Fuel Pump in earlier V8s

[pasini s]

Hello,




I have read Kevin's remarks about the carburettors and I would like to add
that the 'large' Edelbrock 1406 (600cfm) that I tried on my 409 was probably
a bit of an excess for the engine. As my Carter was beyond repair I bought a
1403 (500cfm, similar to the old Carter 3131/3249) and having enlarged the
holes for the secondary throttle valves on the intake manifold (pls see



http://www.stefanopasini.it/Bristol_...nifold_Mod.htm

for details) it now seems to work pretty well. The 1403 is cheap (I bought
it for $200), its linkages are not as different from those of the Carters as
the 1406 are, and has the advantage of an auto electric choke as well.

Cheers


Stefano

[Claude]

Originally Posted by pasini s

Hello,
I have read Kevin's remarks about the carburettors and I would like to add
that the 'large' Edelbrock 1406 (600cfm) that I tried on my 409 was probably
a bit of an excess for the engine. As my Carter was beyond repair I bought a
1403 (500cfm, similar to the old Carter 3131/3249) and having enlarged the
holes for the secondary throttle valves on the intake manifold (pls see
http://www.stefanopasini.it/Bristol_...nifold_Mod.htm for details) it now seems to work pretty well. The 1403 is cheap (I bought
it for $200), its linkages are not as different from those of the Carters as
the 1406 are, and has the advantage of an auto electric choke as well.
Cheers Stefano

Reviving an old thread. I am currently in the USA, and may have a few kgs extra allowed on my luggage allowance when I head home in three weeks. My 411 S1 came with a 383 which my rebuilder says blew up at some point and the block was replaced with a 400, but the Bristol 383 heads (which he reported were "high performance" were bolted on to the 400 block.

The barn-find car's carb was corroded, so when I was packing the container to move to NZ 13 years ago, I bought a new replacement, which from memory was a "Carter" by Weber. When the engine came back from rebuilding, it ran awful, but as I had other problems with the work done by the shop, so I just stuck the car in the garage for another day.

That day is now coming, and last time I was in the states I picked up a used 383 with transmission that I popped in the container. The 383 is now down with Bob Schmidt's mechanic in South Island, NZ to be sold or rebuilt and sold. However, I kept the carb off that engine, to add to my choices when I open the hood (bonnet) and try to get the beast running right.

Given the very inexpensive prices from folks like JEGS ($229), however, my best solution may be to buy a bolt-on carb and sell the old ones on NZ's auction site. Thus, my question:

What carb should I buy? What number is a direct bolt on that will have the least problems. I am not looking for performance, but economy is fuel use.

Edelbrock 9906 Edelbrock Performer Factory Remanufactured Carburetors looks interesting and is priced right. It is a rebuilt 1406. Bob Schmidt pointed me to a Chrysler web site that speaks highly of Edelbrock, but before I make the decision, I would appreciate experience or knowledge from others in the Bristol fraternity.

Thanks
Claude

[RGSchmitt]

At 08:20 AM 10/10/2010, you wrote:

"That day is now coming, and last time I was in the states I picked up a used 383 with transmission that I popped in the container. The 383 is now down with Bob Schmitt's mechanic in South Island, NZ to be sold or rebuilt and sold. However, I kept the carb off that engine, to add to my choices when I open the hood (bonnet) and try to get the beast running right."

To update Claude's "spare" 383. It is at Leitch Motorsport & Restoration (Leitch Motorsport and Restorations, Ltd.), the shop that completed the restoration of my Frazer Nash Mille Miglia in 2005. Their engine specialist, Greg Hunter, has torn down the 383 and pronounced it "good". He also sent me a list of parts needed to rebuild it to original specs. However, he explained that most buyers in NZ would prefer to buy the engine "as is" and complete it to their own tastes, or by their own shop. We have not yet tried to sell it either as is or completed and I'll confer with Claude soon. He'll set a price and make all decisions but I'll be involved in any rebuild.

So if anyone wants/needs a 383, contact either of us - or Barry Leitch.

Bob (Burbank)

PS I have a high regard for the work by Barry and his staff. I now have two more projects with him: 1977 Ford Ranchero and Vespa Restoration in New Zealand

[pasini s]

Hello,

I must make some amendments to what I wrote about the Edelbrocks several months ago. The difference in linkage from the standard Carter was not as little as I thought initially and, though the 1403 was quite good, the kick-down never worked well and arrangement was awkward. At the end I found that rebuilding the original Carter 3249 (once again, but this time with a brand-new quality kit) was enough to have a good result. Then the engine blew, and now that I am waiting to get the parts from the US I have also bought a brand-new Carter 3131S (NOS, never installed) and I'll have this one rebuilt too and fitted to the 318. BUt the Edelbrocks were good, well built and worked well.

Cheers

Stefano

[Claude]

I found a vendor on EBay that offers the Edelbrock carb for $199, and then includes setting it up for the car. He has asked for the following information. If someone can provide me with the ones that I mark with underline, I would appreciate it. Thanks Claude

TYPE OF CAR OR TRUCK........Bristol
WEIGHT.........._____________
CUBIC INCHES: 400
ALTITUDE YOU LIVE AT........ sea level
GEAR RATIO.............. _____________
TYPE OF TRANSMISSION.............727 Chrysler automatic
CAM SIZE............ ____________
HEADER TYPE AND SIZE............ _______________
MAX RPM'S............. factory redline or less which is __________

[GREG]

Why not send these questions to Bristol Cars ?

Just a thought !

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by GREG

Why not send these questions to Bristol Cars ?

Maybe because they have a service department which they would understandably like to stay in business by servicing cars and selling parts, rather than offering free advice to people who want to bypass them and buy their parts on ebay

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by Claude

CUBIC INCHES: 400

Shouldn't that be 383 or have you changed the engine?

Max RPM is probably 5200 for the 383, but it you do have a 400 I'd say 5000 to be on the safe side.

Gear Ratio probably means the final drive and I believe a couple of different options were available, but most likely 3.07

Weight - 1 ton, 13 cwt (imperial)

Headers will presumably be standard 4 into 1 cast iron but I don't remember whether they are rear exit or centre exit.

Haven't any idea about cam size.