Weber Carbs

punter · Post by **punter** » Sat Oct 07, 2006 10:20 pm

I remember reading a number of posts regarding Weber carb conversions, but I cannot remember where I came across them. As I recall a number of folks have converted over and been pretty happy with the results (and RPI waxes on about them pretty heavily).

Has anyone here had any experience with them? I'm about to start rebuilding my 3.5L V8 and I'm seriously considering pitching the dual SUs and converting over to a single 4barrel (Holley, Edelbrock, or Weber).

I guess I should inquire about intakes as well... any thoughts?
...Edelbrock? ...Offenhauser?

mikeinbeverley · Post by **mikeinbeverley** » Sun Oct 08, 2006 6:20 pm

Hi Punter!

Yes, I fitted an RPI Weber a few months ago. Straightforward job, but what a result! Instant starting, smoooth take off and accelleration that just goes on & on! I fitted 2.8 diff on rear to try out & with the weber it's just a different vehicle (quieter without the old Fairey OD) By the way, it's an S3 Lightweight, open top with V8 & parabolics. Take off in second, and watch the Euroboxes jerking through their gears as the old girl surges away! It really is that much fun to drive now.

If it weren't for the fact that she uses so much water now that journeys of over 50 miles are impractical without stopping to refill!!

Do you have a good spare engine kicking around perchance ?

I'll be interested to read how you get on when I get back back from holiday.

mikeinbeverley

punter · Post by **punter** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 1:38 am

mikeinbeverly... thanks for the reply. I think I'm pretty much set on converting, now.

A couple questions on specifics though:
...exactly which model of Weber carb did you use?
...what intake manifold did you pair it up with?
...and which engine do you have (3.5L, 3.9L, bigger?)?

Unfortunately, no I don't have a spare engine ...in fact, I was just hunting around for one over the past couple of days, just in case I get bad news from the machinist when I take my block over to get cleaned and guaged.

I'll keep you posted on progress (which I expect to be somewhat slow ...work is forcing me to be a sort of weekend warrior on this project).

Ginga · Post by **Ginga** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 6:41 am

punter wrote: A couple questions on specifics though:
...exactly which model of Weber carb did you use?
...what intake manifold did you pair it up with?
...and which engine do you have (3.5L, 3.9L, bigger?)?

May I add

How much did it cost you?

Kiwistage1V8 · Post by **Kiwistage1V8** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 7:42 pm

Punter

I chucked out my original carbs and whacked on a Edelbrock Performer inlet manifold and 465 vac sec holley.

The edelbrock is a dual plane intake, and it has about 10mm machined off the divider plate that's between the 2 halves of the intake. This gives 5.4hp increase on a dyno. Dunno what it does, had the tip given to me by a mate. I just did it with a grinder.

When you bolt up your carb to it, I cut out the middle part of the gasket that would sit on top of that divider plate.

I put a 465 on, instead of a 390 because I have some other good mods to do to my engine (soon), but I have had to jet my 465 down a fair way to get it to run clean. In hindsight, I probably should have just chucked a 390 on, but it really doesn't matter, as I am hoping that when I chuck my 10.5:1 hypertech pistons, and the cam I have, I will be able to take advantage of the extra cfm's of the 465.

I have also installed a RR overdrive, and with the carb and od mods alone I have a huge increase in power, and yet, better fuel economy than when it was standard.

p.s. dont forget to throw a set of headers on it when you put a decent carb and manifold on!

Manfred · Post by **Manfred** » Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:40 pm

The weber conversion sounds very nice and fitting seems like a straight forward job, but I haven't heard a lot about people using it with LPG conversion.
Anyone here who has some experience with it, or knows who has?

punter · Post by **punter** » Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:30 pm

Kiwistage1V8,

Thanks for the tips...

Finally got around to pulling the engine. Hopefully I can get it stripped down and off to the machinist next week.

What do you recommend for headers and exhaust?

I have to admit this is my first Land Rover, so I'm still trying to figure out who the better aftermarket companies are for upgrades.

Kiwistage1V8 · Post by **Kiwistage1V8** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 6:35 am

punter wrote:Kiwistage1V8,

Thanks for the tips...

Finally got around to pulling the engine. Hopefully I can get it stripped down and off to the machinist next week.

What do you recommend for headers and exhaust?

I have to admit this is my first Land Rover, so I'm still trying to figure out who the better aftermarket companies are for upgrades.

The headers I have are from the U.K, I think. They are rimmer bros headers, apparently good for up to 300 hp, so, should be enough for the ol' 3.5

Just ask some of your local exhaust shops who is good. In N.Z we have a fairly cheap brand called pacemaker which are also reasonable quality. I don't know if you can get them where you are. I just lucked on to a 2nd hand set of rimmers bros headers cheap.

I plan on putting a fairly basic freeflow twin pipe system right through, with the minimum legal muffling I can get away with.

Haven't quite got that far yet.

I really don't know anything about the weber carb, but the holley is awesome. You can go all out and get the "truck avenger" specialist 4wd carb, but at almost double the price of the 465 and an off road kit, I reckoned it wasn't worth it. It would only be worth it if you were extreme 4wding.

Parabolic springs and good shocks are fairly high on the list of things to do one day (years away probably, lol).

What are you doing to the engine?

mikeinbeverley · Post by **mikeinbeverley** » Fri Dec 01, 2006 7:50 pm

Hi there, Punter!

I'm back now & fitting new front diff while weather stays warmish. You were asking about my setup. It's a Webber Edelbrock 500 Carb on an Edelbrock manifold on a 3.5 litre.

Like I said, its brilliant, but if they bring in road charging @ 80p per km, admiring it will be about all I'll be able to do!

mikeinbeverley

punter · Post by **punter** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:32 am

I'm thinking about going with the same set up.

As we speak my engine is at the machine shop. It's getting bored out just a hair, and new pistons (going to raise the compression some). The new cam, lifters, and valve springs just arrived today (Crower 276488).

Do you know the part numbers for the Intake Manifold and Carburator that you are running?

mikeinbeverley · Post by **mikeinbeverley** » Sat Dec 02, 2006 8:45 pm

Sorry, the only details I have are as per my last e-mail, which is as they appear on the invoice. From the instruction manual, the carb is a Performer Series. I got the bits from RPI - they say their deal is a comprehensive kit, but having done the job there's no magic about it. I ended up with a choke cable I didn't need, & the hoses you might have lying around, anyway. So maybe shopping around might not be a bad idea, but I'm happy enough with it.

Did you have your block pressure tested? I'm replacing engine due to incomprehensible water consumption, & feel its time to start again from scratch.

I'm sure you won't be disappointed with carb set-up.

punter · Post by **punter** » Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:49 am

No, I didn't have the block pressure tested... I hadn't been loosing any water either.

But... when I pulled the valve covers off (just to have a look) and saw how gummed up the heads were, I decided that a full rebuild was the only sensible course of action.

So, I stripped the engine down to the block and brought it (and the heads) to the best machinist I could find in my area. He guaged the cylinders, and did a visual inspection of the block and many of the parts I pulled off it to determine the condition of the engine and we went from there. I caught it just in time too... the main bearings were worn down to the copper!

I've been finding that performance parts are, in many cases, less expensive than stock. So, this is going to be a completely different motor when it's all done.

itay-rover · Post by **itay-rover** » Wed Sep 05, 2007 1:49 pm

hi

my 3.5 engine "breathing" and "eating" trugh edelbroke inlet manifuld and rochester quadrajet carburator.

it runs perfect with good fuel economy,7.5 kilometer per liter.

itay

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 4:56 pm

will the weber 4 barrell carb be ok for a Stage 1?
was wondering whether it'll make the engine too
powerful for the drum brakes? my stage 1 is all
original.

mattv8 · Post by **mattv8** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:49 pm

try real steel, they are a lot cheaper than R.P.I. & a lot more helpful. & they put the oil pump drive you need on for you... ive got a 4 barrel on mine, plus a mallory electronic distributor.. works v well..