Cold air intake on Carburetor

Make it go fast! Kick it up a notch. Post tips in here.
Post Reply
WadiaAbushanab
Posts: 45
Joined: Sat Jan 15, 2022 10:54 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat Spider 2000

Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by WadiaAbushanab »

Hello everyone. I have a 1980 Fiat spider carbureted and I’m wanting to put a cold air intake with a cone filter on it. I’ve only seen kits for the fuel injected spider and I can’t find any kits or adapters to fit on the carburetor. Anyone know where I can find this or just any tips?
wetminkey
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by wetminkey »

I did this:
Image
Ram air, at speed.
BTW, that is the throat of a 32/36 DFEV, altered to DFAV,...
Todd.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe
User avatar
blazingspider
Posts: 173
Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 8:44 am
Your car is a: 1977 fiat spider
Location: Nanuet, New York

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by blazingspider »

TheBender
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 220
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:57 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by TheBender »

I’ve been tinkering with a few ideas and both failed. Apparently Guy Croft had been trying to use the silver one years ago and had issues with the airflow and turbulence. I’ve chatted with another member that says his K&N set up works. Main difference I can come up with is he is running high compression and I am not. Seems mine doesn’t suck as hard potentially. Things run good until I hit 4200 rpm under full acceleration (34 ADF) and then the power fades and it hesitates. I’ve chatted with some Fiat experts and they suggest a stock housing and hook up the hose/hoses as cold air intakes.

Image
Image
Nut124
Posts: 748
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:39 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by Nut124 »

TheBender wrote:I’ve been tinkering with a few ideas and both failed. Apparently Guy Croft had been trying to use the silver one years ago and had issues with the airflow and turbulence. I’ve chatted with another member that says his K&N set up works. Main difference I can come up with is he is running high compression and I am not. Seems mine doesn’t suck as hard potentially. Things run good until I hit 4200 rpm under full acceleration (34 ADF) and then the power fades and it hesitates. I’ve chatted with some Fiat experts and they suggest a stock housing and hook up the hose/hoses as cold air intakes.
Your engine should pull strong well beyond 6000rpm. If not, something is wrong and it's likely not the air intake plumbing.

Fuel delivery would be my first suspect. Then ignition timing.
TheBender
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 220
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:57 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by TheBender »

Nut124 wrote:
TheBender wrote:I’ve been tinkering with a few ideas and both failed. Apparently Guy Croft had been trying to use the silver one years ago and had issues with the airflow and turbulence. I’ve chatted with another member that says his K&N set up works. Main difference I can come up with is he is running high compression and I am not. Seems mine doesn’t suck as hard potentially. Things run good until I hit 4200 rpm under full acceleration (34 ADF) and then the power fades and it hesitates. I’ve chatted with some Fiat experts and they suggest a stock housing and hook up the hose/hoses as cold air intakes.
Your engine should pull strong well beyond 6000rpm. If not, something is wrong and it's likely not the air intake plumbing.

Fuel delivery would be my first suspect. Then ignition timing.
That’s the kicker. I put back on the lunch box style filter and it’s silky smooth 5000+. Been a frustrating experiment.
davidbruce
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 239
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:01 am
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by davidbruce »

TheBender wrote:That’s the kicker. I put back on the lunch box style filter and it’s silky smooth 5000+. Been a frustrating experiment.

Is it possible the K&N is over oiled? Did you try it with the cone removed?
Dave Kelly
Campbell River B.C.
1973 Sport(sold)
1980 Spider 2000(project, aren't they all)
TheBender
Patron 2019
Patron 2019
Posts: 220
Joined: Fri Aug 11, 2017 1:57 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by TheBender »

davidbruce wrote:
TheBender wrote:That’s the kicker. I put back on the lunch box style filter and it’s silky smooth 5000+. Been a frustrating experiment.

Is it possible the K&N is over oiled? Did you try it with the cone removed?
Yes I gave it a go with the filter removed and had the same result. :|
davidbruce
Patron 2020
Patron 2020
Posts: 239
Joined: Tue Jan 05, 2016 2:01 am
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by davidbruce »

Bender that is strange. I'm curious about the housings on top of the carb. Are they designed for a Weber or is there some sort of adapter? The only thing that strikes me is the deep recess where the wing nut is. Is it posible there is some restriction there? If the lunch box works fine and this set up doesn't, even with the filter removed. I would be looking closely at that housing. Just my $.02
Dave Kelly
Campbell River B.C.
1973 Sport(sold)
1980 Spider 2000(project, aren't they all)
User avatar
manoa matt
Posts: 3442
Joined: Thu Oct 26, 2006 4:28 pm
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider 1800
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii

Re: Cold air intake on Carburetor

Post by manoa matt »

The 79-80 stock air filter housing and intake hose will be the least restrictive. It takes cold air in from the hole in the radiator panel, the stock filter has a large surface area,(compared to aftermarket cone type filters) and there is an un-obstructed area above the carb venturies. With this setup, the air is forced into the intake tube and pushed against the filter. With the aftermarket phlenums, you either need to mount a short cone outboard of the engine compartment in the grill area, or in the engine compartment on the backside of that hole. The air has to get forced through the filter first which is a bit more restrictive.

The only other phlenum I would suggest would be this type which is made for the DFEV, DGEV type carb mounting. If you search around you can find them. I've seen them marketed by Weber, Redline, and some other brand. Typically, they are around $80-$100 but I know I've seen one for around $50.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/283759965463?c ... 0099027f0e
Post Reply