and a few others). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 And another thing! Strombergs tolerate wear much better than SU's. A worn set of Strombergs can still be tuned to give decent idle/economy etc. Try tuning a worn set of SU's and they would go out of sync, have an erratic idle, and be using the juice again within a few days. Don't get me wrong I'm not anti SU (one of the better things to come out of Austin Morris) I'm just saying in practical day to day terms Strombergs live approximately twice as long as an equivalent SU. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Jesus, I think Dave P agreed with me! :o :oAbsolutely Ferny, get the SU/Stomberg manuals pack from Burlen, its about £13 and covers each and every part, and also has technical sections. Well worth it IMOPS> I'm not trying to say rip the SUs off your car, far from it they are fine carbs, just trying to relate my experience and stick up for poor old Strombergs!SUs got Austin Healeys, Jags, Spitfires, Sprints, etc - whereas Stromberg got stuck on Volvos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 No, what I meant was that when I put my new air filter on with my SU's I had instant access to ideas on what springs and needles to use. When I got the car it had a single Stromberg and a K&N. The general knowledge was that I needed to change the needle but I couldn't find out any info as to what to change it to. Looking in articles in the Courier simply said "best to use a rolling road" and there was nothing I could find on-line.The Stromberg which if it had been on the car since new and the speedo was correct had only done 83k miles and wouldn't stay in tune. ;) Although I know the engine was replaced in the 80's so have no idea on when the carb was last fiddled with or rebuilt etc. So assume it had done a lot less miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I concede to superior experience - I just never had a problem with my SUs running them over 15k or so...It still seems to be SUs are easier to tune with regards random needles and modifications.I was in talks with Burlen a couple of weeks back as they wanted me to make them a bespoke SU-needle-comparer-thingy - don't know if anything will happen from it - but perhaps I can suggest it to include Stromberg needles too... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Straight Six Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 I agree with the general opinion; Nowt wrong with Stroms, a much maligned carb (by some). Mine were overhauled 50,000 + miles ago and are still doing a grand job. But if you want to mess about with different needles etc. then SU are the way to go as you are very limited in choice/availability with Strombergs and will always end up compromising. (I'm not trying to contradict vastly more knowledgeable people on here, I'm just talking form my experience). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Quoted from jcarruthers I can suggest it to include Stromberg needles too...That would be fantastic Jimbo.I have some manuals, books and needle guides if you need a reference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 The need to be in some sort of computerised form - I'll let you input all the needles Jim! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deleted User Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Seriously, would a spreadsheet do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
James Posted May 15, 2007 Share Posted May 15, 2007 Yes that would be fine - but seriously - Burlen should have this data already...It would take you ages to type them all out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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