ADVANCED PROCEDURES
The topics presented on this web page are those procedures used infrequently or for servicing unusual issues.
Throttle shaft bushing replacement
The IDA3C (3 Choke) carburetor was developed from the two choke IDA Weber carburetor. One of the differences between these two designs is the deletion of the ball bearings used to support the outer ends of the throttle shaft as utilized in the two-barrel IDA carburetor. This detail design change has the IDA3C throttle shafts in direct contact with the throttle body; wearing both the shafts and the journal bearings in the throttle body. Over time this wearing creates clearances allowing uncontrolled air into the fuel/air mixture delivered to your engine. Erratic idling, "sniffing" through the intakes, ticking noises heard at idle or popping from the exhaust are symptoms of this wear issue.
Most of the triple throat carburetors used in the Porsche world have 40mm bore sizes. A smaller number have 46mm bore sizes, the earliest versions were dedicated for race applications and in later years the 46mm bore Webers were used for large displacement street engines. Both of these bore diameter configurations were created on the same basic throttle housing which means the bearing journal lengths supporting the throttle shafts for the 46mm bores were 3mm shorter for each journal. In addition to the shorter length of the journal bearings the larger throttle plates created more load for the journals to support. When the numbers are calculated the bearing load for 46mm bores is found to be 64% greater than those journal loads for 40mm bores. Obviously the bearing life for the larger bore Webers is shortened in comparison to the 40mm bore carburetors.
The earliest triple throat Webers used plain bearings to support the throttle shafts at the six journals in each throttle body but a design change in 1967 incorporated Teflon strips to act as bearings. These strips were rolled into a tube and used as bearings in the outer two journals of the throttle bodies. These Teflon bearings actually accelerated shaft and journal wear issues since Teflon easily displaces under running loads and thereby allows the throttle shaft to rapidly wear with the remaining support area with the throttle body.
Keeping carburetors in service with throttle shaft and journal clearance issues eventually causes additional throttle shaft and journal wear at the next set of bearings inboard from the outer bearings. When this occurs it usually will require throttle shaft replacement and a comprehensive bearing service to return the Webers to proper performance.
There are those who replace these Teflon bearings as the solution for throttle shaft and journal wear issues but this solution is short lived, the Teflon will rapidly yield, returning your throttle shaft fit to nearly the same as before the repair, rendering the repair as ineffective. The recommended repair is to replace the worn bearings with new equivalent bearings, the good news is that the portion of the throttle shaft under the Teflon "bearing" is typically suitable for reuse.
Throttle shaft bushing wear is the fundamental reason why these Weber carburetors become erratic performers and are difficult to tune and to stay in tune. Several paths are available for repair of these bushings:
Bushing replacement with two OEM Teflon bearings
A simple, replacement repair with very short duration life
Repair method not applicable for throttle housings pre-dating their use
Air leakage past worn throttle shaft and elongated journal may create idling air flow balancing issues
Inner four bearing journals left unserviced
Bushing replacement with two bronze bearings
A bushing with its length matching that of the OEM Teflon bearings is used
Not a simple replacement repair for throttle housings pre-dating use of Teflon bearings
Air leakage past worn throttle shaft and elongated journal may create idling air flow balancing issues
Inner four bearing journals left unserviced
Bushing replacement of all six bearings supporting throttle shafts
Six, full length bronze bearings installed into each throttle housing
Throttle shaft axis align-bored to receive throttle shafts
Throttle bores re-sized to trim ends of bushings after installation
New throttle valves machined to match the resized throttle bores
Premium repair method; throttle bearings upgraded to better than OEM specifications
Repair method adopted by Performance Oriented
The replacement of the Teflon "bearings" is a task a skilled technician may accomplish but the effort requires a deep skill set to remove and reinstall the throttle valves and their fasteners. The tasks identified where metallic bushings are installed requires specialized tooling and machinery so these are best left to specialized service providers.
Throttle Valve Replacement
Edge wear of the throttle valves allows large amounts of air to bypass during idling operation resulting in idle speeds that are too high and cannot be adjusted down. Edge wear of the throttle valves is directly resultant from axial movement of the throttle shafts allowing the throttle valves to rub with the bores in the throttle bodies at nearly closed throttle positions. Uncontrolled axial movement of the throttle shafts contributes to the seemingly random variations in idle and progression operation, as the shaft moves axially, the throttle valves change their clearances with their respective throttle bores which upsets the air being drawn into the engine resulting in erratic engine idling and progression circuit performance.
The idle air adjustment screws provide some compensation for the throttle valve with bore clearance problem but this is a solution that works only at the time of tuning and will not compensate for variations of shaft movement during driving operation.
Replacing worn throttle valves with new equivalents will help reestablish OEM clearances for improved low speed performance. The process sounds easy but can be difficult to achieve since the original shafts must be removed without damaging them and then reinstalled and aligned. Particularly challenging is the removal of the pinch screws securing the throttle valves, their threads are typically rusted or seized with the shafts and they are also mechanically "staked" in place. Also, screwdrivers tend to bugger the screw slots during removal attempts and pressure exerted to keep the screwdrivers from "camming" out of engagement will result in bent throttle shafts. End play must be set correctly to prevent seizing due to thermal expansion differences between the aluminum throttle housings and the steel throttle shafts and to also control excessive lateral movement. Also important to adjust correctly is the "timing" of all three throttle valves so they are matched for air flow at idle position and remain synchronized for larger throttle openings.
Although it is possible for throttle valves to be replaced by a skilled technician it is recommended to let a specialist perform the requisite tasks.
Vent Pipe Replacement
The top covers of the Weber throttle bodies have two vent pipes installed. They are 8mm in diameter and provide ventilation of the fuel bowls and to minimize fuel sloshing out of the carburetors. They are installed by mechanically riveting the internal end of the pipe thereby making them a non-serviceable item. Over time the vibration of the engine loosens the fit which leaves these pipes loose and ineffective as a slosh preventative. Time is also unkind to these pipes where they are riveted into the ceilings of the top covers. The float bowls are closed chambers subjected to heating and cooling associated with each time the engine is run and then shut down. The cooling cycle draws ambient air into the fuel well along with water molecules and the heating vaporizes the water. Subsequent cooling condenses the vaporized water on the ceiling of the top cover where it facilitates rusting of the riveted end of the vent pipe. Rust flakes drop directly down into the float bowls where it is drawn into the fuel delivery circuits and blocks jets, most notably the idle jets.
Improving Sealing Efficiency of Air Cleaner Housings
OEM air cleaner housings are made of steel with stamped edges that are intended to make intimate contact with rubber sealing gaskets to prevent air from being drawn into the inner chamber other than through the air filter. In particular are the gasketed interfaces in the oblong lower housings attached to the tops of each carburetor. Non-OEM air cleaners have similar sealing interfaces where long edges of filters are in contact with stamped top and bottom plates.
To help overcome the imperfections in the sealing of these long sealing surfaces it is recommended that they are augmented by application of self-adhering, closed-cell, neoprene, foam weatherstrip which is easily acquired from your local hardware store in the form of window sealing tape.
Fuel Float Blueprinting and Installation
Fuel floats rarely are found to have geometry that is compliant with Weber design criteria. Additionally they are sometimes nearly 50 years old and with time and vibration have become somewhat worn as well. If the geometry of the tab where the needle valve contacts is not perpendicular to the needle axis then there will be a side-loading applied to the tip of the fuel needle which will affect the ability of the needle to seat properly. Also, the tab will become imprinted with a divot from the force of the tip of the needle valve. This divot has a unique locational relationship with a particular fuel well and float needle valve, moving the float to a new chamber upsets this relationship and again there will be a side-loading of the fuel needle with resultant seating issues.
The wear item of particular interest is the hinge at the end of the lever arm soldered to the float body. The inside diameter of this hinge is typically enlarged from wearing due to engine vibration and from reaction forces of float and needle valve loads.
If the floats are serviced and readjusted to return them to OEM geometry then the shim stack for the fuel needle valves will routinely be 0.070" plus/minus 0.010" when the fuel levels are correctly set.
The divot on the tab is easily removed by peening the back surface while holding the divoted surface against a flat anvil. The hinge axis may be closed around the shank of a small drill using pliers and then resized to have a slip fit with the fulcrum pin on the screw that locates it in the throttle housing. Adjusting the physical relationship of the various components of the float assembly is a little tedious without a jig but it can be done with a little patience. The important dimensions are:
The top of the float body should be 12.5mm to 13.0mm above the top surface of the throttle housing when the tab for the float needle is correctly positioned
The tab where the fuel needle contacts the float should be 18mm below the top surface of the throttle housing
This tab should also be perpendicular to the axis through the needle valve
This tab should be flat and without any divots on its contact surface
The tip of the float needle should be 18.5mm below the bottom surface of the top cover
The extra 0.5mm is to account for the thickness of the sealing gasket used between the top cover and the throttle body
This measurement should be performed with the top cover upside-down to simulate the needle valve in its closed position
Bench top float setting procedure
Bench setting floats is not recommended as bench settings will not repeat on a warm, running engine. However, if it is possible to supply fuel at 3.5 psi to the carburetor while it is on the bench then it is possible to replicate the dynamics of float operation during engine operation. This is achieved by slightly loosening the fuel bowl drain bolt and allowing fuel to seep thereby simulating the fuel demandof a running engine and the associated constant operation of the needle valve. Of course this method does not replicate the vibration inherent with a running engine nor the heat load within the engine compartment. In addition to the drawbacks is the obvious hazard of a large fuel spill on your work bench.
Measuring Fuel Delivery
Fuel pressure and volume are often assumed to be adequate for your carburetor's operational requirements however they are quite important to assure adequate fuel delivery during all power demands of your engine. It is advisable to test for adequate fuel delivery and pressure during peak power demands to verify there is no deficiency of fuel delivery. The following procedure is a complicated but comprehensive method to check adequacy of fuel pressure AND flow during peak engine operational demand:
Estimate the maximum fuel consumption of your engine by multiplying your engine's peak horsepower by 0.10 which results with fuel demand in gallons per hour
Install a flow control valve into the end of the fuel line connected to one of the inlets to the carburetors and downstream from all fuel pressure regulators and filters and close it.
Install a fuel pressure gauge into the fuel line just before the fuel flow control valve. The pressure gauge needs to be a quality item with a peak pressure range of no more than 10 psi. See Standard Procedures for more information regarding fuel pressure gauges.
Install a shut-off valve downstream from the flow control valve and open it.
Connect a fuel line from the shut-off valve and have it drain into a graduated vessel. This vessel should be placed into a larger catch tank to assure spillage of gas will be contained.
This entire setup should be prepared for and the fuel delivery testing conducted out of doors and with a fire extinguisher near at hand.
Connect a battery charger to the battery to simulate power delivery to the fuel pump during normal engine operation.
Activate the ignition switch to start the fuel pump but do not activate the starter for the engine
Adjust the flow control valve to generate a 3.5 psi pressure reading in the fuel line before the flow control valve; this is important since fuel delivery rate under operational pressure will be less than freely flowing fuel
Close the shut-off valve and prepare to collect fuel in the graduated vessel
Open the shut-off valve and collect fuel in the graduated vessel and record the time for the filling process
Repeat the procedure to improve measurement technique and accuracy
Calculate the fuel flow rate and compare with the calculated fuel demand for your engine
Example calculation for fuel flow rate requirements:
Assume peak engine horsepower is 210 HP
Fuel consumption is:
210 x 0.1 = 21.0 gallons/hour
Convert gallons to ounces and hours to seconds:
21.0 gallons x 128 ounces/gallon = 2688 ounces
1 hour = 3600 seconds
Convert 2688 ounces/hour to ounces per second:
2661.12/3600 = 0.747 ounces per second
Fuel Gallery Cleaning and Lead Plug Replacement
Fuel passageways are integral with the casting of the throttle body which are drilled and plugged during the original manufacturing process. These galleries are subject to blockage due to accumulations of dirt in the fuel or from dried fuel residues. They are also subject to corrosion induced blockage from contaminants in the fuel when combined with condensed water. Cleaning these galleries by using compressed air to blow through them in conjunction with using aerosol carburetor cleaners is recommended but sometimes a more thorough process is required. Additionally there is one passageway per throttle bore that is "hidden" and requires a special procedure to clear it, see "Clearing "Hidden" Fuel Gallery" below.
Note that 40IDS3C throttle bodies differ from all others in that they incorporate additional fuel galleries to supply fuel for the High Speed Enrichment feature unique to these Webers.
If fuel gallery cleaning is warranted the following procedure will help in lead plug removal, gallery cleaning and lead plug replacement:
Lead plug locations:
Seven on side of throttle body with mixture adjusting screws
Four on side of throttle body with accelerator pump
40IDS Webers have three additional plugs on this side
Top and bottom of throttle body have three each
Procedure:
Use sharp pointed awl (ice pick) to make a drill center in the lead plug
Note that some of the plugs on post 1967 throttle bodies are actually made from brass and are very exacting to center drill and even more difficult to remove, it is best to be satisfied with blowing these galleries clear
Drill through the lead plug with a 3/32" diameter bit; do not force the drilling, just let the bit make its own way and try to drill at a low speed
Use a #4, self-tapping metal screw and screw it into the hole in the plug
Use pliers to grasp the end of the screw and pull the lead plug from the gallery
A selection of miniature brushes is now handy to scrub the exposed bores
Use a strong flashlight to illuminate the galleries and view from each end if possible
Install new lead plugs after cleaning is completed
The best and most convenient lead plugs are those used for pellet air rifles of 0.177 caliber
Use a flat ended punch and a small hammer to drive the lead plug into the end of the fuel gallery
Finish off with a radiused tip on a smaller punch, the radius will effectively trim off excess lead and make a nice dimple
Watch for shards of trimmed-off lead that they do not find their way into an adjacent and un-plugged fuel gallery or other opening when you aren't looking!
Clearing "Hidden" Fuel Gallery
There is one fuel gallery for each throttle bore that appears to be "hidden" since it is not obvious to the casual observer. It is routinely blocked by corrosion, old fuel or dirt but cannot be easily cleared by soaking and blowing compressed air through the typical entry points on the throttle body. This gallery is the vertical passageway connecting the bottom of the emulsion tube well with the horizontal gallery the idle jet is installed into. If the following clearing procedure is not successful then lead plug removal and manual cleaning of this gallery will be required to correct the blockage issue. The procedure for clearing the "hidden" gallery is provided below:
Remove the top cover from the throttle body (ten, 8mm self-locking hex nuts)
Remove the auxiliary venturi
Remove the main jet assembly
Remove the idle jet assembly
Remove the main air correction jet and the emulsion tube
Re-install auxiliary venturi but “reverse” it so that the end plate with the tension spring blocks the fuel transfer port from the emulsion tube well
Get a #21 drill bit and install into the main fuel jet bung, it should snugly insert into the smaller opening at the end of the bung where it intersects the bottom of the emulsion tube well
Apply a gentle pressure upward on the end of the #21 drill bit to secure it from flying out during the next step
Use a rubber tipped air nozzle and blow compressed air directly into the emulsion tube well
If the "hidden" gallery is clear from blockage then air will easily escape from the bung where the idle jet assembly is installed
If no air escapes then try the procedure on a "good" passageway to check your method
Failure to pass air indicates a tightly blocked fuel gallery; that problem will require lead plug removal to correct the blockage.
Throttle Cross Bar Blueprinting and Installation
Throttle cross bars are routinely found to have been modified by twisting the lever arms in the attempt to make side-to-side air flow adjustments. The resulting misalignment upsets the geometry of the throttle application and causes the carburetors to not be mechanically synchronized during throttle actuation.
Mechanical alignment procedure
Select four standard hex nuts of the same type and size and have a hex size of approximately 19mm or 3/4"
Place throttle cross bar onto a flat surface (glass table top or table saw top) so that the main body is parallel to the surface. Use two of the hex nuts to support the main body placing one at each end of the tube.
Use a third hex nut to support one of the 8mm ball studs on one lever arm, the throttle bar is now supported by three hex nuts
Use the fourth hex nut to check to see if the 8mm ball stud on the unsupported lever arm is equal distance from the working surface as that of the other ball stud.
If the second 8mm ball stud is not equally distant from the working surface then this means the lever arms require adjustment to achieve the equidistant requirement.
Adjust both lever arms as needed to achieve the equidistant requirement by twisting them using an adjustable wrench as a lever. Do not apply twisting torque at the 8mm ball studs, the idea is to twist the lever arms to make the 8mm ball studs either rise or lower as a result of the twisting.
Lubricate the sockets on each end of the throttle cross bar with a good quality lithium based grease and adjust the 13mm ball stud with the double nuts to just remove side-to-side clearance.
Adjust drop links to have the same length of 80mm from ball center to ball center. Be sure to note these are assembled differently from each other, one is for the driver's side and the other for the passenger's side.
An easy method for adjusting drop links is to use a couple of 5/16" or 8mm bolts into a vise so the ends stick up and allow one of the ball sockets to slip over the end of the bolt.
Adjust the length of one of the drop links to have the nominal dimension provided above and set the spacing of the bolts to match the adjusted length of the drop link.
Now, set the second drop link to match the length of the first one.
Throttle Cross Bar Installation and Alignment
One last item to review regarding throttle cross bar and drop link installation is the vertical alignment of the drop links. Once the throttle cross bar has been corrected for twisting distortion of the lever arms and has been reinstalled between the side mounting brackets it is then time to check that the drop links are both aligned vertically when observed from the rear of the car. If the side mounting brackets are bent in such a fashion that the cross bar is shifted to the left or right from the design location the result will be that the drop links will have different vertical alignments. If the drop links do not have the same inclination then they will impart un-synchronized opening of the throttles. This is easy to correct for by the removal and straightening the mounting brackets until they have OEM geometry.
Advanced Throttle Plate and Idle Adjustments for Special Situations
Optimizing throttle plate adjustment for normal situations
Where the edge of the throttle plate is located when the engine is idling is very important for optimization of idling and progression operation of your engine. Since the progression circuit is (by design) inactive at idle due to the first hole of the progression circuit being blocked by the edge of the throttle plate, the only fuel delivered to the engine is from the bypass fuel circuit (adjusted by the idle mixture screw). The only air at idle is delivered from the idle air bleed screw and through the area between the throttle bore and by the barely opened throttle valve. Engines of different displacements(and configured with various cam lift/timing and valve diameters) require different volumes of air at idle to allow the engine to run (a 3.0 would require 1 1/2 times as much air as a 2.0 as a simplified comparison). To keep a larger displacement engine running (assuming the use of the same throttle bore carburetor like a 40IDA3C) means that the air correction screws would need to be opened enough to allow 50% more air for idling than the 2.0 would need while maintaining the throttle valve alignment with the first progression hole as specified earlier. The idle air correction screws are inadequate to supply this additional air and provide for cylinder-to-cylinder air flow balancing at idle. The result of all of this is that one is left with adjusting the idle speed stop screws to provide additional air at idle.
The problem with all of this is that once you have uncovered the first port in the progression circuit you have bypassed the design intent of the idle circuit being separate (but not isolated) from the progression circuit. With the first progression hole partially exposed you have fuel delivery from two ports (the idle mixture port and the first progression circuit port) and adjusting for Lean Best at idle diminishes the amount of fuel delivered via the mixture screw to accommodate for fuel supplied through the first progression port. (You will find the mixture screw will not be as responsive for adjusting idle mixture strength since it controls only one of two ports delivering fuel at idle.)
The reason why you want the first progression hole to be blocked by the edge of the throttle plate at idle is that fuel will be drawn from both the idle mixture screw and from the partially exposed progression hole during "Lean Best" idling optimization. Once underway, your fuel demand will be satisfied by the summation of fuel from the progression holes exposed by the throttle plates (below the edge of the throttle plates as they sweep past them) AND the fuel from the idle mixture screw. If the fuel from the idle mixture screw is adjusted to be supplemental to that from the partially exposed first progression hole then total fuel delivery during progression is diminished; perhaps leading to a larger idle jet selection to overcome a deficiency during transition.
A small throttle bore carburetor on a large displacement engine is to be avoided, please see further discussions on our web page: Throttle Body and Main Venturi Sizing
Ideally the best approach for knowing WHERE the edges of the throttle plates are with respect to the first progression holes is to remove the carburetors from the intake manifolds and allow the throttle plates to close against the throttle bores. Then open the throttle plates using the throttle speed stop screws until the first progression holes are JUST beginning to become exposed by the edges of the throttle plates. Count the number of revolutions the throttle speed stop screws are turned to achieve this condition and record the information for use during tuning later on. Typically the throttle speed adjusting screws are 1/2 to 3/4 turns open when the throttle plates are in the optimum position.
Reinstall the carburetors and perform the "Lean Best" idle mixture adjustment but use ONLY the idle air correction screws for achieving BOTH idle speed AND idle air flow parity between the cylinders.
The idle air correction screws only pass air from one side of the throttle plate to the other to balance air flow at idling speed. This correction is required due to variations in throttle plate to throttle bore clearances and to variations in efficiency of the engine to draw air into the cylinders.
Correcting throttle plate alignment with first progression hole
By design, the edge of the throttle plate should align in such a manner to have its edge aligned with the first progression hole so the hole is effectively blocked when the engine is idling. Manufacturing tolerances allow some drift in this critical alignment and it is left to the owner/service provider to make minor adjustments to rectify the issue. This adjustment requires the carburetors to be removed and that a small file be used to adjust the alignment, ideally this procedure is performed after Lean Best idling has been completed. The following is the procedure to follow for this adjustment:
Perform Lean Best idling adjustments
Remove the carburetors from the intake manifolds
Observe each throttle plate and its relationship with the first hole of the progression circuit
If the throttle plate is blocking the bottom edge with the bottom edge of the throttle plate being tangent with the bottom edge of the hole then this is ideal
If the throttle plate blocks the bottom edge of the hole more than being just tangent with it then a small file may be used to bevel the edge of the throttle plate to achieve a tangent alignment
Idling adjustments for large displacement engines
There are many times when undersized throttle bore carburetors are used on a larger displacement engine such as 40IDA3C carburetors being installed on a 3.0 liter engine with performance camshafts. (See Throttle body and main venturi sizing for more information.) Since the carburetors are designed for use with main venturi diameters within a certain range of sizes it follows that their progression circuits are also designed to supply an appropriate fuel delivery through transition operation and continue while the main circuit is becoming effective. A large displacement engine draws more air during idling than a smaller engine so an undersized carburetor will require the throttle plates to be opened enough to satisfy this larger demand ofairflow. This action typically exposes the first progression hole of the progression circuit and upsets the correct selection of the idle jet. (See the discussion above regarding "Optimizing throttle plate adjustment for normal situations" for more information.)
To accommodate a larger displacement engine's appetite for air at idle when using an undersized throttle bore and without upsetting the alignment of the throttle plates with the first progression hole it is recommended that a 1mm diameter hole be drilled through each throttle plate, approximately 6mm away from the edge of the throttle plate that is opposite from the edge sweeping past the progression holes. This location is convenient so that soldering the hole shut is easily accomplished if necessary. This hole may be enlarged in 0.5mm increments until satisfactory idle speed is achieved and idle air correction screws have effectiveness in balancing air flow.
It is also possible to enlarge the hole for the idle air correction screw that is drilled at the bottom of the bung for the idle air correction screw that passes into the throttle bore. The recommended diameter for this hole is 2.5mm. This modification may be enough to provide additional air to the engine without drilling the throttle plates.
Idling adjustments for worn carburetors
When carbs are in great shape (when they have been reworked with fresh throttle shaft bearings and throttle plates) they bypass less air than ones with many miles on them. The typical mileage our Webers provide before wear-out symptoms demand service is 90k miles. Webers with worn bearings and throttle plates do not consistently control the positioning of the throttle shafts during operation resulting in variable amounts of air being drawn into the air/fuel mixture delivered to the engine. When excess air is introduced the mixture becomes lean and the carburetor "sneezes" up through the intakes and the engine idle speed stumbles. Since it is a lean condition causing this sneezing it is possible to purposely oversize the idle jets to assure the mixture does not become lean at idle. This approach will, of course create a rich progression operation with associated loss of fuel economy and sluggish throttle response in addition to other issues associated with a rich mixture.
Another approach would be to perform the Lean Best idle mixture adjustment at an elevated engine speed such as 1500 RPM. Once Lean Best is achieved then purposely open all six idle mixture screws 1/4 turn and drive the car to see if the issues have been positively affected. If not then another 1/4 turn open may be tried. The purpose of the elevated engine speed during Lean Best adjustment is to help minimize air flow contributions and erratic air contributions due to worn components and establish an appropriate mixture for driving conditions as opposed to idling conditions.
Idling adjustment procedure for exposed progression holes
There are times when the progression ports may be exposed even though the throttle plates are correctly set to a Lean Best idle position. When the engine is idling, the first hole of the progression circuit should be completely blocked by the edge of the throttle plate leaving only the mixture screw hole to provide fuel at idle. Minor variations in throttle plate alignment with the first progression hole may be made by filing the edge of a "late" throttle plate as described in "Correcting throttle plate alignment with first progression hole" but when there are significant progression hole location errors like the one discussed below, a unique tuning procedure is required and an acceptance of what may not be perfect idling performance.
The following two pictures are of the same throttle body (46mm throttle bores) and were taken after "Lean Best" idle adjustments and idle air flow balancing were completed. They highlight a locational error of the first progression hole due to a manufacturing defect.
Weber 46IDA3C after idle adjustment showing first progression port blocked by edge of throttle plate and idle mixture screw hole open for allowing fuel flow.
The picture at the right shows the first progression hole blocked by the edge of the throttle plate, which is the correct alignment. The pointer indicates the idle mixture orifice below the closed throttle plate, all fuel for idling being supplied solely by the idle mixture screw.
Weber 46IDA3C after idle adjustment showing partially exposed first progression port and idle mixture screw blocking off fuel flow from idle port. This photo taken from same throttle body as previous photo.
The next picture shows the same throttle body but at another throttle bore, again with the throttle plate closed but partially exposing the first progression hole. Note the tip of the mixture screw projecting into the bore indicating it is completely sealing off fuel delivery from that orifice (46mm throttle bores have thinner walls so the mixture screws tend to extend into the bore when completely closed). Since each cylinder was adjusted for "Lean Best" mixture and idle air flow balance it is obvious that the fuel delivery for idle mixture was supplied by the exposed first progression port while little if any fuel was supplied from the idle mixture screw.
The recommended procedure for this situation is to open the throttles using the idle speed stop screws in order to fully expose all six of the first progression holes without exposing any portion of the second progression holes. Reinstall the carburetors and perform Lean Best adjustments and air flow adjustments while maintaining the nominal throttle plate locations. In this fashion the fuel contribution from the mixture screws and from the first progression holes will be balanced and equalized for all six cylinders. Then, without re-adjusting idle mixture screw settings, reset idle speed to 900 RPM using the throttle speed stop screws.
Accelerator Pump & Component Blueprinting
Most Webers suffer fuel weeping from the accelerator pump bodies. The source of this leakage is top covers warped out of flat from tightening the securing nuts excessively which also deforms the size of the holes in the covers where the studs pass through. The best way to correct for these issues is to resurface the top covers so they may provide a uniformly flat surface to seal the gaskets without undue torque on the fasteners. Also, for convenience it is good to resize the deformed holes to allow for easy reassembly.
The main pump bodies do not have warpage issues but inside the inner chamber of the body they have an interface with the valve that allows fuel to be distributed to the three squirter nozzles. This interface must be flat so the valve opens all three nipples simultaneously which helps provide equal squirt distribution for all three squirter nozzles. The valve pivots on two little fulcrums (pivot points) which need to be coplanar with the three nipples to assure proper disc operation
The valve itself must be flat to help seal the nipples and to provide simultaneous opening when fuel is being transferred into the inner chamber for distribution to the three squirter nozzles.
Completion of the blueprinting tasks for the accelerator pump components is satisfied by servicing the squirter nozzles and the bolts that secure them into the top of the throttle body. The squirter bolt houses a ball bearing check-valve that is retained by a lead plug that may come loose and allow the ball bearing to enter the engine. The squirter nozzles need to be checked for clear fuel passage and checked that their "squirt" does not hit the main venturis which would severely limit their effectiveness.
There is one more item of concern in the accelerator pump system and that is the inlet check valve located in the float bowl. If in good order the check valve will close immediately upon actuation of the throttles and not let fuel escape back into the fuel well. This can be observed when the top cover of the carburetor is removed and the bowl has fuel in it. Although the check valve may be serviced and a new ball installed it is better to replace a defective check valve.
Blueprinting top covers:
Two items are addressed when blueprinting the top covers:
flatten sealing surface
resize mounting holes
The first task is to remove the fulcrum pin, this is to be done by pressing on the exposed tip of the pin while supporting the cover where the serrated head of the pin is installed. Do not be tempted to drive the pin out as this can cause the end of the pin to mushroom and create a real problem for extraction. Once the pin has been freed up by pressing it can then be driven out with a drift pin.
After the pin is out the sealing surface may be sanded against a flat plate and a piece of sandpaper. It is VERY important to use a flat, hard surface for the sand paper to rest on during this procedure. Be sure to rotate the top cover periodically to avoid sanding too much along one edge. Finish with 220 grit paper to get a smooth sealing interface.
The mounting holes may be re-sized with a 3/16" diameter drill bit. Best to drill from the back side of the cover since the exterior opening of the holes are deformed. A drill press run at a slow speed and the cover held FIRMLY with both hands will see the 3/16" drill bit aligning the top cover while the holes are re-sized.
The fulcrum pin is then reinstalled but rotate the pin so the worn portions are rotated allowing a fresh surface for the lever arm.
Blueprinting and updating pump body:
An easy frustration with adjusting accelerator pump injection quantity is related to imperfections of the disc valve and the interface it makes with the inside of the pump cavity. The disc acts as a check valve that closes the fuel galleries from draining the fuel supplied to the accelerator pump jets (squirter nozzles). The disc pivots on two tabs at the bottom of the cavity and closes against three nipples, each of which supplies fuel to one squirter nozzle.
Blueprinting the accelerator pump body consists of several steps:
removal of the brass tubes
flatten outer surface of the pump body
flatten inner surface of the pump body
add vent holes (as required)
peen the lead plugs
re-install brass tubes
The first task is to remove the brass tubes that act as alignment pins with the main throttle body. Removal is straight forward once the fragile tube has been supported by insertion of the shank of a #32 drill bit. A pair of wire cutters may then be safely used to grip the tube and lever it out of the pump body.
The outer sealing surface may be sanded against a flat plate and a piece of sandpaper. It is VERY important to use a flat, hard surface for the sand paper to rest on during this procedure. Be sure to rotate the body periodically to avoid sanding too much along one edge. Finish with 220 grit paper to get a smooth sealing interface.
After the brass tubes are out the inner sealing surface may be sanded against a flat plate and a piece of sandpaper. The main goal in this sanding process is to create a level surface for the three nipples in the center of the body and the two fulcrum tabs near the bottom of the cavity to be coplanar. It is VERY important to use a flat, hard surface for the sand paper to rest on during this procedure. Be sure to rotate the body periodically to avoid sanding too much along one edge. Finish with 220 grit paper to get a smooth sealing interface.
Early accelerator pump bodies did not have the internal venting holes incorporated in the later bodies. It is easy to add these although not mandatory. Use a #32 drill and locate the drill in the "knee" of the raised feature as shown in the photograph.
The lead plugs can loosen and week fuel so a little tap with the rounded end of a punch is good to assure they are well seated. Of course, they could be removed altogether to allow gallery cleaning and then re-plugged.
The final task is re-installation of the brass tubes. Be sure they are perpendicular before tapping them into place and stop when they protrude 1/8" from the surface.
Blueprinting Disc valve:
To complete the accelerator pump blueprinting the disc valve must be flattened by sanding. Typically these are dished due to pressure so they do not expose the three brass fuel gallery nipples equally. In addition to flattening the disc valve it is worth noting that the spring that closes the disc must be in good condition and the ends are perpendicular to the axis of the spring. If the spring is distorted or if the ends are not square then the disc will not pivot evenly on the fulcrum tabs at the bottom of the pump cavity with unequal squirt amounts being the result.
The process of flattening the disc is much the same as for the other components in that it is sanded to be flat and a flat, hard surface for the sandpaper is required.
Blueprinting squirter nozzles and squirter bolts:
Once the main bodies and top covers of the accelerator pumps have been serviced then the remaining items to be reviewed are the Squirter Nozzles and their securing bolts. Equal squirt volumes requires the squirter nozzles have uniformly sized exit diameters and no obstructions in the pathways from the accelerator pump bodies to the tips of the nozzles exist. This requires reaming to assure all components provide the same back-pressure and resulting equal squirt amount upon throttle opening. Reaming of the fuel galleries in the throttle bodies requires plug removal which is not recommended since all but the very earliest of throttle bodies use brass plugs to close the galleries which requires special tools and a careful hand to extract and then replace. This leaves the squirter nozzles as the only items that may be conveniently serviced.
These tasks provide individual procedures to help unify squirter nozzles for uniform output volume:
Peen lead plug in the top of each bolt
There is a stainless steel ball within the body of the squirter bolt which closes upon completion of fuel flow. This ball is retained by a lead plug which is installed in the top of the bolt. If the lead plug loosens then the ball may come out and then enter your engine. It is good practice to lightly peen this lead plug to assure it is secure.
Check squirter bolt for twisting distortion
The squirter bolts are susceptible to twisting from over-torquing during installation. This is especially common in the earliest versions which have a smaller body diameter than later versions. Have a close look at the cross drilled holes in the body to see if they appear to be round or if the body is twisted then the holes will appear to be elliptical. These twisted bodies warrant replacement.
Re-size fuel galleries in squirter nozzles
The squirter nozzles have two galleries of interest; the first is the main gallery that is aligned with the slope of the arm and is large in comparison to the gallery that the fuel discharges from at the tip of the nozzle. The larger gallery may be cleaned using a 1.50mm drill (or a #53 drill which is 0.0595" in diameter) while the smaller gallery is 0.50mm. Since uniformity of the squirt will be determined by the equivalence of the tip diameter then it may be necessary to slightly enlarge the hole so all six are of the same diameter. Use of #76 through #74 drills or a 0.55mm drill are acceptable to find the smallest size to match all tip diameters. Replacement nozzles are recommended if the squirters have been modified to a point that the exit diameters are too large for reuse.
Check squirt stream for alignment
When checking for squirt output it is important to note where the stream of fuel is directed. If the squirt falls clear of the main venturi then all is good. If, however, the squirt falls on the wall of the main venturi then the squirt will not be properly introduced into the air stream in the annulus between the auxiliary venturi and the main venturi which renders it ineffective for atomization. There is little to do except replace the defective nozzle with another one with a better squirt pattern.
Leakage at base of nozzles
Occasionally the interface in the throttle body at the base of the squirter nozzle is imperfect will not allow the copper gasket to completely seal with the nozzle. The preferred solution is to have the imperfect interface re-machined to be flat, smooth and continuous. This is difficult to perform without careful setup and a controlled machining procedure. An alternate solution is to fabricate a seal from a more compliant gasket material.
Fuel Percolation (Boiling) Problems
A common complaint of a rather significant problem with Weber carburetors on the Porsche 911 engines is that of percolation or boiling of the fuel in the float bowls after engine shut-down. This is primarily the result of changing the formulation of today's pump gas making it more susceptible to boiling at a low temperature than fuels of the 1960s.
Air drawn into the engine during normal operation of the engine actually goes through a cooling process that chills the carburetor body. This cooling effect is simple thermodynamics and is described by The Ideal Gas Law. Basically a gas (air) that is accelerated through the main venturi undergoes a pressure drop with an associated temperature drop. This cooling effect of carburetors during operation is why carburetted aircraft engines are provided with a heat source, "Carb De-ice" to prevent icing during flight.
Weber carburetors will therefore be cooler than ambient air during normal operation. Once shut down, the engine's heat is conducted up from the heads, through the intake manifolds and finally into the carburetors at the time of shut down. A hot engine compartment combined with hot ambient conditions causes the temperature within the carburetors to rise to a sufficient level to cause the fuel in the bowls to boil. Boiling is associated with expanding vapor from the boiling liquid so any liquid fuel that comes in contact with the ceiling of the top cover on the float bowls will be blown out of the vent pipes located in the top covers of the carburetors. This expelled fuel collects within the air cleaners from which it will drain down the outside of the throttle bodies and possibly reach a hot exhaust header with a resultant fire hazard. Additional to the fuel discharged up through the vent pipes is fuel passing through the main jets, up the emulsion tube wells and out the auxiliary venturis into the throttle bores. From there it will drain past the throttle valves, into the cylinders and also seep past the throttle shaft journals. Raw fuel in the cylinders make hot re-starts difficult due to richness of mixture as well as eventually diluting the engine oil as it seeps past the rings around the pistons.
Contributing to the boiling issue is the condition of the fuel bowls themselves. Dirty bowls with debris in the bottom or bowls with pitting as the result of corrosion issues will both cause boiling to occur at a lower temperature than bowls in good condition.
A popular remedy for this fire hazard has been to install insulator plates between the heads and the intake manifolds and to drill internal vent holes in the top covers of the Weber carburetors in the attempt to re-direct the boiling fuel into the cylinder bores, a less disastrous place to dump raw fuel than onto a hot exhaust header. This corrective action was developed by Ferrari in the 1970s to help with percolation issues for their 365BB and 512BB cars which used triple choke Webers. This solution was somewhat "expedient" since the new venting holes took advantage of pre-existing air passageway notches in the top covers that spilled the vented fuel down the throttle bores. PMO popularized this remedy and sells a drilling fixture to locate these internal holes within the top covers.
The troubles with this expedient solution are twofold:
Since these notches provide air for the idle air correction jets the directing of the vented gas effectively enriched the idle mixture to a point of excess rendering the mixture un-combustible in the cylinder. When an engine with percolation issues is re-started shortly after a shut-down, the percolated fuel will create a flooded idle circuit and possibly a flooded cylinder. The "hot start" procedure is to fully open the throttles and allow the engine to crank over to clear the excess fuel until normal fuel delivery can be reestablished.
The second issue is for those who use their cars for sporting events; the fuel in the float bowls will climb the walls during sustained high, lateral G-loading and enter the venting holes in the top cover. This will flood the idle/progression circuit for the bank of cylinders on the outside of the turn. Typically the resulting flat spot during acceleration out of the turn is mis-diagnosed as fuel starvation rather than fuel enrichment.
Performance Oriented implemented a revision for the top cover drilling that redirects boiling fuel through a new path into the cylinder that bypasses the path that floods the idle circuit. This solution requires another notch to be located in the top cover to allow fuel to spill into the cylinder resulting in the same issues as for the PMO solution (flooding of the cylinders and oil dilution). Racers have also found the Performance Oriented solution to cause some rich hesitation issues upon corner exit but not to the extent of the PMO solution. Street applications of this revised fuel path realize easier hot restarting than with the PMO solution.
External drain system installed on an early throttle body.
Performance Oriented revisited the problem once again and has developed what promises to be a definitive solution by sealing the float bowl completely and providing an external drain method to direct the fuel away from engine internals and away from hot exhaust components. This third iteration takes advantage of un-utilized ports in the top covers of all triple choke Webers. These ports may be tapped for installation of banjo fittings. Removal of the vent pipes and plugging their orifices results in only one path for the fuel to take when it boils and that is out the drain lines. The drain lines may be directed to spill fuel in a safe location such as near the front cross member at the nose of the transmission.
High engine bay temperatures generate other issues such as boiling fuel in the fuel lines or in the fuel pump (typically the cause of "vapor lock" and hard starting issues). These are addressed by relocating the fuel pump outside of the engine bay, the best choice being on the front cross member near the steering rack. Application of insulation on the fuel lines within the fuel bay will help reduce heat load on the lines.
Use of multiple insulators between the heads and the intake manifolds is effective to help control the amount of heat conducted into the carburetors. It is possible to insert three or more insulators assuming longer studs are used to accommodate the stack of parts. The limit is how much headroom there is in the engine compartment between the air cleaners and the top of the engine bay or deck lid. Be sure to use gaskets between each insulator installed. One potential problem with installing insulators is the risk of breaking a stud in the attempt to remove it. A broken stud results in an instant trip to your engine builder to remove the head and get the stud extracted.
One last solution is to install a fuel pump kill switch. By shutting off the fuel pump you can deplete fuel from the lines and the float bowls by running your engine before the car is parked. No fuel in the bowls means no percolation issues. Only problem is remembering to use the kill switch before parking and again before restarting. A secondary benefit from a kill switch is the anti-theft protection it provides.
Carburetor and Intake Manifold Interface
The most important item to check is the flatness of both the bottom flanges of the carburetors and the top surface of the intake manifolds. If these interfaces are not flat then the torquing of the fasteners used to bring these two parts together may result in a binding of the throttle shafts in the carburetors with throttle shaft sticking issues as the result. Typically the flanges of the carburetors have a warp due to plastic deformation resultant of tightening the assembly hardware and the displacement of the sealing gaskets. This warpage is not as troubling as a warp along the length of the interface.
It is easy to check for flatness by placing the carburetor on the top of the intake manifold without any gaskets in the interface. Place a strip of paper across each port prior to placing your carburetor on top. Carefully pull each strip and gauge the resistance to pulling the paper out (just pull a little without pulling out). Variances in resistance indicate a variance in interface flatness. If a loose spot is identified then place two pieces of paper in that location to see if it then becomes the tight spot of the three bores. If it is now the tight spot then the flatness of the interface is fine. Use standard letter paper, typical thickness is approximately 0.0034".
If there is a flatness issue then the manifolds and the bottoms of the carburetors would benefit from machine work to correct the issue. This requires removal of the studs from the tops of the intake manifolds to allow the machine work to be performed. The bottom flanges of the Webers may also be machined but be cautious of the accelerator pump lever arm which is lower than the plane of the mounting flanged.
Since OEM intake manifolds are made using magnesium it would be good to apply a protective coating to help prevent corrosion issues of the raw finish.
As an alternate solution to machining, try doubling the quantity of gaskets between the carburetor and the intake manifold. Be sure to use nylock type hex nuts since over-torquing will tend to distort the mounting flanges as mentioned previously.
Installation of OEM Auxiliary Venturis
The main circuit delivers fuel into the airflow through the main bore of the throttle body via the auxiliary venturi. Vacuum generated by venturi action within the auxiliary venturi draws emulsified fuel from the emulsion well in the main throttle body where it enters the hollow wing of the auxiliary venturi. The interface between the auxiliary venturi and the main throttle body occurs at the flat end plate of the auxiliary venturi and a mating rectangular recess in the throttle bore. These two flat surfaces are held in intimate contact by a spring which is installed in the opposing flat end plate of the auxiliary venturi.
This interface is critical for proper activation of the main circuit since a vacuum leak at this interface will impede efficient delivery of emulsified fuel. The interface has no seal and is relying solely upon the quality of the fit; imperfections in the intimacy of the fit will allow uncontrolled air to be drawn into the interface and dilute the strength of the vacuum signal.
A quick method of improving the quality of the surface on the flat end plate with the transfer port is to carefully sand the end plate on some 320 grit sandpaper, a thoughtful process requiring a minimum of passes is required. The mating surface in the throttle body is far more difficult to correct. The only recommendation is to use some Prussion Blue indicating ink to check for fit of the interface and scrape the surfaces as required to achieve good contact patterns...then match mark the individual auxiliary venturis to their respective bores...very tedious and due to the inherent quality of Weber manufacturing...not recommended as necessary to perform.
Installation of Tall (Racing) Auxiliary Venturis
First, read the above regarding "Installation of OEM Auxiliary Venturis" to acquaint yourself with the generalities of auxiliary venturi installation. Tall auxiliary venturis were developed to help provide a strong vacuum signal to initiate the activation of the main circuit when particularly large main venturis are installed on a small displacement engine. It follows that a good interface is vital to achieve the best vacuum signal possible.
Tall vs. short auxiliary venturis.
Second, the tall auxiliary venturis are tall...their center of mass is somewhat above the rectangular end plates that provide the support for them when they are installed in the throttle bodies. OEM auxiliary venturis have their center of mass located approximately within the boundaries of these rectangular end plates so they do not suffer the problems of the taller versions. Since the center of mass is above the end plates they tend to rock as a function of the torsional rocking motions of the engines they are installed on. These rocking motions must be reacted (controlled) by the fit of the rectangular end plates with the recesses in the throttle bores. The auxiliary venturis are die-cast from zinc and the throttle bodies are die-cast from aluminum; over time the zinc is plastically deformed due to the rocking forces and the more rocking that occurs the higher the forces that lead to quicker deformation resulting in even more rocking motion. All this motion creates a loose interface that hinders the vacuum signal.
Resolution of the rocking issue begins with the surfacing of the end plate as discussed for the OEM auxiliary venturis. Performance Oriented has developed an effective method to control the rocking issue which works for worn auxiliary venturis as well as for new ones. This method has several steps:
Measure the depth of the rectangular recesses in the throttle bodies
Measure the height of the rectangular end plates on all of the auxiliary venturis
The end plates should be 0.006" to 0.010" ABOVE the top of the main throttle body, this is necessary so the clamping force from the installation of the top covers onto the throttle bodies will effectively clamp the end plates and eliminate rocking of the venturis.
Determine the deepest recess on the throttle bodies and the shortest length of the end plates on the auxiliary venturis.
Remove the studs from the tops of the main throttle bodies
Fly-cut the tops of the throttle bodies. Use the deepest recess and the shortest end plate to determine how much material must be removed to achieve the fitment tolerances in Step 3. The fly cutting will result in several auxiliary venturis having end plates that extend above the top of the throttle body beyond the tolerance range recommended.
Match the auxiliary venturis to the throttle bodies and match-mark the venturis for future reference.
Scribe the end plates that are higher than the 0.006" to 0.010" tolerance. Carefully hand file the tops of the end plates down to the scribed lines while periodically checking progress.
Reinstall studs
Assemble carburetors