63 F85 Cutlass

Hey guys, I've been looking into intake/carb options for my 215 and was wondering if you guys had any advice or input on the topic.

My scenario specifically involves the choice between a twin 2bbl setup or a single 4bbl.

If anyone has any knowledge as to the pros and cons of each setup, 215 induction knowledge, or general comments, I'd greatly apretiate the input

Thanks
Ryan

MN71W30

Any time you have more than one carb on an engine it looks cool. I had a friend with a 6 pack Olds 442 and it worked flawless. Even the automatic choke worked. But, more carbs can be more trouble, I don't think they will perform much better than a good 4 barrel. But they sure look cool.

jensenracing77

X2

Jamesbo

X 3

Oldsguy

Never had to set up a multi-carbed engine but have heard it can be difficult. The cool factor is way up in the stratosphere though so I vote a X4 on that.

Olds64

Everybody else pretty much nailed it on the head. A multi carb setup will be fatty boom battiy but might be difficult to keep in tune. You can't go wrong with a 4 barrel

citcapp

X5 All of the above

joe_padavano

The correct answer is "neither". The Eaton supercharger on the Buick 3800SC is almost perfectly sized for the 215. These blowers are inexpensive in wrecking yards - at least around here they are. The link below is a how-to for this installation:

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/MG...percharger.htm

63 F85 Cutlass

In regards to the supercharger, cool yes, affordable to me NOOOOOOOO
I've already looked at that page actually, thought it was cool, but I want to stick with carbureted

I was already leaning towards the 2x2 set up for the cool factor, the main limiting factor is if and when I find an old edelbrock 2x2 manifold. Only Edelbrock and Offenhauser hae made 2x2's for the 215 as far as I know, and the Offy is two low profile for my taste. The problem is the edelbrock one hasn't been made since the 60's or 70's

Another thing I plan on is poking and stroking it to a 265, which can be done using the crank from a buick 300

Thanks for the input, if anyone else has advice or comments, the ears will still be open

-Ryan

joe_padavano

Unless you already have the 300 crank, just get a later model Rover engine. Range Rovers and Land Rovers with 3.9 and 4.4 liter engines are showing up in wrecking yards here. These engines just about bolt in place of the 215 and come with a cool EFI system with ram-tuned stacks inside the air box.

63 F85 Cutlass

If I find one for cheep I'll consider it, but I'd like to keep the electronics to a minimal. I guess if I find one it would be cool, I've seen the cool ram tuned stacks which I like, but there is something to the multicarb setup that I find cooler

Run to Rund

How easy the carbs are to "tune" depends on how many barrels have idle circuits. A good "ear" and some time fiddling with idle mixture screws can do wonders. Beyond that, calculate the jet sizes needed (the HP Holley and Rochester books can help). also, there is the matter of how well designed the intake manifold is. What condition are the carbs in? Are their cfm ratings "reasonable" for the size of the engine?

63 F85 Cutlass

I have nothing for this setup yet but I would probly be rebuilding some carbs for it, or if I go 4 bbl, a new one isn't out of the question. In terms of cfm ratings, probly twin 200's if I go 2x2 or if I go 4bbl, a 450 with vacume secondary's

joe_padavano

The multi-carb intake will bolt to the newer Rover motors also.

nonhog

New screen saver, thinking that would be a nice set up for my 68 Volvo
Amazon. After the Cutlass is done of course.

The twin 2 bbl. sounds cool !

http://www.britishv8.org/Articles/MG...percharger.htm

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63 F85 Cutlass

Thanks

I will look for the rover 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, or 4.5 as opposed to stroking the 215, thanks for the Idea joe, that will definately be easier, cheaper, and would yeild better performance I'm sure. I've been looking, the 3.9, 4.2 were built off the 215 configuration by rover, and the 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 were all built by TVR and other sportscar builders

I think I would build the 4.4 with the 2x2 setup, and keep all the fuel injection parts for the posibility of the supercharger later on.

Thanks guys
Ryan

P.S. Joe, are you sure 4.4's are showing up by you? I just ask because those were only used in austrailia, so If you are seeing those, thats real cool

RoseCityOldsmobile

Throwing a 3800 supercharger on the 215 looks sweet. Though the idea of a rover motor with a vintage multi-carb setup with Olds valve covers sounds nice too.

young olds

rover went all the way to 4.6 in there vehicles. you have to be careful because the later engines didnt have distributors, unless you dont care. i think if you set it up right a dual 2bbl could preform as well as a single four. the 2bbl from our 215's are the smallest rochester made, id run that as a primary for cruising around. then the secondary could be the more common chevy 2bbl but id probably look for a 2bbl off an olds 455( supposedly biggest) and set it up progressive or try and get intricate and hook it up to a vacuum servo for a vacuum secondary.

joe_padavano

Actually, there is a very rare 5.0 liter version used in TVR sports cars (but not available in the U.S.).

The Buick front cover with distributor can be swapped onto a Rover block. You need to add the distributor drive gear and you need to change to the Buick style oil pump. There were also some "crossover" Rover motors with the crank-mounted oil pump and a distributor.

Probably not very easy to do. The one 2x2bbl intake available is designed for simultaneous operation of the carbs, not sequential. Unlike tripower intakes, the 2x2 intake would have very uneven mixture distribution if you only operated on one carb with a progressive linkage.