dual carbs

[Matthew Ziegler]

I was in a junkyard the other day where a few flathead Dodge powered irrigation pumps had just come in, they look to be in pretty decent shape and working. I'm wondering, since I did a cam and shaved the head on my m37, would these civillian single barrel carbs be the wise choice for a dual carb setup? also, it seems most aftermarket dual carb intakes require some heat to work correctly,I've seen some with the heater hoses run to them, is it better to modify the original intake since it bolts to the exhaust and probably gets hotter?

[Gordon Maney]

I would think they could be as good as any.

We have someone here with some dual carb experience, perhaps they will comment.

[Cheyenne Dave]

Matt

I am on my second build of a dual-carb, high compression 230, and I would love to know where your junkyards are!

The carbs you are considering flow too much fuel for this application. My first build, for Tim Ellis, involved a water-heated Edmunds with dual carbs from a Ford Escort. They flow less fuel individually, but do their job extremely well, and have the added luxury of electric chokes.

To wring the most out of the 230 mill, you should also concider taking advantage of H.E.I, and a high compression head, and headers in conjuntion with your new cam.

I am trying to track down a "wet" Edmunds for my current build but they are very rare. There are other offerings that can be warmed with a clamp-on plate, but they don't warm the intake as evenly. No water-warmed intake will get up to temperature as quickly as it's stock "exhaust-nested" cousin, but that's where the electric chokes really come into play.

If you don't want to go the header route, I believe the Offy intake makes provisions to bolt to the exhaust manifold. But by not taking advantage of headers, you won't reach full potential from your engine.

As always, I highly recomend full flow oil filtration in addition to your by-pass system.

CD

[Matthew Ziegler]

thanks

thanks for the info on the carbs and intake. the junkyard is in Hackettstown, N.J, roughly 15 miles outside of pennsylvania. I'm hoping to maintain 24 volts on this truck, just easy to get carried away trying to squeeze more power out of the old truck. my head has been shaved .060 .410/ .260 cam from edgy speed shop, electronig ign. from M series rebuild. less restrictive exhaust. Kinda thought I might be able to rejet those old civillian carbs. If you look up rusty hope on google, he will modify tour factory intake for two carbs, also makes dual exhaust from a factory manifold. are there any carbs out there that I could use which don't have electric choke? I'm still 24 volt. your motor looks sweet, personally I'd have second thoughts putting the hood back on.

[Kaiser2boy]

I have done a bit of reading on the history of the dodge 230 and it was in use for a long time. I saw where dodge used a Carter two barrel carburetor on later models that got it up to around 110 HP .
You would have to use a different air cleaner but it seems like it would be an easy job IF you could find a manifold off one of the cars that had the two barrel carb on it. Looking at photos of the set up it looks like a bolt on deal that sits right on the exhaust manifold so it would heat up just fine.
Has anyone tried that to squeeze a few more ponys out of the engine?

[Matthew Ziegler]

two barrel

I've heard of the two barrel, last gasket set I bought even came with a gasket for one. From what I can figure out, it seems that on a 230 the carb is a little too far away from number 1 and 6 cylinders, dual carbs would seem to give more even or better fuel distribution. I guess the hole in the two barrel intake is considerably wider providing a similar benefit. My hope was $20 or 30 for two carbs, rebuild them, modify a spare intake and have a better running motor.

[Kaiser2boy]

I hear what you are saying about the better fuel distribution with the twins but I am a cheap SOB and I weigh out cost per horse power gain.
How much more HP would the little bit of better distribution over the factory two Barrel set up give you and at what cost. Plus the factory two barrel set up will bolt right up.
In my life I have had a number of cars with twin carbs and they can be finiky to get just right. Twice the carbs twice the problems.

I am keeping my eyes open in case I see another two barrel set up.
It may never happen but I still will look.