how to pick side draft maniflods for the GT??

[wagerton]

OK,...as a new guy I've searched through the forum,...maybe I just need a prod to go to the right place. But here's my question:
I'd like to get a set of weber 40 DCOEs for my 1.9 GT,...I think I understand that there is a clearance issue with the heater box with this configuration. Are there manifolds that clear? Which kind/manufacturer are they from? Any mother hood?
I feel comfortable with webers and have had many IDFs and other downdraft models on cars before,...but never messed wth sidedrafts,...the principles are the same but I am wondering about a nice set-up for street driving.

[Paul]

For side drafts on a GT, basically you have two choices. A Single Side Draft (SSD) manifold and carb or the short runner lenght version of Dual Side Draft (DSD) manifold and carbs.

Both versions are less than common and a bit pricey. It will take a bit of hunting to rustle them up but they are out there...

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by Paul For side drafts on a GT, basically you have two choices. A Single Side Draft (SSD) manifold and carb or the short runner lenght version of Dual Side Draft (DSD) manifold and carbs. Both versions are less than common and a bit pricey. It will take a bit of hunting to rustle them up but they are out there...

. . . though difficult, finding the pieces is actually the easy part . . . fabricate linkage, fabricate air cleaner (preferably COLD air system), sync carbs (if duals) and the most time consuming and most difficult to get right, tune the carb(s)!

Not for the "faint of heart"!

[wagerton]

I want dual 40's and understand there are multiple manifolds,...since the GT has the engine canted and ??? the Manta doesn't?? do I need to be concerned that they are Opel "GT" specific? This is all conjecture on my part. Standing by for corrections.

[BQS4]

Wagerton;
I don't think there is any SSD that will fit the GT without heater box mods. But, on the DSD, there are "shortie" versions that will fit, but, you'll need to get real creative on the cold air box to make it all fit.

[booeman]

you're right about that, there's a difference of 7 degrees between the two. I have a set of cannons that were made for a GT and I took 7 degrees from the carb side to bring them DOWN to level. hope that helps.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Wagerton; I don't think there is any SSD that will fit the GT without heater box mods.

Gene,
I thought the beauty of the SSD was that it fit the GT without mods to the heater box, but gave up some in the flow department.... No?

[booeman]

I found a manual at the local liberary called " how to rebuild and power tune weber and del'orto side draft carburetors". in the fuel management, air filter and ram tube section it goes into choke selection, idle jet selection and main jet selection depending on per cylnder displacement and well as cam selection. cool book.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by Paul Gene, I thought the beauty of the SSD was that it fit the GT with out mods to the heater box, but gave up some in the flow department.... No?

Paul;
You may be right, I just remembered Otto's SSD set up...my bad.

[wagerton]

Just to be on the record, I definitely want DUAL Side drafts, 4bbl in all...any name brand manifolds that I need to search EBay and other sources for,.... Irmschler? (sp?) Are any of these available in the USA or are they all import and subsequently harder to get? Sounds like I'll want the "shorty" version. Because it sounds like I will not have to chop into the heater box with the use of those.

[booeman]

Originally Posted by wagerton Just to be on the record, I definately want DUAL Side drafts, 4bbl in all...any name brand manifolds that I need to search EBay and other sources for,.... Irmschler? (sp?) Are any of these available in the USA or are they all import and subsequently harder to get? Sounds like I'll want the "shorty" version. Because it sounds like I will not have to chop into the heater box with the use of those.

you can see my side draft (cannon) intakes before I altered them in my members album. I was told they came off a GT. I would think you would have to modify the heater box though.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Paul; You may be right, I just remembered Otto's SSD set up...my bad.

. . . good call, Gene . . .



. . . you've just got SSD vs. DSD backwards . . .

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by booeman I found a manual at the local liberary called " how to rebuild and power tune weber and del'orto side draft carburetors". in the fuel management, air filter and ram tube section it goes into choke selection, idle jet selection and main jet selection depending on per cylnder displacement and well as cam selection. cool book.

Yep, that's the one . . . have recommended it in numerous previous posts . . .

[pcolina]

Originally Posted by wagerton OK,...as a new guy I've searched through the forum,...maybe I just need a prod to go to the right place. But here's my question: I'd like to get a set of weber 40 DCOEs for my 1.9 GT,...I think I understand that there is a clearance issue with the heater box with this configuration. Are there manifolds that clear? Which kind/manufacturer are they from? Any mother hood? I feel comfortable with webers and have had many IDFs and other downdraft models on cars before,...but never messed wth sidedrafts,...the principles are the same but I am wondering about a nice set-up for street driving.

Hi,
You may want to see my postings on the 'after market side-draft carb forum' on SSD and DSD Steinmetz. Thanks

[danmiddle2]

Originally Posted by tekenaar . . . good call, Gene . . . . . . you've just got SSD vs. DSD backwards . . .

Please excuse me if this is a really stupid question. I've just purchased a 1973 Opel GT 1.9 (last Friday) and I want a little more noise from it. I am actually not that concerned with performance increase, although a little more liveliness wouldn't go amiss.

Anyway - what bits do I need to find / buy in order to achieve a setup like this? Its a Steinmetz manifold... Whats the carb?

I should point out, that this is my first ever car with a Carb instead of fuel injection.... so this is going to be a steep learning curve.

At the moment, I understand from reading around on this and other forums that what I want is twin side draft carbs, but on the Opel GT that is complicated because of space problems. So a single side draft carb sounds like an easier job for me. Is this set up built specifically for a 1.9 CIH or is the manifold from something else?

Thanks

Dan

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by danmiddle2 Please excuse me if this is a really stupid question. I've just purchased a 1973 Opel GT 1.9 (last Friday) and I want a little more noise from it. I am actually not that concerned with performance increase, although a little more liveliness wouldn't go amiss. Anyway - what bits do I need to find / buy in order to achieve a setup like this? Its a Steinmetz manifold... Whats the carb? I should point out, that this is my first ever car with a Carb instead of fuel injection.... so this is going to be a steep learning curve. At the moment, I understand from reading around on this and other forums that what I want is twin side draft carbs, but on the Opel GT that is complicated because of space problems. So a single side draft carb sounds like an easier job for me. Is this set up built specifically for a 1.9 CIH or is the manifold from something else? Thanks Dan

Even going with a SSD setup is not cheap. There are manifolds but you'll likely have to source them from Europe. Expect to pay between 300-500 for the manifold and that doesn't include shipping or the cost of the carb either. However I'd imagine if you want more noise you'll want to focus on the exhaust.

[danmiddle2]

Originally Posted by Gumby Even going with a SSD setup is not cheap. There are manifolds but you'll likely have to source them from Europe. Expect to pay between 300-500 for the manifold and that doesn't include shipping or the cost of the carb either. However I'd imagine if you want more noise you'll want to focus on the exhaust.

Thanks for the quick response - the car already has a nice stainless exhaust which has a nice burble at the rear... It's really that raspy induction noise I am after to compliment that.

I don't know if a simple twin-choke webber single carb would do anything noise wise as that may be a simpler option!? As I said before; I really know little about carburetors except the theory of how they work.

As for sourcing parts from Europe. I live in the England, so shipping shouldn't be as expensive to me from Germany. I just don't really know what parts I am looking for? Are they only available second hand these days or is there somewhere still fabricating manifolds and the like?

In terms of opting for the Single Side Draft as opposed to the Twin Side Drafts - it's more the complexity of getting it done, rather than the actual costs involved. I got the car cheap enough, so I am happy to spend a few £££'s on it getting it just right. I just don't want to run before I can walk in terms of attempting mechanical alterations.

What I want to do is make a shopping list of parts that I need and spend the next few months enjoying the car and sourcing the parts... then do all the work over the winter months.

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by danmiddle2 Thanks for the quick response - the car already has a nice stainless exhaust which has a nice burble at the rear... It's really that raspy induction noise I am after to compliment that. I don't know if a simple twin-choke webber single carb would do anything noise wise as that may be a simpler option!? As I said before; I really know little about carburetors except the theory of how they work. As for sourcing parts from Europe. I live in the England, so shipping shouldn't be as expensive to me from Germany. I just don't really know what parts I am looking for? Are they only available second hand these days or is there somewhere still fabricating manifolds and the like? In terms of opting for the Single Side Draft as opposed to the Twin Side Drafts - it's more the complexity of getting it done, rather than the actual costs involved. I got the car cheap enough, so I am happy to spend a few £££'s on it getting it just right. I just don't want to run before I can walk in terms of attempting mechanical alterations. What I want to do is make a shopping list of parts that I need and spend the next few months enjoying the car and sourcing the parts... then do all the work over the winter months.

Try installing something like this:


It sounds louder than the stock airbox and is a lot cheaper. It is easier to install than the SSD carb and manifold plus there is no custom fab.