TheSamba.com :: View topic - EMPI Speedwell kit Stromberg CD 150, needle sizes for 1500 ?

Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:04 am

Are there any early tuners out, who still remember the Stromberg jet needle size/shape/number used in the 1500 application ?
I have a 1966 matching sets of Carbs and manifolds on my 1966 1500 engine (in my 54 Oval). I had to build a lot of the missing parts, but the needles were the 5E type which was confirmed for the VW application by a British Stromberg parts dealer. I don't know if these are for 1200, 1300 or 1500 or might apply to several. For those of you who don't know the Stromberg carbs and are still interested, they are sidedraft constant depression (CD) carbs with an integrated (vaccuum operated) air valve ( like in early British motorcycle carbs) including an adjustable needle fuel jet. They still have a conventional throttle valve and a choking device too. Quite an interesting piece of engineering and they work well. I have gained really a lot
of torque between 1000 and 2000RPM, usually the weakest point of a VW.
it revs up nicely and has good power between 3000 and 3800, but IMO lacks a bit over 4k. also has a slight flat spot between 2k and 2.5k in acceleration. Those jet needles come in different diameters and more important in different shapes, therefore affecting the fuel metering at different throttle positions. There are literally 100s of them available, because the Strombergs were used in a lot of different cars and engines,
so it would be hard to order some needles in try and error.
I would be very pleased if someone could tell me their experience in needle size.

Sun Mar 06, 2011 1:47 pm

djfordmanjack
Could you please post a close up picture of the cable linkage set up, I want to try to put together a dual CV carb combo using 40mm Keihin carbs off a Harley. I have the carbs and a idea of how I am going to make the manifolds but have not put much thought into the linkage. Thank you.

Casey

Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:25 pm

This is just a dummie motor, before installation on the car.

Cable distributor/lever assembly buildt by myself.
cables are standard cycle equipment. At the moment this is as precise as it can get. much better than any el cheapo linkage with 20 ball joints and a dozen levers. Hope it will work for some time ( possible obstacles being cable getting sticky or lengthened over time. But setups like this were used at the fisrt 24,5hp conversions (with 2 BING motorcycle carbs).)

Tue Mar 15, 2011 11:48 am

Anybody got info on the needles ???

Fri Apr 20, 2012 4:36 pm

Good God that is so nice. "Vintage" performance taken to a new level of unique, I hope by now you have gotten the information you were searching for. Beautifully done!