Choking a carbed V8

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Discussion

tapkaJohnD

Original Poster:

1,993 posts

211 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
I'm building (very slowly) a V8 powered car, with a Rover 3.2L that has a "boxer" inlet manifold with four HIF-style SU carbs on it. See below I'm putting in the control cables and all the throttles move off one cable, via a linkage, of course. But the choke cable and linkage only moves the rear two carbs' choke control. There isn't a linkage to the front two.

This won't be a 'nipping down to the shops' car, it'll be used for track days, so warmed-up before use, but will it cold start on just two choked carbs?


stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
add a linkage ?

Depends how rich/lean is generally is as to whether it will start with or without.

I've many old carb cars in the past you could get running fine without a choke at all.

Boosted LS1

21,198 posts

267 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
I reckon it'll work and if you have accelerator pumps/enrichment a few blips will soon help warm the engine.

GreenV8S

30,489 posts

291 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
A friend with a supercharged 5.2 on SUs noticed that it was running a bit flat at the end of some of the longer straights. Turned out that it was basically running on acceleration enrichment the whole time. The performance was so manic that he never held WOT long enough to get into a steady state.

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Friday 4th February 2022
quotequote all
technically SU's do not have acceleration enrichment.

It is achieved by the restriction of movement upwards of the dashpot...which in turn increases airspeed over the bridge where fuel is lifted causing it to draw more fuel, then as the dashpot rises to a more balanced position for the actual airflow....it's back to a more steady state fueling.

But there is nothing physically squirting more fuel in as would be in other carburettors.

tapkaJohnD

Original Poster:

1,993 posts

211 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
Thank you, all!
Sounds like suck it and see! Not a problem to add linkage if cold starting is difficult, I'd just like to be able to tick it off the massive list of others in a total self build!
John

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
fuel injection !

lol

GreenV8S

30,489 posts

291 months

Saturday 5th February 2022
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
technically SU's do not have acceleration enrichment.
They do have acceleration enrichment. What they don't have is throttle pumps, which is just one way of implementing AE.