Eric Smith Posted April 14 Report Share Posted April 14 Hi Guys, I decided to try different combinations of words and names into my search engine and came up with MG Midget, Austin Healey Sprite, 1200cc, down draft manifold and carburettor and came up with all sorts of photographs of manifolds and carburettors of which a few looked promising. My question is: The “A” Series engines including the Mini were upgraded over the years and I am told the SC Herald engine has a lot of similarities therefore in relation to the inlet ports only - are they close enough to swop over or do they need fettling? Your thoughts please Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Smith Posted May 4 Author Report Share Posted May 4 Hey Guys A lot of people have looked at the previous post, but sadly no advice has been left, offered or suggested, so sadly I have had to go to “Plan B” It was suggested by CL that I could use the inlet manifold I have - after a lot of fruitless looking and chasing, I have decided to cut up the current combined manifolds, keep the inlet section and bin the exhaust section. Its sad that I could not find the manifold I needed and it’s even sadder to think that I have to butcher a combined manifold which has been around for 50+ years - but with this simple cost free modification I can fit my new sports manifold and down pipes Since I wrote the previous post, I have found out that the Solex carburettor has lots of issues making it useless, so I am buying a single choke Webber carburettor and filter to help the engine breath. By keeping the Heralds original downdraft manifold, I can save myself a lot of money and grief and if I want or need a bigger carburettor, I can jump into that rabbit hole and buy something different. Thanks for reading my essay! Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 why not a spitfire/herald twin SU set up but without a cam to match the power wont improve much the weber may be a reliable transplant to the Solex but take care you can spend ££££s and its no quicker , pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 2 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said: why not a spitfire/herald twin SU set up but without a cam to match the power wont improve much the weber may be a reliable transplant to the Solex but take care you can spend ££££s and its no quicker , pete You not been paying attention, Pete?? Won't fit in the Standard engine bay due to lack of room - it's not for a Herald. I'd still be inclined to go the Stromberg route; after all it was good enough for the 13/60. All you need is to adapt the carb connections slightly; I did it on my 1200 with just a simple bracket extension - bottom right and centre left of the first photo. This takes up vertical room not horizontal. If Eric wants that cut 1200 manifold that I adapted, it's available - I'm not intending to use it, certainly not in the near future. I also have the twin carb 948 and early Spitfire manifolds but reckon they're not suitable. I'll even sandblast and repaint it - the silver VHT paint was rubbish. If fitted with a Stromberg adaptor it'll be an easy upgrade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 ha Colin its because its stopped raining , history has fogged up had a feeling it had been discussed but didnt back pedal best power in crease maybe fit a 1500 and single strom ???? as per 13/60/ usa spec my experience with webbers generally is poor MPG and no more horses pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve P Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 And just my opinion based on experience, that chrome air filter may look bling but they are useless for air flow. S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 5 Report Share Posted May 5 1 hour ago, Steve P said: And just my opinion based on experience, that chrome air filter may look bling but they are useless for air flow. S Ever tried fitting the 'standard' Herald airfilter box at that angle and at that raised height? But, yes, there were a few variations tried over the period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Smith Posted May 8 Author Report Share Posted May 8 Hi guys. Since I first arrived on the forum, I have been asking questions and I have been given a lot of great advice, till now it’s all been very academic, now it’s time to to put the advice into action and spend some money on stuff. I hope that going down the single choke down draft Webber goes well, but reading all of the replies it seems there are so many ideas and different experiences and a huge amount of experimentation. Whatever I do now can be changed, the Webber carburettor and modified manifold could be 2024, who knows about 2025. To every one who has replied so far - many thanks, advice is always welcome. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted May 9 Report Share Posted May 9 let us know how well this all goes Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Smith Posted May 17 Author Report Share Posted May 17 Hi guys particularly Pete Lewis - a photo of my new upgraded exhaust manifold and the modified inlet manifold with the new carburettor conversion. I still need to do more jobs before the car goes anywhere but everything seems to be ok, the car runs well, sounds good and everything works. The carburettor is a Webber ICH34 with a 25mm single choke, the filter is just there for now, it’s a piece of junk but it keeps the dust out, a new better arrangement will follow and I know there needs to be a little house keeping done but this was a work in progress Thanks to Colin L for your ideas about manifolds, I would (for the moment) say job sorted! Eric 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrat Posted May 26 Report Share Posted May 26 (edited) Hi @Eric Smith is the weber bolted to a standard manifold , ie standard bolt fitting? i just fitted a single SU to my 1200 with ana raptor manifold but this needs some work to the linkage , new cables , some rebuild parts to make it drivable although it did fire up first turn of the key something it has never done with the original solex. i’m thinking of cutting my loses and going straight to a weber 34 ICH like you have . Edited May 27 by redrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted May 26 Report Share Posted May 26 Which SU did you use? I can't remember if it's the Minor or Anglia that has the proper angle of float chamber, but the one that's correct is perfect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrat Posted May 26 Report Share Posted May 26 Hi Colin , it was a conversion for a viva/chevette i bought with the adaptor manifold , got it cheap off ebay it’s a 1 1/4” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Smith Posted May 28 Author Report Share Posted May 28 To Redrat and Colin L If I remember correctly my mechanic friend was going to fit another type of Webber downdraft carburettor for me before tuning the engine, but he spoke to his supplier and they suggested the ICH34, and said it was the best replacement/upgrade for the Solex and Herald. I think the thing fitted first time, the only thing he had to do was give the manifold a quick skim with a Dremel to chamfer the inlet mouth before fitting the carburettor because the choke is 25mm. Fitting the Webber avoided the need to try and find and buy a carburettor, an expensive servicing kit, adapters and fittings - this seemed a no brainer to me and it kept everything compact. Colin L suggested adapting the inlet manifold and that saved me money which went towards the new Carburettor I drove the car around the farm at the weekend, the take up seemed good, the car runs well and to Colin L the exhaust manifold needed a bit of adapting before being joined to the old exhaust pie and box, but the noise is lovely and I am a very happy bunny. Hope this has been helpful Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrat Posted June 9 Report Share Posted June 9 (edited) thanks Eric much appreciated i just binned the SU mentioned above and fitted an ICH but i didn’t dremel the manifold 😬 just need to sort the linkage out but it started ok and revved nicely Edited June 9 by redrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Smith Posted June 11 Author Report Share Posted June 11 Hi Redrat I am glad all went well with your carburettor upgrade, I must admit when you look at them on the manifold, they do look the part. Looking at the engine they almost look stock, I think if you could find a way to fit the original Solex filter housing no one would ever know without looking hard. The Webber brand covers a lot of different carburettor applications so they are obviously the place to go. What are you going to use as an air filter - I am still trying to sort one out for my car because I only have the scrapper and the one once fitted to the Solex. Great stuff! Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrat Posted June 12 Report Share Posted June 12 (edited) Hi Eric just looked at your photo where, i have messed around trying to fit the SU i dumped the linkage from the solex but looks like you have made use of it i may have to revisit mine as it’s a bit of a bush fix at the moment but car starts ok and revs nicely so next step is to road test it. i bought this air filter photo attached dimensions below not the best looking but will do for now until i can get an adaptor for the original filter or a slightly larger air filter “These were made especially for Eurocarb but were delivered with a lower height than expected, hence the low price. Weber ICT and ICH carburettors Dellorto FRD carburettors. VW Solex carburettors with 52mm neck size element depth 34mm approx Overall depth 52mm approx Diameter 133mm approx Fitting neck 52mm approx” Edited June 12 by redrat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted June 13 Report Share Posted June 13 On 11/06/2024 at 16:00, Eric Smith said: What are you going to use as an air filter - I am still trying to sort one out for my car because I only have the scrapper and the one once fitted to the Solex. Great stuff! Eric What size of intake is on the Solex? I have the same kind of filter as pictured above taken from a 30mm Solex, lying in the drawer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redrat Posted June 25 Report Share Posted June 25 intake is around the 65mm for the solex weber inch approx 52mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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