Need help on Single Weber 45 on 1600?

[pinoy311]

Hello fellow 311's. Currently in the process of restoring a 1965 roadster here in the Philippines. Has anyone put a single Weber 45 on our stock R16 engine? I believed that there are only less than 5 running datsun roadsters here in our country, happy to have found one and excited to finish it. I intend to use the car for sunday drives and annual vintage fun runs.

Any feedback on this? Any inputs would be of great help. Thanks guys.

[Bwk2000]

You could probably use a H20 manifold off a Datsun forklift. Should be easy to get ahold of there. Also, I believe you would need an adapter plate to fit the Weber, but I don’t see why it couldn’t be done.

PS. Welcome to the site!

[Gregs672000]

Forklift intake for a side draft carb... 45mm DCOE... no go (Kai, you must be thinking 32/36DGV downdraft). I've seen a single sidedraft "Weber" manifold for an L-series engine but they are not recommended as I recall. There is an aftermarket (reportedly poorly made but adaptable) dual sidedraft intake manifold for mounting 40mm sidedrafts on an R16 that can still be found and rather inexpensive (until you have to fix its manufacturing flaws I hear?). A forklift intake might accept the downdraft carb but you will need to make sure it will allow the hood to close and may need an adapter plate as Kia mentioned. More info and we may be able to help more!

[Bwk2000]

Forklift intake for a side draft carb... 45mm DCOE... no go (Kai, you must be thinking 32/36DGV downdraft) …

Yup, You’re right Greg. Was thinking downdraft.
Good catch!

[SLOroadster]

Just run SUs. A downdraft carb on a side draft engine is a waste of time and effort. On top of that, a DGV carb isn't very flexible and will be a pain to figure out a linkage for. In short, its a step in the wrong direction.

Will

[jhayden]

Will,

100% agreement with your statement:

Just run SUs. A downdraft carb on a side draft engine is a waste of time and effort.

if amended to read: "A downdraft carb on a side draft roadster engine is a waste of time and effort."

Lots of happy ('73-'74)Z car owners out there who tossed their horrid flat-top SUs for a set of Weber downdrafts.

Jon

[david premo]

Actually back in the 80’s I built a stroker for a guy and I put a Z car down draft kit on it for him and Greg Burrows sat in the car before it was jetted bedding the camshaft. When Greg got out his eyes were bloodshot and I think he was a little high from the unburnt fuel. After the jetting was sorted out the car was super quick as the carbs are progressive and had great throttle response off the line.
Dave

[Gregs672000]

Actually back in the 80’s I built a stroker for a guy and I put a Z car down draft kit on it for him and Greg Burrows sat in the car before it was jetted bedding the camshaft. When Greg got out his eyes were bloodshot and I think he was a little high from the unburnt fuel. After the jetting was sorted out the car was super quick as the carbs are progressive and had great throttle response off the line.
Dave

Ah yes, I think I got out and said "Argle bargel flatstop bubumpum"... but I really don't remember... anything... anymore... or since...

[Daryl Smith]

The Urvans/trucks with the H20 likely used a downdraft carb......

[SLOroadster]

Will,

100% agreement with your statement:

Just run SUs. A downdraft carb on a side draft engine is a waste of time and effort.

if amended to read: "A downdraft carb on a side draft roadster engine is a waste of time and effort."

Lots of happy ('73-'74)Z car owners out there who tossed their horrid flat-top SUs for a set of Weber downdrafts.

Jon

Literally anything was better than the flat top SUs. Even bad ideas such as a downdraft on a side draft adapter would be a step up.

That said, literally every car with a weber I've had the misfortune of having to touch has been as much of a headache as a flat top SU. You can't pay me to run a Weber, even on an Italian car (Hence the reason my Alfa Romeo will be running a set of Mikunis, although I do have a set of Dellorto DHLAs sitting on the shelf.)

[JT68]

Most of the posts on this thread are fairly accurate. Just about anything would be better than a single weber (either downdraft or dcoe). On a stock 1600 engine there is little or nothing to be gained with a weber setup. If the tuner/owner is not an expert with those carbs, it will likely run worse or certainly no better than SU's. (Of course the same can be said about Mikunis, Dellortos and EFI)

Still, I agree - There are many better options than a single weber on a fabricated manifold with jury-rigged linkage. That combination is a certain fail. A single downdraft will also run worse and be much harder to tune than a good pair of SU's....

[pinoy311]

thank you all for your inputs.... will just plan to install a dual 40 instead. happy motoring!