Carburetor Troubles... Car is Completely Useless

[DeLoreanGirl]

I purchased my dream car not too long ago, but now it's useless because of the carburetor. When I got it, the car ran rough. I took it to a shop and they said they rebuilt the carburetor. It runs better now, but it won't shift gears. There's a problem with the linkage. The guy I bought the car from says it's not the carburetor that was on the car when he sold it and that the shop must have switched it. The shop denies this.

I was advised by another forum member to contact Bill Robertson and he said that it has the wrong carburetor and that he wasn't going to help me, that it's all the previous owner's fault. Bill was completely useless, telling me a bunch of things that I didn't understand before blowing me off.

I don't know what to do. The only thing people agree on is that I have the wrong carburetor and it won't work for this car. I'm considering bringing it back to stock, but I don't have the parts. This is my first car at 18 and I just want to use it.

[81dmc]

I purchased my dream car not too long ago, but now it's useless because of the carburetor. When I got it, the car ran rough. I took it to a shop and they said they rebuilt the carburetor. It runs better now, but it won't shift gears. There's a problem with the linkage. The guy I bought the car from says it's not the carburetor that was on the car when he sold it and that the shop must have switched it. The shop denies this.

I was advised by another forum member to contact Bill Robertson and he said that it has the wrong carburetor and that he wasn't going to help me, that it's all the previous owner's fault. Bill was completely useless, telling me a bunch of things that I didn't understand before blowing me off.

I don't know what to do. The only thing people agree on is that I have the wrong carburetor and it won't work for this car. I'm considering bringing it back to stock, but I don't have the parts. This is my first car at 18 and I just want to use it.

Hey, if it runs better now, than who cares about the carb?

Just post a pic of the throttle linkage, and maybe I can help.

[DMCVegas]

This is precisely why I demanded a how-to guide for assistance on these conversions. Because I knew this was going to start happening once Bill was out of the picture for support. Either because he died, or he'd outright refuse support people.

You've got 3 ooptions here. The first being an an Alpine Holley Carburetor Kit from JL Engineering over in the UK. However, there are two teeny little catches:

You will need to source a rare intake manifold for the kit. Contact them for further instructions.
I don't even know for certain if this kit is still available.


Second option is to return to stock. Every once in a while someone sells a K-Jet kit. I'll have one myself for sale, but not for a couple of years. Even then with all of the cores, you're looking at around $2,700 or so if you don't buy your own specialty tools for all the parts needed.

Third is that you could convert to EFI.

Better question yet is have you gotten in touch with any other local DeLorean owners? If not, why?

Whatever you choose, best of luck to you.

[DeLoreanGirl]

Here ya go: 54301

[Ron]

WTH!?!

That linkage is not right (circled below) it needs a bracket that will allow the cable to remain in a straight line (from the bracket to the carb), including when the carb is wide open or closed! ... and a little adjusting, at least.

54320

Don't let whoever put it on there like that touch your car again (My humble opinion of course ;-)

[Farrar]

Bill has photos of his various carb stuff on his Facebook page. You may wish to peruse them. I think there is some useful info there.

This for example is one of Bill's annotated setup photos for a customer.

54303

I am Bill's first carburetor customer ( 2008 ) and did a lot of homework before switching over. There is plenty of information out there on carburetor theory and operation, even videos. Meanwhile, I also offered to help you, but you didn't contact me after I gave you Bill's contact info, so I assumed that you had the information you needed.

Meanwhile, there's a "Carb" subforum here on DMCTalk. Perhaps you could post your carburetor questions there instead of in the "General" section which is more cluttered.

[Ron]

Now that I look at it more, I'm wondering if there is enough travel room to simply raise the bracket to get the cables horizontal, remove the spring, adjust the cables (~1/16 play each), collapse the spring and cut it as long as will fit in the space left while the pedal is floored w/o kinking...then re-install the spring. ..and hook up return spring.

Worst case looks like you would need a bracket to allow more travel...and talk someone into measuring the distance from the bracket to where the cable with the spring attaches to the carb to make it.

[81dmc]

Since Bill has said that he's not helping because it's Chad's fault, I didn't know where else to turn to. I just want to enjoy my car.
The shift cable and the accelerator cable both need to tightened and straightened up on that carb, and the shift cable NEEDS to have no slack in it whatsoever.

Also, if you have an iPhone, you can slightly crop the image to prevent the upside down problem


Maybe I'll go to a DCS soon. I'm sure many would be surprised at my age...

[Ron]

... and the shift cable NEEDS to have no slack in it whatsoever.Actually the shift cable needs to have some slack. About 4mm measured at the trans end according to WSM G:05:02.

[81dmc]

Actually the shift cable needs to have some slack. About 4mm measured at the trans end according to WSM G:05:02.

Pretty close to nothing in comparison to the provided picture.

Mine has almost no slack and shifts real nice though...

[Farrar]

It looks like DeLoreanGirl's shift point cable is on the wrong side of the throttle shaft pivot. This cable must be pulled toward the rear of the car as the throttle cable is pulled toward the front. If both cables are on the same side of the throttle shaft pivot, the shift cable will just get slacker as the throttle cable pulls toward the front of the car.

[81dmc]

It looks like DeLoreanGirl's shift point cable is on the wrong side of the throttle shaft pivot. This cable must be pulled toward the rear of the car as the throttle cable is pulled toward the front. If both cables are on the same side of the throttle shaft pivot, the shift cable will just get slacker as the throttle cable pulls toward the front of the car.

You sure? The pic that Ron fixed looks to be a reflection of the original image...

As per the picture you provided, it seems the setup is correct, but WAY out of adjustment.
54310

[Farrar]

You sure?

No.

[Ron]

You sure? The pic that Ron fixed looks to be a reflection of the original image...

As per the picture you provided, it seems the setup is correct, but WAY out of adjustment.

Yeah, her's was upside down and I flipped it to look at it...Fixed.
Kind of hard to adjust it correctly while sitting on a bench :deviltail:

Seriously tho, I think Farrar might be right (hard to see), i.e the throttle has to attach above the center of the throttle shaft and the shift cable below it.
It doesn't look like that carb has a good place for it, but it's relatively easy to fix. Maybe some kind soul with an OEM automatic could offer up the travel length...

[Bitsyncmaster]

It does look like the linkage is a problem but we need to know more about what the problem really is. Why fix the linkage if the carb needs to be replaced.

I think most of us are willing to help you get your D running. If I lived closer I would spend a day with whoever needs the help. I'm no expert on carbs but have worked on many engines that used them. I'm assuming it did run correctly at one time so the manifold would not have a design problem.

[DMC5180]

The trans shift cable is definitely on the same side of the throttle plate pivot shaft as the throttle cable.

DeloreanGirl needs to post another direct side shot photo so we can see if that carb bellcrank even has a lower attach point to connect the cable too.


Given how loose the throttle and trans cable are.

I would move the throttle cable clevis to where the trans cable is attached.

The trans cable needs to be checked at the transmission to see if it is even connected to the Governor. It is way too slack given its extended attachment location.

[Ron]

... but we need to know more about what the problem really is. Why fix the linkage if the carb needs to be replaced.
I took it to be ok??


...
When I got it, the car ran rough. I took it to a shop and they said they rebuilt the carburetor. It runs better now, but it won't shift gears.
...x

[Bitsyncmaster]

I took it to be ok??

x

Missed that. So maybe it is just the linkage causing it not to shift.

[Ron]

Maybe. I'm betting it all comes down to the bracket, and maybe a good place (below the shaft) for the shift cable.


+1 on level side pic.

[opethmike]

(below the shaft)



huhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuhuh

[81dmc]

It took a moment, but I now see what y'all are talking about...

DeLoreanGirl, post another pic of the throttle arm from a lower angle. There should be another point under the pivot to connect that shift cable.

[dn010]

Looks like I posted this in the split rant thread from this one: I have a Motorcraft 2100 carb if you want it, just PM me if you're interested.