Carburettor issues

[damiane]

My 1969 IIA SWB appears to have a Stromberg carburettor fitted as shown in the photos below:









Is anyone able to identify the model/serial of this Stromberg? I hope to be able to get a rebuild kit for it if available. I gather this was a modification rather than original equipment. Various posts and manuals suggest the Series III 109" 6 cylinder had a Stromberg but no idea if this is the same type. Some sources suggest this brand of carb when fitted to Series II and IIA's came from Holden red motors (or grey according to a few sites) which should make for better chances of rebuild kits I guess.

The other issue is the top of this carburettor must sit higher than the original because the bonnet has been bashing on the top of the air cleaner intake elbow and has crushed the top as can be seen in three of the four photos. It has also dented the skin of the bonnet where it touches. There aren't any rubber buffers for the bonnet to rest on. I seem to recall my first Landy (back in the 70's) had such buffers which made the bonnet 'snug' when locked down in the latch.

The carburettor appears to sit on an adapter of some sort which I gather would raise the height. You can see it in photo #2.

Should I stick with the Stromberg? Does anyone have a tip on how to overcome the crushing of the intake elbow?

[gromit]

Damian,

Here is one fitted to my Series I.





You need a Holden 'expert' to confirm the model.

When you get a kit try to get the leather accelerator pump seal not the modern plastic one, I've had 3 of them split so far the leather one lasts.

Mine has a Holden air filter heavily modified so it sits low enough to clear the bonnet.


Colin

[crackers]

Twin Webers

Actually, I miss my twin SUs (yes, I can tune them) but I guess they're sort of wasted on one of these motors.

[damiane]

Damian,

Here is one fitted to my Series I.





You need a Holden 'expert' to confirm the model.

When you get a kit try to get the leather accelerator pump seal not the modern plastic one, I've had 3 of them split so far the leather one lasts.

Mine has a Holden air filter heavily modified so it sits low enough to clear the bonnet.


Colin

So Colin I gather there must be a substantial advantage in having a Stromberg carburettor if you have to go to so much trouble to fit it under the bonnet including getting rid of the Land Rover oil bath air filtration system.

[Homestar]

Kits for these are readily available from Bursons, etc. the Stromberg kit comes with everything to do pretty much every model. Just ask for a single barrel Stromberg kit (to suit Holden, etc) and it will have what you need. Last one I bought was $21. Rebuild took 55 minutes from popping the bonnet to having the engine running again - but I've done dozens on them and had access to a proper cleaning tank.

Your carby is an early variety with atmospheric vent. As mentioned, the cheaper plastic accelerator pumps are a bit crap, but decent ones are available. Check the shaft wear on the main throttle butterfly - if it's badly worn, you'll never get it running right and a resleve will be needed. A bit of movement is fine, but if it's really flogged out, you'll need the resleve

Thinners is your best bet to quickly clean all the crud off everything.

[JDNSW]

The only significant advantage of Strombergs over Zenith or Solex is that they were far more common in Australia, and parts, expertise and replacements more readily available. Most were fitted to simply save money and time when the original became unserviceable.

But today carburetters of any kind are becoming uncommon, and there is possibly little advantage in changing the original except if the replacement will actually give a marked improvement.

Zeniths at least are available new.

John

[damiane]

The only significant advantage of Strombergs over Zenith or Solex is that they were far more common in Australia, and parts, expertise and replacements more readily available. Most were fitted to simply save money and time when the original became unserviceable.

But today carburetters of any kind are becoming uncommon, and there is possibly little advantage in changing the original except if the replacement will actually give a marked improvement.

Zeniths at least are available new.

John

So is worth changing back to a new Zenith John given that I imagine it would overcome the problem with the under-bonnet space and allow me to retain the original configuration.

[Blknight.aus]

Twin Webers

Actually, I miss my twin SUs (yes, I can tune them) but I guess they're sort of wasted on one of these motors.

nothing like the sound of a pair of well balanced cd175s horfing the air in up the front at WOT with about 2200 wound on in third and the pipes bellowing down the back..

welll there is but you just cant run or inject petorl at those kind of comprssions and presures.

[marting]

Any parts interpreter who knows their stuff should be able to get the correct kit for you if you take the carby with you. The Strombergs are numbered and you can identify the correct kit from the numbers on the carby.
Cheers, Martin

[gromit]

So Colin I gather there must be a substantial advantage in having a Stromberg carburettor if you have to go to so much trouble to fit it under the bonnet including getting rid of the Land Rover oil bath air filtration system.

As already suggested, probably a period mod which was cheaper than replacing/repairing the original carby.

The Father-in-law has a theory that the original carby may have worn out because of the welder & governor. The governor would have been making constant changes to the throttle opening as the load on the welder changed. Could be true but I've no idea how often the welder was actually used.

If you saw all the other mods on this vehicle you'd think the original owner had a lot of time on his hands, to be fair he owned it for many years so the mods were spread out over a long time.

1956 Series 1 with PTO welder (home made)


Colin