Stromberg 97 Winter Blues

[Step-down]

I have my triple 97's rebuilt from Max . Dial them in and Happy.
The 97,s don't leak but there all way wet . All three of them . Cant be the carburetors as there's (3) of them and I'm running pressure gage running 3.5-4 pounds .Added a shut off valve.......Confusing....Seems to be from the top of the carburetor ... maybe the excel. pumps .... Bumper..Wet all the time after I shut it down....Im starting her twist a month and she always wet when she seats ....

 

[40 Deluxe]

Many years ago I first heard 97's referred to as "calibrated leakers". Maybe this is just a calibrated leak!

 

[Mike in AZ]

i think too much pressure....maybe crank it down to 1.5 and see what happens??....Mike

 

[f1builder]

with 3 carbs you might want to try setting the pressure at 2.5 or so for a while. i have run a lot of 97's and in my opinion the leaky carb myth is way overblown. if built right they don't leak.

 

[ken ct]

Agree with above,cut it down to 2 # and see what happens. Ken ct. Float could be set a tad high too.

 

[Step-down]

Ok I'm going to lower the pressure. In the spring I will road test her one morning ready to dig here after she stoles from no fuel.....
I would hate himself in the morning if if went to a single 4 barrel holly ... LOL

Thanks guys .....

 

[ford3]

as Ken ct said, possible floats just a little to high, thus letting fuel boil out when you shut down and heat builds and boils gas out of carb, are you running an aluminum manifold? if so phenolic blocks under carbs will help that, use about 1" spacers

 

[uncle max]

I promise, unless you played with the floats, they're not too high.
However, with that much pressure, it's possible the tangs have been tweaked.
Remember, 2-1/2 pounds pressure is ideal... Plus or minus a 1/2 lb.
Also remember, the no-questions-asked guarantee.

 

[4tford]

Max you can not beat a warranty like that

 

[Brendan]

I just put a kit in my Stromberg, and it works great, my pick up runs like a raped ape!

 

[Straightpipes]

I wouldn't let them set all winter full of ethanol gas. I drain mine. What are the thoughts on this......Max?? Ken??

 

[Tim Ayers]

I promise, unless you played with the floats, they're not too high.
However, with that much pressure, it's possible the tangs have been tweaked.
Remember, 2-1/2 pounds pressure is ideal... Plus or minus a 1/2 lb.
Also remember, the no-questions-asked guarantee.

Can't beat deal that with a stick. Max, you are the man.

 

[ken ct]

Donno i use Seafoam in tank. ken ct.

 

[Step-down]

Thanks for all the input...Got it to much pressure ,drop to 2.5 LBS. Sea form in the tank yes ....Four once for every 10 Gal...... Thanks again ...Now just needs some spring rain to clean the roads down .....

 

[Roger/Sacramento]

I must have gotten lucky....on my three 97 setup I used a new stock pump with no fuel pressure valve and have no leaks. Don't know what the pressure is. I shut it down for a couple of weeks and then took off the center carb to replace it with a carb with no choke just to keep them all the same. The replaced carb had no gas at all in it. Evaporation was quick. Call me wrong but this is what I did.

 

[ken ct]

Carbs flow better with choke plates in,its been proven on dynometers. ken ct

 

[Walt Dupont--Me.]

Max built my 4 carb setup on my 40, 3# pressure, no leaks. They will discolor a little around that felt where the pump rod comes up if you don't clean them once in awhile. This 276 runs super, 18MPG on secondary roads. Walt

 

[austinhunt]

I know nothing about 97's, but for storage....

Use Av gas (100ll, its blue).

It DOES NOT go bad. Planes often sit for long periods and gummy gas will kill a pilot. It does not evaporate as fast as mo gas because its formulated to be used at high altitudes (low pressure) and thus, lasts longer.

I leave a gallon in and run it till the float bowl is full.

 

[Roger/Sacramento]

A car guy told me he uses 91 grade because it will hold up longer.....I am now doing that.

 

[Tim Ayers]

I know nothing about 97's, but for storage....

Use Av gas (100ll, its blue).

It DOES NOT go bad. Planes often sit for long periods and gummy gas will kill a pilot. It does not evaporate as fast as mo gas because its formulated to be used at high altitudes (low pressure) and thus, lasts longer.

I leave a gallon in and run it till the float bowl is full.

My father does the same thing in his '32. A long time ago, I remember reading a very techincal artical about how AV gas should not be used in cars. Something about the burn rates or another techincal reason.

In these old cars, I believe one of the most important things to do is either drain the gas tank completely or keep it completely full. Any space in a metal gas tank allows an ethanol-based gasoline to absorb water and/or oxidate. This starts to cause a metal gas tank to rust. The rust causes the metal to start flaking and it then becomes a viscous cycle of trying to clear out out all of the crap in the tank and fuel lines.

There is a new product out there call Star Brite (or something like that). Comes in a clear blue bottle. It is a fuel restorer. It is an enzyme that will not only make ethanol gas OK to use after prolonged storage, it will renew gas that has already gone stale. I've used it for the past year or so with great results in everything from lawnmowers to cars.