1983 240DL - independent runners - CV 40mm superbike carbs?

sergitin32 · Post by **sergitin32** » 12 Nov 2015, 13:57

I have been watching the VW forums and been wondering if anyone has any info on this been done in a red-blok volvo engine? I have a single carbureted (Zenith-Stromberg 175 CDE) but the admission manifold in this thing is known for being trash, my center cylinders run rich and 1&4 borderline lean. It has been hard to adjust them, idle is hard to achieve without the choke, etc. So I have always had the idea of multiple carbs (2 at least). Then I ran into these motorcycle (superbikes) carbs adapted into 1.8 and 2.0 Litres VW engines. Most of the 2 litres are 16 valves heads, I am not sure what diference would this make.

My engine and ignition are very simple so I believe this would be a doable thing to do, I am already purchasing parts and having the idea on what to do for starters, but I would have a great deal of help and support if some onehere could give me leads and or tips on what would be the best way to go for this.

So far I have with me:
- Set of 2001 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-9R CVRD 40 mm carburettors keihin brand. With mani booties.
- Purchased today a Fuel Pump Regulator (return type) to bring pressure down to 3-5 PSI.
- Donor Volvo manifold to create the new mani. Using the injectors holes to run vacum to the break booster.
- Fuel gauge (15PSI)
- Steel Tubing for welding the mani.

I own a MIG welder and was wondering if this would do the job for welding the manifold, what material are the intake manis made of when casted? Just in case it doesnt mix well with the steel for welding and I need some one else to TIG it for me.

I could also use just silicone pipes and clamps to hold everything together I guess.

Need tog et in the future:
- Silicone hose
- Clamps
- Jet kits for re-jetting
- ???

I plan to do some sort of write-off if I go ahead with the project to post my findings.
Thanks a lot in advance.

Sergitin.

93Regina · Post by **93Regina** » 14 Nov 2015, 06:18

sergitin32 wrote:center cylinders run rich and 1&4 borderline lean.

Any single carburetor on a multi-cylinder engine will run richer on closet cylinders to carburetor.

Myself, I'd just overhaul current carburetor, and tune it correctly.

VOLVO B21 B23 B230 WEBER CARBURETOR CONVERSION

sergitin32 · Post by **sergitin32** » 14 Nov 2015, 12:20

Carburetor was overhaul by the local expert and brought to factory specs, and I have been tuning it for ages, with not the best results. Never undesrtood why. But Zenith strombergs are not very tuneable, just play around with the needle height, that's about it. You could of course change the viscocity of the fluid in the damping reservoir and the spring rigidity, I have done that too without any positive results. The jets are pressure fitted so no chance of changing those (type 3 in your link) without an special tool, so every time you nees to unassemble the thing and with a special tool (which I fabricated) move the needle height, so thats why I ended expendind the money to get it rebuily just to make sure the jet and needle were not oval etc and start from stage zero, but still no matter what I do, my idle is poor and I have to drive with the choke out. Vacuum leak: there were a few, all corrected now and wacuum kinda steady at 23 Hgmm or so.

This, more than a fix, is also an experiment / project just to see how it goes since the VW people had always achieve good results with this "upgrade". Also, I will keep all my current setup untouched so I can always go back to where I am now if this doesn't work, since this is kinda my daily driver.

The fact that it is a single carb doesnt mean the cylinders have to be closer or further if the manifold is well thought and built (with plenum(s) and contorted equal length runners) a fair amount of equality could be achieve between cylinders AFR and volumetric eficiency. This mani is just plain wrong.

Thanks.

Sergitin

sergitin32 · Post by **sergitin32** » 15 Dec 2015, 22:06

HI guys sorry since I havent come with anything, I just got all the parts and means, including a carburetor syncronizzing tool with mercury columns, fancy and happy just telling my friend and family about my project, I managed to crash the car. Idiotic, so this is in the wait list now for more pressing circunstances, first I would need to get me a daily driver, since that was it. There are a few volvo options around my craigs list... this showed up for example, rains of replies so the owner is flooded, I am just crying for her to give it to me for that price! yeah sort of broke...

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5360818228.html

that was also gem of a post if you ask me, so I feel like the person has put at least good moods and vibes into the car, then with mine as donor and this:

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/van/cto/5303855095.html

This last guy is good for parts and cheap, mainly a fair clean interior... If I get my hands and can some how accomodate them all 3 in a multifamily condo "strata bitching" garage, then I could start interchanging parts and in total get a really nice wagon at the end...

So the project got a different way for sure, sorry about that,
You guys keep it real and enjoy the holidays.

Other wise one of them would do for parts for my car os vicseversa.

Sergitin.

93Regina · Post by **93Regina** » 15 Dec 2015, 23:09

sergitin32 wrote:Carburetor was overhaul by the local expert...

Tom Bryantis the "man" for SUs, but I have no idea if he does Zenith strombergs.

Throwing a carb kit at an old carb is not a quality rebuild; all shafts have to be bored and re-sleeved. Bring a carb back to or near OEM specs will work fine for years.

From tech literature I've read, OEMs had to enrich mixture a pinch to reach outer cylinders with a single carb.

With today's alcohol based fuels (10%), I found harder starts in hot weather with a carb setup. Up north in Canada, this is not an issue.

sergitin32 · Post by **sergitin32** » 18 Dec 2015, 23:15

The guy in Vancouver Island for Zenith-Stromberg Carbs is Rhys Kent @ Island Automotion LTD (seams SUs also part of his products/services):
http://www.sucarburetors.com/

He does rebuilt these carbs, not just throws a kit in there, or so I believe, I mean it looks like a legit business.
With a lot of positive feed back, I read a lot before I send my carb in and decided to throw that money into it.

Anyways this independent runners project is kaput for now, I am going to drive the new car I got 1989 Volvo 240 DL (B230F)
and take my engine out of my car to do what ever projects I got for it in the outside world
but I can see it happening more like next summer since I need to exchange all goodies to my new Volvo,
and collect what ever is left in good conditions as a spare part.

I will soon start a thread about things I need to know about my new car for sure,
Thanks a lot 93Regina for your coments.

Peace,

Sergitin.