DeTomaso Mailing List: May 1997, Message #50
     



From: pantera@shiseis.com (Shane F. Ingate)

Subject: Re: Webers or equiv.

Date: Thu, 1 May 97 17:32:21 PDT



Mike Drew wrote:

> I think you're asking for trouble.  Webers were THE way to make horsepower

> back in the '60's on racecars, but never worked too well on the street.



I LOVE this thread!  To a degree, I agree with Mike that FI is probably the

way to go, but the Webers keep nagging:



- I've spent a bit of time playing with triple-Weber DCOE40 & 45

setups on straight-6's (the Triumph 2.5 litre and Aussie

Chrysler 4.2 litre hemi).  Once past the initial headaches

of jetting the Webers (an enormous task, dont think it is

easy!), the carbs will do everything you want, idle, run

smoothly to peak revs, etc, assuming of course you have helped

the engine in other areas such as exhaust, timing curves

and preferably port matching.

- I've yet to hear a regularly maintained and driven

4- or even 6-Weber'd Ferrari have carb problems



I do not know the IDA48's, but the same principles should apply.



In short, I believe Webers can be made to work, providing you are prepared

for the effort and $$ that correct jetting requires.



Or am I a romantic?  Many learned folks have told me to steer clear of Webers

for all the above and more reasons.  Jack DeRyke mentioned a potential

fire hazard with the sidedraft DCOEs; this may be, but there are 10's of

thousands of cars out there (Alfas, Fiats, VWs, etc) with sidedraft Webers

hanging over the exhaust manifold, and Ralph Nader does'nt care.



When I spoke with Gary Hall about the 4xDCOE45 with individual runners

that he developed (he sold the prototype...anyone know who to?), he

apparently gave up because he believes FI is the way of the future.

The big problem with this set up was the long runners, although they

do increase torque significantly.  Chevvy ran this system on their

Grand Sports and Le Mans 'Vettes, so they can be made to produce HP too.



Besides, I dont like the thought of sharing the cockpit with a laptop

computer as many folk with FI seem to do.  I spend all day in front of

the suckers, so when I get in a car or on a bike, I want to be as FAAAR

away from them as possible.



So Captain Sensible says FI.

The Devil says Weber.



Shane (talk is cheap) Ingate in San Diego