So,
I finally got an overhauled Solex 32 EISA carb and manifold onto Bete Bleu and I am very happy!
Before:
![IMG_3624[1].jpg](https://www.renault4.co.uk/forum/data/attachments/35/35146-02b953d31baa0dfae8103fd57bda42e4.jpg?hash=r0ZrdY8XdU "IMG_3624[1].jpg")
Standard 800-01 engine, Zenith 28IF (which previously came off a GTL. This car which was British delivered originally had a 26mm Solex which was just horrible).
During: the inlet ports had to be opened out from 24mm dia to 28mm dia to match the manifold. (Manifold, accel. cable assembly plate and carb came from Benoit Huart at Palace de l'Ancienne). The outlet ports stayed as they were at just a smidge under 24mm.
I used a dental handpiece (Kavo K-9) with some conical carbide burrs, and rags stuffed hard into the ports to keep any bits from going in. Using a circle template I scribed out where I needed to remove material from the ports making sure it was concentric with the original ones. I Also used a bit of brown paper with the new manifold holes transferred onto it to confirm everything lined up. I then used different sizes of wrench sockets as I was opening the holes to confirm they were concentric and not getting away from me in any particular spot. Then a final polish with the die grinder and a vacuum out before removing the rags.
![IMG_3639[1].jpg](https://www.renault4.co.uk/forum/data/attachments/35/35147-613d548fcfb25e782458dc4cb6ff8c6d.jpg?hash=m1xCzg3pEB "IMG_3639[1].jpg")
Having done that- on with the manifold, top plate, refurbished carb and gaskets. Inlete area is significantly bigger.
![IMG_3649[1].jpg](https://www.renault4.co.uk/forum/data/attachments/35/35148-2589152a3954e742a4d62bf7c21013d2.jpg?hash=SsUf1dq9Pb "IMG_3649[1].jpg")
The carb was refurbished by Peter Catalano at Thornbury Carburettors, using a kit I found online. He did a fantastic job, it was all set up just right on his flow bench, all I had to do was attach the new accelerator (now pronounced Exhilarator) and choke cables. The new air filter mounting plate came from Del Marco in Italy.
![IMG_3670[1].jpg](https://www.renault4.co.uk/forum/data/attachments/35/35149-2f2510fc5284cd5f0846ede7ae4f0446.jpg?hash=w25asPGisa "IMG_3670[1].jpg")
And finally, thanks to Andy Ross in Cheltenham a secondhand air filter housing which I stripped and painted.
Still a few things to do- adding the water heating tubes which I will do in the next few days, and getting a local exhaust place to tweak the pipe between the manifold and the silencer, as the manifold bell doesn't squarely cover the inlet and seal 100%. The two types of manifold have a slightly different outlet angle.
However, she runs beautifully and I am just back from a 100 mile road trip. There is a huge difference- the old carb, manifold and inlet port take out the choking and flattening of the power curve from about 4000 rpm which meant there seemed to be no further rise above that. Now it peaks and it makes a huge difference at speed. I think the freer flow actually gives a little more all the way through the rev range, as coming back up a particular long hill I found I could accelerate up from 80 kmh whereas before I would just struggle on and have to consider dropping down into third. The character is completely different, just more relaxed all around if that makes sense. The inlet port area went up 30%, as did the carb throat area, and the carb inlet area as well, so it seems logical.
I am now seriously thinking about shaving the head just very lightly but there is no hurry- it has made a huge difference and I certainly feel I can keep up with the surrounding traffic. And maybe if the engine comes out at some point the R6 camshaft will go in....
Anyway, thanks very much to all who helped along the way with advice and discussion etc, like Angel and others. I don't know if I would seriously call this "tuning" but it was fun and had a real result. To think I waited 20 years before getting around to doing this!
One reference I found that was very interesting was the book "Renault Guide" by Sloniger, (Sports Car Press, New York, 1960) a mysterious German who wrote a lot of sports car stuff for the American market. He was obviously very into small rear engine renaults and gave a huge rundown on the French, British and American tuning scenes. That led me into looking in a more focussed way into the french sites covering 750 and Dauphine tuning.
Cheers
Pieter
I finally got an overhauled Solex 32 EISA carb and manifold onto Bete Bleu and I am very happy!
Before:
Standard 800-01 engine, Zenith 28IF (which previously came off a GTL. This car which was British delivered originally had a 26mm Solex which was just horrible).
During: the inlet ports had to be opened out from 24mm dia to 28mm dia to match the manifold. (Manifold, accel. cable assembly plate and carb came from Benoit Huart at Palace de l'Ancienne). The outlet ports stayed as they were at just a smidge under 24mm.
I used a dental handpiece (Kavo K-9) with some conical carbide burrs, and rags stuffed hard into the ports to keep any bits from going in. Using a circle template I scribed out where I needed to remove material from the ports making sure it was concentric with the original ones. I Also used a bit of brown paper with the new manifold holes transferred onto it to confirm everything lined up. I then used different sizes of wrench sockets as I was opening the holes to confirm they were concentric and not getting away from me in any particular spot. Then a final polish with the die grinder and a vacuum out before removing the rags.
Having done that- on with the manifold, top plate, refurbished carb and gaskets. Inlete area is significantly bigger.
The carb was refurbished by Peter Catalano at Thornbury Carburettors, using a kit I found online. He did a fantastic job, it was all set up just right on his flow bench, all I had to do was attach the new accelerator (now pronounced Exhilarator) and choke cables. The new air filter mounting plate came from Del Marco in Italy.
And finally, thanks to Andy Ross in Cheltenham a secondhand air filter housing which I stripped and painted.
Still a few things to do- adding the water heating tubes which I will do in the next few days, and getting a local exhaust place to tweak the pipe between the manifold and the silencer, as the manifold bell doesn't squarely cover the inlet and seal 100%. The two types of manifold have a slightly different outlet angle.
However, she runs beautifully and I am just back from a 100 mile road trip. There is a huge difference- the old carb, manifold and inlet port take out the choking and flattening of the power curve from about 4000 rpm which meant there seemed to be no further rise above that. Now it peaks and it makes a huge difference at speed. I think the freer flow actually gives a little more all the way through the rev range, as coming back up a particular long hill I found I could accelerate up from 80 kmh whereas before I would just struggle on and have to consider dropping down into third. The character is completely different, just more relaxed all around if that makes sense. The inlet port area went up 30%, as did the carb throat area, and the carb inlet area as well, so it seems logical.
I am now seriously thinking about shaving the head just very lightly but there is no hurry- it has made a huge difference and I certainly feel I can keep up with the surrounding traffic. And maybe if the engine comes out at some point the R6 camshaft will go in....
Anyway, thanks very much to all who helped along the way with advice and discussion etc, like Angel and others. I don't know if I would seriously call this "tuning" but it was fun and had a real result. To think I waited 20 years before getting around to doing this!
One reference I found that was very interesting was the book "Renault Guide" by Sloniger, (Sports Car Press, New York, 1960) a mysterious German who wrote a lot of sports car stuff for the American market. He was obviously very into small rear engine renaults and gave a huge rundown on the French, British and American tuning scenes. That led me into looking in a more focussed way into the french sites covering 750 and Dauphine tuning.
Cheers
Pieter