Fiat, twin webers, nightmare. thoughts.

[callyspoy]

so...i am currently attempting to fit twin webers (DCOE's) onto my Fiat engine. couple of serious issues. Firstly, i assume when other people fit them, they do so when they first fit the engine, therefore negating the first of my 2 issues...

1. The carbs won't go on as the manifold is angled, and therefore contacts the bulkhead crossmember(technical term??). maybe 5-10cm, not measured it properly yet. I was wondering if it possible to cut out the desired section, and invert the angle. if you get my drift. like a step. I can't see how this would be harmful to strength as long as it gets welded up properly. this is actually what i did to the front crossmember to clear the cramk pulley.

2. The manifold and carbs come in at just about 7.5 inches. the clearance i have between engine and lever damper is around 8.75 inches.
i can't really see how you fit a K&N/pipercross/ or even trumpets with socks in thaat sort of space. The only thing i can think to do is make my own, which is no big deal, but i know i am not eh first to have done this, therefore rather annoying.

any help/pictures of your fiat with webers greatly appreciated.

[Faceplant]

i have twin dellorto's iif thats any help?

[callyspoy]

ha, yes, taht is a help, just remembered i can look at the picture from the ad taht was posted on here...cheers!

[callyspoy]

scrap that...its been removed...do you have a pic handy please??

[morrisfixer]

Hi mate,
I've got twin 45s for my fiat twin cam, you've got to cut
a 3inch section out of chassis and turn it around then weld
back inplace. I've also got 40 mm deep filters, you need to
move the right filter up 20 mm to clear the leaver
arm. I made a new back plate for the filter easy!
cheers Steven

p.s there not fitted just now just fitted new cylinderhead
I'll put pictures up tomorrow

[Faceplant]

My minor is at home, will take a pic later for you. Hope it helps.

[plastic_orange]

Fiat used downdraught carbs as standard on some TC engines - you may be better getting hold of a set of them.
I'd a similar problem with a single 45 weber on my MGB engined Minor - had to butcher the filter.

Pete

[Innovator]

Yes fitting twin Webers is awkward.

Mounting the engine high helps with all issues.

We never had to cut the bulkhead.

I used to make an angled filter mounting plate to get trumpets and deep K and N filters on.

Eventually I made a pattern to cast manifolds for twin SU`s (for sale by the way.....) These fitted easily and gave more power, smooth runing easy starting and better MPG.

[Faceplant]

heres my pics, hope they help, let m eknow if you need more of anything.
[frame][/frame][frame][/frame][frame][/frame]

[twincamman]

That manifold does seem quite short. What make is it?
The way the engine is mounted obviously has some bearing on this. Those carbs seem to be higher than the lever arm, thus missing it nicely. Those filters seem suitably shallow as well.

[MartinB]

I never had to cut the bulkhead when I had thwin 45 DHLAs when my Minor had the 8 valve lump in it either, is the engine set very low?

[callyspoy]

Hi folks, really sorry for the delay, muchly appreciate all the words and pics.
so...
I got them fitted last night, cut a bit out of the bulkhead, nothing drastic, turned the metal over and rewelded it. sorted. tried to start it, nothing, thought i may ahve got the dizzy wet as it was raining when i was doing it, joys of no garage!
anyway, gave up at 8pm last night after changing the point, as it just wouldn't start.
this morning, tried it again, nothing, tried new coil, condenser, cap, rotor arm, then decided to check spark, no spark. fool. cleaned the new points, hey presto, spark. great.
still no joy.
THEN!
noticed the manifold/head joint was leaking water, rather annoyed, had to take manifold off, a bit of silicon on there, leak sorted. grand.
then it started up, can't explain why, just did. i assume there was a bit of an air leak at the manifold(new gasket?!) sorted.
at this point i noticed that my starter motor cable had got very hot, decided that perhaps it wasn't thick enough, so went to fit another one.
oh dear...
the spade terminal on the starter snapped off. NOW, very disheartened and a little bit annoyed i had to grab the old man, a soldering iron and a length of electrical cabling. Without taking the carbs off, we soldered this wire to the broken bit on the starter, burnt myself a few times as there was no space. sorted that.
very, very, very frustrating couple of days. but...the carbs are on, timed horrifically, but useable this evening. shall sort it properly tomorrow.
incidently...
when you blap the accelerator the revs drop very slowly, thus also meaning that decelleration is a bit sketchy. can anyone please explain why this could be? return spring on the cable is very much doing its job.
cheers for your help fellas.
Callum

[MartinB]

Are the carbs balanced ok, if one is staying open it won't come back to idle cleanly?

[callyspoy]

yeah, erm, not sure! need to purcahse a balancing tool, i have been tinkering with them today, not finished yet, will come back and let you know!

[MartinB]

Balancing tool = length of tube which you can stick in your ear!!

With filters off and the engine idling, stick the other end of the tube in each intake in turn, you will hear which ones are working harder!!

[callyspoy]

maybe to you well versed mechanically minded folk! i'm just a barman who dabbles in modification!
on a serious note, i've never been good with noises or sounds...i think it may be time to get the old man involved...

[morrisfixer]

You could join a couple of straws together that'll do
the same thing now that's funny!

[MarkyB]

Just try it and see, it isn't engineering, it's literally tuning by ear.
Put the tube in the same place on each carb and put it near, not in your ear.
Compare and contrast the sounds you hear them make the louder one quieter with the adjuster, maybe the quiet one louder too, until they sound about the same.
Then take it for a spin and pat yourself on the back for making a noticeable improvement.
Repeat until satisfied.

[Mogwai]

Callum, I have a carb balancer if you need to use it

[bmcecosse]

Exactly - the tube works well - just don't stick it RIGHT into your ear or you may suck your brains out........