Ian,
I'm not sure about other carburetors but I can speak for the Weber
Side Drafts (DCOE). That is the first reference I have ever heard
about Webers burning out an engine. It could be true of any
carburetor if they are not set up right. I have them on my 74 1/2 TR-
6 and love them. I do not recommend installing them on a stock
engine. You will not gain much at all if anything. You need to
install a better camshaft if nothing else. The better your engine
can breath the more performance you can gain. So headers are welcome,
cylinder head work, increase in compression is always advantageous,
and definitely rework the ignition. As you can see getting
performance is not easy nor cheap. These engines will not yield much
in horsepower gains without really raising the compression. I stayed
at 10 to 1, but I know others that are running 11 to 1 in a street
car without to many problems. I have been told by quite a few people
that you can achieve the same horsepower gains using (2) SU
carburetors as opposed to (3) Weber side drafts. That would save
some money. Unless you are mechanically inclined and patient enough
to set up the Webers I would think twice about it. It took me a
while to set mine up but they have been trouble free ever since.
Pat in NC
|