Mikey UC Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 I’ve decided to put the old x-flow engine out of its misery and replace it with something a bit newer. So after checking with Bruce of Arch that a k series would fit, I now find myself with a 1.8 k series and Caterham bellhousing and sump from blatchat and a few questions… I assume that mating the engine to the type 9 ford 5 speed box, I use the standard k series flywheel and clutch with a ford clutch plate, is this the case ? I need to get my propshaft shortened by about 8cm as the k series sits further back in the chassis. Anyone know of a company that can do this in Berkshire / Oxfordshire ? I intend to use my Weber carburettors and the Webcon 3d ignition system, but I need to find an inlet manifold. Demon Tweeks do one but want £200 + theft for it, dose anyone know of a company that makes manifolds, to see if I can get it cheaper direct. Many thanks for any help BAGPUSS 1600 Classic - a bit tatty around the edges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 A K series on Webers Wow thats unusual why wouldnt you just run with the K managment. Just curious jj N.I. L7C AR. Membership No.3927. Edited by - Johnty Lyons on 24 Feb 2007 15:52:44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted February 24, 2007 Share Posted February 24, 2007 Does anyone make a Carb inlet manifold that allows for the fact that the engine is tilted over to one side slightly in a Caterham ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey UC Posted February 26, 2007 Author Share Posted February 26, 2007 A K series on Webers Wow thats unusual why wouldnt you just run with the K managment A couple of reasons, - the first is having to get the tank converted for injection, the second is getting all the relevant fuel pump ,ecu and wiring bits (although I do have the injectors and manifold ), but most of all I would miss all the pops and bangs I get from the webers. Does anyone make a Carb inlet manifold that allows for the fact that the engine is tilted over to one side slightly in a Caterham That’s the bit that could scupper the whole thing, the chap from demon tweeks didn’t know if the manifold allowed for the engine tilt, hence why I would like to try and speak to the manufacturer. I hope it does allow for the engine tilt, as I think the standard rover k series is installed with a tilt to the front of the engine bay, and I have seen a k series with webers, it turned up at the Oxford meet ( when at the Checkers ) but it was quite a few years ago. BAGPUSS 1600 Classic - a bit tatty around the edges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheds Moderator Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Bimey, that's doing it the hard way. Most people lob a Zetec in out of a Sierra, which makes life easier. Good luck. I have BTW heard of a K on Weberes, I do't think the fuel efficiency is anything to write home about but it works. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DohNut Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Bogg Bros do some nice custom manifolds to mate bike throttle bodies to various engines I am sure they would be able to knock you up something appropriate. The hole in the bonnet would be in the wrong place (by 8cm) but you could try to get away without one, with the tilt of the engine and the extra width in the chassis further back. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevsta Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Surely you could sell the webers and buy tank for the equal costs? Depends if the K you bought cam with engine wiring loom and ECU/5AS/blippers etc. Does seem like a strange idea though as there are so many spares on BC that you could get to make it all run (just buy ECU etc from someone going emerald). if you go webers though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davef Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Even if you run with carbs won't you need an ECU for the ignition anyway? And that'll need mapping? D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey UC Posted February 26, 2007 Author Share Posted February 26, 2007 Well yes I have an webcon ecu, which I was told by southern carburettors can be remapped for a k-series. BAGPUSS 1600 Classic - a bit tatty around the edges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DohNut Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 And have a look at SBD (amongst others) who do a swirl pot to allow you keep your carb fuel tank. (like mine) I think there was a westfield project on the Emerald site that showed a good conversion. Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey UC Posted February 26, 2007 Author Share Posted February 26, 2007 Thanks Doh Nut I will have a look at that if I decide on the fuel injection route BAGPUSS 1600 Classic - a bit tatty around the edges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Mikey, Have you spoken to Webcon ? They certainly do a K series kit which uses their own TB's which are identical in their dimensions and fittings to DCOE 40 Carbs ? As a consequence their TB manifold 'may' fit. Don't know if they allow for the engine angle though as their K series kit may be for the Metro only, but it would be worth asking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey UC Posted February 26, 2007 Author Share Posted February 26, 2007 Excellent ! cheers Graham will certainly give them a call BAGPUSS 1600 Classic - a bit tatty around the edges Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnty Lyons Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Talking about popping and banging You obviously havn'y heard the angry snarl ofa K on Throttle bodies It's Evil. 😬 jj N.I. L7C AR. Membership No.3927. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Perry Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 Mikey, From the Webcon website the full K series TB/ECU kits that the manifolds would be part of are kit numbers K20024 & K20025 depending on engine CC. They are quite happy to supply individual components separately via Southern Carbs in my experience Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Formston Posted February 26, 2007 Share Posted February 26, 2007 God Mikey as someone has already said you are going about changing the X flow the hard way the Zetec Pops straight in and you forget about it it is ultra reliable mine has done 25,000 miles in 20 months I would go as far as to say my caterham is as reliable as my BMW Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted February 26, 2007 Leadership Team Share Posted February 26, 2007 Hmm - I seem to remember an article in LF a few years about someone doing just this conversion... I'll check - Michael. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted February 26, 2007 Leadership Team Share Posted February 26, 2007 Found it quicker than expected May 2002 - "A live series K series" by Stephen Day... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilyhands Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Jenvey make TBs which fit as direct replacements to Webers, IMHO these are a better bet than the Webcon kit. Johnty has these on a fabricated manifold although they will fit a s tock Weber manifold. the only bugbear with an off the shelf manifold is that the spacing is poor with respect to the head. oily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted February 27, 2007 Share Posted February 27, 2007 Mikey Have you seen this for sale here. This can be used with a 1.8 by uprating the fuel pressure regulator and would be an easier conversion that what you have planned at present. Good luck with whatever path you choose to take Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unclefester Posted February 28, 2007 Share Posted February 28, 2007 > Paul, don't you need to shorten the propshaft, or change the engine mounts for a Zetec conversion? Say on a 1991 Xflow deDion? Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds..ooooh hooo hooo!!... 😬 😬Abbey Road Time-Machine *eek* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikey UC Posted March 1, 2007 Author Share Posted March 1, 2007 Thank for the suggestion Mark, it would solve a lot of problems with the Webers. However I have used up all my play money for the moment on a 4-1 manifold and a lightened flywheel, so I’ll have to leave the induction side of things for a bit. Incidentally, would a 1.8k with Webers put me in to class 4 ? I did think about the Zetec, but the beauty of the k series is the number of second hand parts available, so far I have only had to buy a passenger side engine mount new from Caterham. Also the k series really is incredibly light for its size, I actually managed to lift a complete 1.8k with alternator and injection unit out of my car and stagger to the garage with it, which I couldn’t have done with my old x-flow. (Although I did spend the next half an hour recovering from the experience) Michael, yes I have that issue, it’s the green and black seven. I think the chap who did that conversion paid quite a bit for it, including throttle body injection. Mines going to be more at the cheap and cheerful end of the range. BAGPUSS 1600 Classic - a bit tatty around the edges Edited by - Mikey UdaleClarke on 1 Mar 2007 10:57:46 Edited by - Mikey UdaleClarke on 1 Mar 2007 10:58:24 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Mikey Surely you would get more for the Webers and Webcon ECU than the parts on Pistonheads would cost you and yes you will be in Class 4 with the carb set up. Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Durrant Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 ......and it will save you the cost of the rolling road session to get it mapped Mark D Comp Sec Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Formston Posted March 1, 2007 Share Posted March 1, 2007 Hi unclefester Im not sure with that year car but I think its the same, mine was a new chassis but ring Chris at Raceline 01483 811978 im sure that you would just remove the X flow and the zetec gos stright back in its place, you will need Racline engine monts and I used a raceline sump and water rail and its very sucessful hope this helps Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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