I have placed a 1972 Datsun A12 into a Triumph Spitfire . I would like to get some good info on carbs for this car. Yes, here in Colorado I have the E test so I'll need lots of advice. I plan to drive daily, but I am tired of being passed up. Fuel injection seems to be out so what can I do to get better performance with just recarbing this great engine?
Bigtom

It all depends on the manifold you can get your hands on, and it also depends on what rev range your engine is setup to make power in. By this I mean what compression ratio and what cam, valve size, port sizes etc etc..

But to be sensible, and if getting emissions is important, then probably leaving the carby as it is is the best way. Otherwise a pair of webers/solex or SUs (depending which carby you, a friend, or local mechanic has experience in tuning).

Buying the manifold and carbies ready tuned from someone who's lunched their engine may be a good start. You should be able to get some for US$200-400. Depending on carby choice. They'd make a huge difference.

Chris.

What's an "E test"? You don't mean that Colorado requires emissions tests of cars that old? Not even California tests cars from 1972.

Any bigger carb is going to extend the powerband of the A12. The best low-buck setup is to fit a Holley 2-bbl from a Vega or Pinto. This is an american-produced version of the Weber 32/36 DGV (progressive) design.

i have a webber 32/36 and it has given me a lot more power that those standard pieces of #### i it's the same as a 180 holley am i right?
DAVE

those standard carbs work very well for their designed purpose: very good fuel economy, lower emissions and excellent throttle response. The basic problem with them is some of the post-72 emissions add-ons tended to hurt the driveability (e.g. throttle opener). I think Hitachi's build quality was very good.

Yes, Colorado has an E test for the car because the original was a 1975 Spitfire. I had to put in an air pump also , the trunk is a good place for that. If anyone made an EFI kit I might be interested in place of carbs.
The Datsun engines are really great as I have 2 Z cars and this blended car.
Thanks for the info
Bigtom

Hi I've got an A12 in a spitfire too. Can you email me off list ? - contact me via my web page in my signature.

Colorado emission test is much strickter than California. Tail pipe test is run for 240 sec(IM240) under vararing load conditions while on chassis dyno. Testing is done by the state contracted test only centers

Smog inspections, what a nightmare. What is the Colorado law say about exemption? Here in Ca, cars made 29 years ago are exempted(yes, 29, the law as of today, says, after jan 03, cars made after jan 74 are exempted,and in the same way cars made after jan 75 will become exempted afeter jan 04...etc)... so yours probably is close to exemption. The 32/36 carb is a good choice (DCOE is better but the 32/36 is smog compatible). the DGEV 32/36 can work and is aproved by state law (in CA) so, check it out.To use the twin DCOE's, a cam would be a requierement, so that the engine would use all the benefits of its performance(the DCOE's perf).A single DCOE would be cool, but the DCOE will not pass emissions tests, at least the visual inspection. The 32/36 I got, (I was ready for the twin DCOE's , but the prospects of taking them off, and all that for emmisions test made me go for the DGEV 32/36 Weber, still a very good choice, excelent performance, reliability and easy tuning and maintenace.)... works very well.I had no problems with the prospect of taking off the DCOE's and replace the stock carburetor for the tests, but the cam, which would be needed for the performance of the twin DCOE's was a problem, I did not want to take the cam and change it, so I waited untill now, my car is supposed to become exempted after this last smog test I am going through...(yes, "Going" through, because the battle is not over, the smog guys are trying to stop me from achieving exemption, too bad for them, it will never happen, they will go bald before they take my car to the burner!)... soon the nightmare will be over, and my A15 will see the life after death!, yes, its been in coma for all this years, but with a cam and twin DCOE's, it will get to know what life really is about.
Back to your Austin, a 32/36 Weber DGEV is a good choice, gives good performance, check www.piercemanifolds.com
The DGEV will not dissapoint you, unless you choose to go FI, but I do not know if FI was a US A12 standard for the emissions tests.
Jaime.
Check www.piercemanifolds.com or any other sources you may have, this guys sent me my Weber with no delay, good source, honest people.

Jaime.

Hey jaimecidpedro, I just came from DMV, they said '74 & older is exempt. But cars will not be added automatically ever year. (Calif)