carburetor 407/8

[pasini s]

Hello Claude,

I have had my share of trouble with carburettors, mainly due to my supreme ignorance on US carburettors (the fact that the mechanic that was working on my car was even less knowledgeable than me didn't help.) I didn't have a particularly good experience with Edelbrocks; i bought one 1403 and one 1405 and they seemed a bit 'large' for my 318. This, on the other hand, could have been a fault of other parts/settings of my engine at the time, so I guess that a rebuilt Edelbrock for $200 might be good for you.

When I bought it, my 409 was fitted with an elderly and quite worn out Carter 3249S, very similar to the original 3131S but not quite the same, so I bought a used 3131S for $100 on eBay with its rebuilding kit ($40). Jim McQuay was right in saying that this kind of stuff is really cheap down there! Before I could have it rebuilt and tested I found a NOS 3131S for...$100 and I bought it, but I broke the engine before it was installed.

When the 318 was rebuilt we decided to fit the NOS 3131S, of course, as I wanted everything to be as new and as original as possible. Before fitting it, mr Gordini decided to check the interior and found that it was NOS all right, but someone in the past had removed the top and put it back without considering the right assembly sequence, so needles bent! No big problem, everything in the kit was put in the 3131S and it runs sweetly as it was intended to. According to my mechanics, who are specialists in US engines, Carters are really very good for these V8s and if can, keep them.

Cheers

Stefano

[mustdav]

I am trying to get my lovely 407, that I reimported from Japan last year, going so that I can MOT it but the guy trying to tune it says no spares are available so we will need a new carb!!

Is that true ??

[Kevin H]

Originally Posted by mustdav

I am trying to get my lovely 407, that I reimported from Japan last year, going so that I can MOT it but the guy trying to tune it says no spares are available so we will need a new carb!!

Is that true ??

It depends what carb it is and what parts it needs, but there's a good chance you can get a rebuild kit for it. You might have to buy it from the USA.

However, once you take into account the time and cost of sourcing a rebuild kit and the time charged to do the work, it might be cheaper in the long run to just buy a new one and you may find a new one will hold it's state of tune longer.

[GREG]

It shouldn't have a Holley on. Go for a new one -- Edelbrock

[David Olivant]

I started the thread as my car ran like a cement mixer!
I found an overhaul kit on ebay (Australia) fitted it and followed exactly the sequence in the workshop manual. It now runs great (it won't stop however!)
If you must go for a new carb, I would agree with Greg and go for an Edelbrock. Good luck!

[mustdav]

Originally Posted by GREG

It shouldn't have a Holley on. Go for a new one -- Edelbrock

Tks 4 reply, which edelbrock and why not a holley 670 cfm Street Avenger??