45 dellorto dhla's, questions on ebay

[Lee Flintoft]

Q: What do you mean by spec 5 carbs? 07-Feb-08
A: it is the way lotus spec their carbs so people can identify the jets and chokes etc. details are , choke 37, main jet 160, main air correction 230, main emulsion tube 7772-8, idle valve 55 and neddle valve 170. jim
Q: Hi I work down the road from warwick and usuallyt would come and have a look but I'm in India until next week.... One question - do you know the choke sizes/jetting etc? best regards Pete 07-Feb-08
A: hello pete, this is from the lotus manual, choke 37, main jet 160, main air correction 230, main emulsion tube 7772-8, idle valve 55 and neddle valve 170. hope that helps. jim
Q: Hi, Do these have a vacuum advance take off? Regards, Tom. 05-Feb-08
A: hi, i have never seen a take off from the carbs themselves, it normaly comes from the manifold they are bolted to. jim

What set up would you people recommend If I were to bid on these? I'd be looking at using them with a cam that is profiled to TT10106. I will require educating!

[mbellinger]

I am guessing slightly, but from the references given, I would say that these carbs are from a Lotus 907/912 engine (2.0 or 2.2 litre slant four twin cam as fitted to Eclat, Esprit, Excel).

They will fit a Sprint with the cam profile described and it will probably run ok-ish.

However, they should be properly set up on a rolling road which will inevitably lead to a change of emulsion tubes, chokes, etc.

Whatever you pay for the carbs, allow £200 for a decent setting up session on the rollers.

I know this is lighting the blue touchpaper a bit, but in my experience, Dellortos are more "reliable" in that they stay in tune better than Webers. They are also more linear and consistent in their responses. I also happen to think they are better made. Like I said, blue touchpaper a bit, but that's my view. (Please bear in mind that my view is from using them on other cars - I have never used either on a Dolomite).

Ask for the carb serial numbers and check them against a database or with a Dellorto supplier. There are a lot of ex-Lotus emissions spec carbs turning up on the Bay, and they will run like an old dog, if at all.

[David6214]

i think dellortos are lovely, but then i would say that!

that said i have owned and driven a variety of cars with twin webbers, twin su's, and twin dellortos.

My sprint has dellortos and they sound and drive just fine

[zombeh]

I am guessing slightly, but from the references given, I would say that these carbs are from a Lotus 907/912 engine (2.0 or 2.2 litre slant four twin cam as fitted to Eclat, Esprit, Excel).

Spec 5 is from a european 907 between 76-80 so should be a good starting point for a slightly tuned sprint

[trackerjack]

Hi Guys yes I have 45 Delorto's on my Sprint and a certain Dave Sideways tuned them at Silverstone for me and he is an expert on these carbs, he also prefers them to Webers.
Our car runs superbly and has much better low down torque than SU's and also returns similar fuel consumption (28 MPG).

[Lee Flintoft]

Well thanks for the replys, looks like I'll have to start bidding

Hope I don't have any of you as competition!

[Lee Flintoft]

Proud owner of the said 45's.

[Mad Mart]

Nice one Lee.

[Lee Flintoft]

Any suggestions / persons preferences on linkage? I've heard, is it magard? mentioned before.

[mbellinger]

Demon Tweeks or Merlin Motorsport will be able to sort you out Lee. Failing that, Moss also list the linkages.

[Lee Flintoft]

Cheers Martin

[Hans ten Broeke]

Well it looks everything is getting back to normal after this Dellorto eruption.
Before everyone is rushing after Dellorto's side drafts, be aware of the fact they don't produce for many many years, and a regular supply of parts and calibration parts is very difficult. There might be some people who still have some parts and nos parts but in general it dried up.

If people have bad experience in the low rev department with 45DCOE its is almost certain it is the 45 number 152 what was is the universal motor sport carburettor, and not a customised one like the number 9 (Aston street application).
This number 152 has the progression holes far away from the idle position of the throttle plate when in use in a street engine or street modified engine. If this competition carb is used in a reel competition engine with a big valve overlap at idle means that the throttle has to be open far more than with a "street" engine, and now the so called progression holes are in the good position to deliver mixture directly after the idle position of the throttle plate.
THIS IS THE MAIN REASON PEOPLE FEEL A MEAGER DIP WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDSTILL, TRAFFIC LIGHT EXT. WHEN USE A 152.

Actually the best still produced NEW side draft 45mm is the Weber 45 DCO W what is based on the Mikuni carbs (mikuni dous not produce also for many year anymore) in combination with Weber calibration parts (still produced in many applications, we have about 600 different sort of jets in stock)
This carb has supurp throttle pates hard chrome axles, and casting. This carb has the progression holes for a street engine.

To set up a carb - engine combination for a street application it is necessary to use a rolling road and good equipment, a fast and accurate 4 gas analyser side by side with a wide band AF equipment to measure the mixture at any rpm and load.
Good quality work on a street engine is more difficult than on a competition engine, so " they work on race cars for years" is for sure not any warranty your street work will be superb.

Hans