Cost of Webers for a 351W (ballpark)

casaleenie · #1 (**permalink**) 08-29-2003, 05:10 PM

Just curious, what would be a ballpark figure for a Weber setup and the manifolds? high and low new and used..
worth pursueing? practical?
Currently have a 351 W from Southern Automotive..

Tony Radford · #2 (**permalink**) 08-29-2003, 05:41 PM

I went through the Weber thing a few months ago. Bill Parham is building me a 427 W stroker and I thoroughly researched the cost and practicality of the Weber approach. I went down the road with Pierce in LA for a turnkey set up including the manifold, carbs, linkage, fuel distribution etc. It was going to run around $5,500 complete. That would have blown my budget. Besides, I understand it takes a Weber specialist to set them up correctly even with the turnkey package. I decided on the Vic Jr and Mighty Demon carb.

427Aggie · #3 (**permalink**) 08-29-2003, 07:17 PM

Goods and bads...the carbs will cost $600/ carb to start so you are at $2400 without linkage and manifold...$600 for manifold and a couple hundred for linkage...so $3500 or so.

Now the fun part...you can probably get close on a jetted by the builder setup from pierce but I have over a grand in jets and stuff alone.

Remember webers don't like lots of cam you have to stay under 600 on I think its lift right? can't remember what each number is...they have no runner so you get backfire out the top if you have too much overlap...they remove alot of the lopdy lopdy dope out of a motor.

Once you get them set they are easy but it took me about a year to learn what I needed to do it right...and I can still tweak them a little bit.

Matt

casaleenie · #4 (**permalink**) 08-29-2003, 07:23 PM

Tony R., and Aggie,

I think I might be getting over them already... I had no idea they were that kind of money...
Actually, I probably did know the cost. If they were cheap then more people would own them.. They sure do look pretty....

bobl · #5 (**permalink**) 08-29-2003, 09:22 PM

Sure, Webers aren't perfect, BUT THEY DAMN SURE ARE COOL!! Raise the hood and there they are...polished nickle stacks with a matte gold wash interior. Then listen to the admiring whistles at the engine bay.

Yeah..I have a set, but I dont think they're for sale.

Bob Putnam · #6 (**permalink**) 08-30-2003, 05:21 AM

A two-fer!

I'm told that this 289 came out of an original Cobra. The Webers were added later. Note the 5-bolt bellhousing which dates it back to when I was barely driving.

Tony Radford · #7 (**permalink**) 08-30-2003, 05:25 AM

I spend a lot of time at car shows and cruise-ins and could really appreciate the enhanced cosmetic appeal. I had already decided to glitz up the engine bay a bit with polishing, Mark brackets, big intake etc. I was really excited over the prospect of having a beautiful quad IDA rig sitting on top. I scoured over the forum, reading posts from years past and decided that I would probably be sorry in the long run (I like to turn the key and go). I also really like the thumpty thump I get from a radical cam profile which I understand is largly neutralized by the Webers.

casaleenie · #8 (**permalink**) 08-30-2003, 06:23 AM

Bob P.,

Thanks for the engine.. Can't tell you how much I appreciate it..
Who else but you would give an engine to a perfect stranger.
Expect to be added to my Christmas card list...
When can I expect delivery???? It'll look great in my little FIA...

Beautiful picture...

Jim Holden · #9 (**permalink**) 09-10-2003, 08:45 PM

csa:

Remember that the deck height of a 351 is higher! There may be clearance problems with Webers on a 351 unless you go to shorter stacks. I have a problem with the stacks hitting the hood on my Gurney Eagle 302 when the motor "twists". It has dented the stack and taken a chunk out of the hood.

Check with Bob about the clearance for 351 and Webers.

Jim

Jim

Hal Copple · #10 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 01:04 AM

A month or so ago, i was up speaking with Bob Olthoff about his racing days. I asked him how the Webers were on the 289 cars. He told me lots of top end power, but not very drivable. He used to be able to pull away from the Ferrari LM's, but they would catch up in the corners.

jamvan · #11 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 04:37 AM

I was told the set-up on my car (see my picturesif you like) which was installed by the original owner (who Bob Putnam at ERA knows) run a little under $6,000.00 installed. And that price was back in 1998/99.

Also just to let you know, be prepared to pay a pretty penny to get them initially tuned. Lot of initial testing, adjustments and retesting will be needed to get them to run at peak performance.

jim v.

a427sc · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 05:35 AM

Mort

Your engine run's??? Rolling off the trailer and dumping the clutch to stop it is not "running". As for the dents in the stack and hood, Doug says he still hasn't found his 10mm wrench that disappeared when the hood fell off the broomhandle.

Yer ole buddy Ck's

Jim Holden · #13 (**permalink**) 09-11-2003, 08:48 PM

Now cks:

It all happened on a blast around the block the other night... Yes, once again I had trailered the Scutt Farcus Special (on an open trailer no less) to a local car show. I hadn't used the trailer before and had sorta forgotten how low the FIA side pipes are. When I got back I couldn't help myself and took it for a little ride. SO, now there are several little things to take care of this winter...

Time to get together for a fall outing? Are you going to the Busch race at LR next month?

Morty

PS: Doug is always trying to come up with some sorta scam toget me to get him another one of them expensive, made out of unobtainium metal Snap-on typie things. Know any good dealers in the area?

casaleenie · #14 (**permalink**) 09-12-2003, 06:17 AM

My final decision is: to forgo the Webers and drive this engine like I stole it. If or when I have trouble with the engine, I'll take the money I would have spent on the Webers and buy a new engine or do a rebuild...

If I need a Weber fix then I'll just go to Jim V's photo page and look at them there...

Dan Stryffeler · #15 (**permalink**) 09-12-2003, 06:25 AM

Al,

If you're going to take that attitude... I don't wanna be like you when I grow up anymore!

Go for the Webers! (besides, I'm gonna need your carb when I trade out my triples)

- Dan

casaleenie · #16 (**permalink**) 09-12-2003, 10:50 AM

Those triples are almost as unique as the Webers... Don't see too many cars running trips.
I possess a used oil filter that I may be persuaded to ransom back to you... any interest???

Silk · #17 (**permalink**) 09-12-2003, 12:40 PM

casa -

Here's a pic of a Unique FIA, 351W, with 48 IDF Webers. Due to different deck height, you need spacers under the manifold. No problem with hood clearance. Big bump in performance!

nikbj68 · #18 (**permalink**) 09-12-2003, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hal Copple

A month or so ago, i was up speaking with Bob Olthoff about his racing days. I asked him how the Webers were on the 289 cars. He told me lots of top end power, but not very drivable. He used to be able to pull away from the Ferrari LM's, but they would catch up in the corners.

I wonder how much of that was to do with Carbs & how much to the different suspension types? If memory serves, the LM`s had Webers too, six not four!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!