Converting Stromberg Carburetors for Methanol |
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Sunday, January 20 2008 15:14 |
Notes courtesy of Clive from Stromberg-97.com in the
UK .
He does not vouch for their accuracy.
Now, about the alky conversion. I am no expert, but I have
gained a few tips from people over the years, which I have included below.
All the best - sounds a neat project
Clive
Alcohol Notes
These were some notes I picked up from
various sources. I cannot verify any of the advice, sadly! They are probably
tips from back in the day. I can’t remember now.
It all needs bigger fuel lines – ½”
hose from tank to shutoff valve, and ½” to distribution block. Then 3/8 or
1/4 ID to carbs.
Needs a bigger pump for loads more fuel – and more pressure – 4psi min for pure
alky and more for nitrated fuels.
Emulsion tubes are drilled to 0.125
For alky: dump tubes to 0.116 or larger (0.125), power jet to 0.070”, main jets
0.086, chop off idle tubes and drill to 0.040. Drill needle seats (inlet?) to
0.125 or as much as 0.140
Main jets –
Nitro 5% - jet size 86 – 91
Nitro 10% - jet size 89 – 92
Nitro 15% - jet size 91 – 94
Nitro 20% - jet size 93 – 98
Nitro 25% - jet size 96 – 105
Spark setting is more advanced. 4 degs more for alky total 18-24 before TDC
Clean out your carbs after using the rich fuels, or they will gum up with white
powder (alky) or melt (nitro).
Edelbrock Alky-conversion kit
These are some old instructions from Edelbrock for converting
Stromberg Carburetors for use with methanol.
Install parts are supplied. Namely, idle jets, dump tubes, power jet,
metering jets and special needle valve and seat. Remove idle adjustment screws
from base of carburetor and redrill holes behind idling screws to 0.055”.
Approx correct jetting for model 48s is 0.082. For model 97s, 0.076. One half
inch fuel lines should be used to the carburetor. Large capacity fuel filter is
desirable.
This is a letter from a guy with more advice
Clive: The info
on converting to methanol was from a kit that Edelbrock made some years ago.
Fuel
inlet (needle & seat) enlarge to .125
Idle
pickup tubes are enlarged to .055
Main
jets are .082
Emulsion
tubes are out to .135
Power
valves are .069
As for nitro I'm still working on the
perfect set up and always run a little on the rich side. Nitro can make pretty
little silver sparks coming from your headers and this is usually pistons
melting.
The passage sizes varies with
the percentage of nitro but a general rule increase everything you did with
methanol about 12 to 14% for every 10% nito added.
I am working on a couple of 48's
right now, installing .175 ID emulsion tubes and enlarging passages for
30% nitro. I have made a simple jig to bore the bodies out . 250 to accept the
large tubes.
I have a dragster buddy from
Denver CO
who has good results on his 286 inch Flathead running four 48's on methanol and
runs .072 jets.
Both of my dragsters run Hilborn
injection (shame on me). However I am working on a 60's style nostalgia altered
which will run a 357 cu in Buick straight eight with four 48's on 30%.
Wayne Ludington
And thanks to Clive at stromberg-97.com
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