american v8 powered carltons

[mick carrington]

Recently bought a carlton based hot rod off the dreaded ebay, after the initial shock, i calmed down and realised that it was just what i wanted. It is basically a good 1988, 1800cc carlton shell with the rear tubbed out to accept 12 x15in centerlines hung on a modded dodge charger axle, motive power coming by way of a 360cu in amc ( 6ltr) coupled to a torqueflite box. It has a full roll cage, and seems pretty well screwed together. When i first fired it up it wouldnt run for more thana couple of minutes, so i decided to take the 600cfm holley off and have a look. The inlet manifold is a standard 2 barrel item with a four barrel adapter bolted to it, so ,ive got a rebuild kit for the carb, and was about to order an edelbrok performer inlet, when i read an article in the latest issue of Practical performance car, extolling the virtues of fitting motor bike carburettors to cars. This has led me to think that this engine would obviously benefit from the improoved breathing that one venturi per cylinder would offer, if it would be feasible to get the existing cast manifold machined to accept a homemade manifold to accept 8 small carbs, according to magazine it is also a cheap option? Any thoughts...

[Pedro]

You won't have to worry about ECU's!

Is that the blue one with orange flames that was on ebay a few weeks ago?

[GSI24VBONES]

or is it the white/black holden rep  post some pics we'd love to see it

[mick carrington]

Hi, Yes its the blue one with orange flames(orrible) cant decide what colour to paint it, or whether to keep the pro street look, think ide prefer street sleeper look, bit more understated.

[Matt]

I'm glad you said it is horrible, cos that's what everyone else said too.....

But I know there's been a lot of work gone into the car, and I can understand that it's probably really quite fast.....

One thing I would do before you pain it, is get rid of the mingy pre-facelift bumpers and get some GSI ones or summat, then paint it, in a decent colour, then signwrite it - it won't ever look right until it's signwritten IMHO.

Regarding the carbs, I think it's a great idea to put on multiple carbs, but I don't know how it would work using 2 banks of 4 bike carbs. Don't forget, bikes go up to 1300 max really, maybe get 2 banks of 4 off an FJ1200, but then still, you're only looking at 8 carbs designed to run 2400cc's, not 6000 like your engine.

Have a look at JE Engineering, they advertise in the landrover magazines, and have a very nice picture of a quad-carbed V8 in their advert. I think that woul dbe the way to go, and it would be available as a bolt-on accessory. 4x twin side-draught carbs on custom manifolds.

[mick carrington]

Hi Matt, according to the article, 40mm carbs rejetted will comfortably supply over twice the capacity they were designed for, which would make sense. They also say that its been done before, successfully.  You wudnt know of any front and rear gsi bumpers at sensible money, by any chance? I think the big bonnet scoop has to go as well, trouble is, everybody wants fortunes for stuff these days!

[Matt]

Hi Matt, according to the article, 40mm carbs rejetted will comfortably supply over twice the capacity they were designed for, which would make sense. They also say that its been done before, successfully.  You wudnt know of any front and rear gsi bumpers at sensible money, by any chance? I think the big bonnet scoop has to go as well, trouble is, everybody wants fortunes for stuff these days!

I do, but it looks like I'll be buying them mate!

keep your eyes peeled on here and ebay I guess...

PS - please don't gazzump that sale from discojay - that kit is the same colour as my car!

[mick carrington]

Hi Matt, no i wont gazzump you, am pretty good at painting anyway, if you hear of any bumpers in near future. To be honest, im more bothered about performance than looks at the moment, sooner it kick ass than look as if it cud!

[bstardchild]

Hi Matt, no i wont gazzump you, am pretty good at painting anyway, if you hear of any bumpers in near future. To be honest, im more bothered about performance than looks at the moment, sooner it kick ass than look as if it cud!

Got a full GSi Body kit - facelift version

Side skirts
Front bumper
Rear bumper
Rear spoiler

All in Flame Pink

[mick carrington]

Hi BC, how much front and rear bumpers?

[Matt]

All in Flame Pink

So true, so true.....

[mick carrington]

Managed to get the motor firing on 8cylinders at the weekend, needle valves were sticking in holley carb, rebuild kits are really cheap--as are most bits for yank motors, makes all the right noises now! Have taken the pro-street style bonnet scoop off  and made a small one out of a composite sign ide got in garage. Am still after a gsi front bumper--anybody got one?? Dont av to be perfect, im not bad with jam!  Am still wandrin what colour to paint it? As someone said recently you dont seem to see many light colored carltons--so i may just go for a brite straight white celly, with a black bonnet and roof??

[bstardchild]

Am still after a gsi front bumper--anybody got one?? Dont av to be perfect, im not bad with jam! 

Front and rear still avlailable...... Just make an offer.

Am still wandrin what colour to paint it? As someone said recently you dont seem to see many light colored carltons--so i may just go for a brite straight white celly, with a black bonnet and roof??

That would look good