RetroFord Goldmember AT Power SC Typhoon

Is the battle of "Carbs vs throttle bodies" setlled once and for all?

RetroFord's "Goldmember" Mk2 Escort. 2.1 Pinto engine previously fitted with twin 45 webers and weber alpha ignition. Replaced with AT Power 45mm DCOE throttle bodies and Specialist Components Typhoon ECU. Power was increased by 20bhp when tested back to back, with an improved start, idle, driveability and response. Better AFR allows for improvements in MPG too.

Available as a kit direct from http://www.atpower.co.uk

RetroFord Magazine
http://www.retrofordmagazine.co.uk

Specialist Components
http://www.specialist-components.co.uk

AT Power Shop
http://www.atpowershop.co.uk

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• RetroFord
• Goldmember
• Escort
• Mk2
• Pinto
• Throttle Bodies
• AT Power
• Weber
• 45mm
• twin
• Specialist Components
• ECU
• Typhoon

[rwdford]

What was the max bhp and torque figures @flywheel before with carbs and after with throttle bodies?

In classic ford it said the engine made 180bhp on the dyno with carbs and made 170bhp in car with carbs.....

The listed flywheel power figures on that graph say it only had about 145bhp before with carbs and 165bhp after.

[ATPowerThrottles]

@rwdford

The figures we got for before and after were based on the car "as it was delivered". The first thing done was run the car on the rolling road. One of the problems with carburettors is that they go out of tune. This was as back to back as we could make it. All RRs are different and we use one that some would say reads low. Some cars have made upwards of 20bhp more on other RRs.

[ATPowerThrottles]

@rwdford

A very good carb tuner can get an engine running very well, but a few days later and the carbs will have drifted again. We have done other tests like this and still made more power, but it isn't reflective of most people's situations. Fuel injection doesn't go out of tune so what you see is what you get every day.

I hope that helps.

[rwdford]

Fuel injection is definately much better than weber's in a number of ways and your throttle bodies with no throttle shaft to block airflow are the best available by far.

Weber's won't give the same performance but they cost an awful lot less and they can give very respectable results if tuned in properly.

[ATPowerThrottles]

Carbs go out of tune from changes in weather too. Set your carb in winter and it won't be quite right in summer. We have managed to increase power by 10bhp on a very well set up carb race engine too. Not quite as drastic as what you see here. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to retune their carbs on a dyno. If you price up the fuel savings, increased useability and enjoyment of the car, our customers are always glad they made the switch. Some still want carbs and thats fine too :)

[rwdford]

I totally agree rolling road figures can be wildly different, this car is a good example of that situation.

I have heard people say carbs go out of tune a few times before and as an engine tuner I know the carbs can go slightly out of ballance over time with vibrations and certain non weber carb linkages that pull one carb against the other when on full throttle, as for the idles and main jetting I have never seen any of my engines ever go out of tune, so I don't believe this is true.

[mcgowan273]

very nice. engine mounts look to have taken a kick in lol.