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Wedge TR8 Carburetion Options

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Mickey Richaud

Mickey Richaud

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Most of you know that I recently acquired a TR8. I'm in the process of deciding how far to go with the restoration and improvements. Don't want to switch to fuel injection because of the expense and all the changes necessary, so I'm trying to decide whether to keep the dual Zeniths, or go with the Edelbrock intake and 4 barrel. Would like some input on how the Edelbrock system has worked for others.

Thanks, as always,
Mickey
 
I have the Edelbrock intake on mine, and I love it. It basically will give you a little more grunt, but worse gas mileage.

Both systems work fine, but any shop can work on a Carter/Edelbrock system. The Strombergs, though, definitely look better.
 
No doubt - they do look better, and they're original. That's why I'm having trouble deciding. I've got all the pieces for mine, and all they really need is a rebuild, so I may just stick with them. The car won't be a daily driver, but will be used "regularly"... Decisions, decisions... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazyeyes.gif

Mickey
 
[ QUOTE ]
No doubt - they do look better, and they're original. That's why I'm having trouble deciding.

[/ QUOTE ]I have been thinking the same thing, Mickey, as my car just turned 25 and won't be emissioned again until 2010. But it is running so well right now that I am not sure that I want to tear into it.

I have also thought about leaving the the Z-S's, disconnecting the air pump, and adding free-flow, aftermarket air cleaners to see if I can add a few more horsepower without the expense of the Edelbrock setup.

Sammy, is there room under the hood for a dual-plane manifold or is a single-plane required? And what size is your 4-barrel--360 cfm?

Great thread, Mickey! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
I use the edelbrock intake and carb on my 8. It runs great and has good idle. As for originality, are you planing on restoring it to original specs? I would recommend using the edelbrock and 4 barrel if its driven frequently and you're not as concerned about originality.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I use the edelbrock intake and carb on my 8. It runs great and has good idle. As for originality, are you planing on restoring it to original specs? I would recommend using the edelbrock and 4 barrel if its driven frequently and you're not as concerned about originality.

[/ QUOTE ]

There's my dilemma. It won't be driven a lot, but somewhat frequently, I hope. But I am somewhat concerned about originality, and I do like the appearance of the duals. If only the air cleaners and all their plumbing didn't take up so much room...

Still lots of time to decide, though.

Mickey
 
[ QUOTE ]
I would recommend using the edelbrock and 4 barrel if its driven frequently and you're not as concerned about originality.

[/ QUOTE ] Mine is a daily driver when the weather is good. So, easy starting, quick warmup, and good mileage are important (I know it's a V-8, but I got 26.8 mpg on my first 800-mile trip in it--with the AC on most of the time!). That water choke ( /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/pukeface.gif ) is one reason that I started thinking about the Edelbrock.
 
Same here, along with easier upkeep.

Mickey
 
My buddy David Hayden up the road from me has started in earnest on his TR8 hardtop. Dave is a helicopter mechanic by trade and is quite good at fixin stuff. He has finishied a TR4A IRS, Lotus Esprit, TR3(with a GT6 engine), Lotus Europa, and now is starting the TR8. His Mini Cooper is next. Anyway, Dave is rewiring the whole car and wiring it his way, similar to a '60s muscle car, without all the complicated wiring that the TR8 came with. Straightforward and simple, with aircraft-grade wires and relays, as needed. Guess you would call it a resto-mod. For all practical purposes a stock TR8 but neatly done. Should be fun to look at, will post pics of the setup in a few months.
May have it ready for the car show in March.

Bill
 
Mickey, I have been off the board for quite a while, but thought I would pop back in.

I have a 1980 TR8 that I did a complete mechanical with some performance upgrades. With so few clean TR8s left we would think that resale value would be a lot higher than it is, but since that looks like it just won't happen, do what you want to it.

When I redid my TR8 I installed an Edelbrock Performer intake and an Edelbrock 1404 500cfm 4bbl w/manual choke. I think that the 1405 is the 500 w/ electric choke. Mine came from Jegs. There is no provision for egr on the manifold. Use the cheap triangle shaped filter assembly and there will be issues with air intake for the interior nor the hood. Gas milage will drop but horsepower will rise.
 
Hi, Bob -

Thanks for the input. The only thing that bothers me about going the 4 barrel way is the carb size. I've read that 500 cfm may be too much for the stock setup. What mods did you do to the engine?

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif Mickey
 
I think mine is also a 500 cfm Edelbrock with electric choke, but I'll have to look. The engine on mine is actually a Buick (the original engine is on a stand downstairs with the manifold and strombergs.) My 8 gets horrible gas mileage, but it's not too much carb. And it goes like stink.

I'd be surprised if a 500CFM is too much...although I wouldn't try a 760 or anything /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif.
 
No Divine guidance on this one, eh Mickey?
As always, you could swap to the 4bbl, and if originality ever became an issue, go back to the stock setup. I always tell people who are contemplating modifications to do whatever they want, as long as it's reversible and they retain their old parts.
Jeff
 
Don't think God really cares about the subtleties of aspiration of the internal combustion engine!

Whatever I do, I'm holding on to the original parts. One of the things that prompted me to buy this TR8 was that everything was there - no butcherin' done by previous owner(s).

If I do any modifications to the engine when I pull it, I'll probably go with the Edelbrock setup, but I'm still in the decision-making stage.

Mickey
 
Well, you could do what Janel apparently does in her decision making process. Flip a coin! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jeff
 
One of the Web sites I have used for TR8 and Buick V-8 parts suggested that a 360 cfm 4-barrel is about all the 3.5-liter can handle. And it should get slightly better mileage than a 500.

Does anyone on the BCF have a TR8, TR7 clone, or an MGB V-8 conversion with a 360? How does it perform and what kind of mileage does it get?

(I posted this question over on the MG formum as well}
 
When I first bought my TR8 it had what appeared to be an aluminum intake and Rochester 4Jet. My guess is that this set up came off of a circa 62 Buick 215. After a carb rebuild it ran fine and got decent mileage. When I rebuilt the driveline I bumped the compression, mild cam, smoothed the ports, and a full stainless header and exhaust system from Rimmers with no mufflers and only resonators. Somewhat noisy but WHAT A GLORIOUS sound. But thirsty. You can opt for a Holley 390 2bbl (the single pumper, NOT a double pumper) but the 500cfm Edelbrock (ne Weber) has small primaries and vacuum secondaries. It is very tunable and the 3.5 will run just fine with it.
 
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