Strombergs at Pendine !

DSC_0639Golly, just realised we never posted our pictures from The Second Annual Pendine Sands Amateur Hot Rod Races, hosted by the Vintage Hot Rod Association. Here’s a healthy selection of the pics we (Clive and Rick Pearmain) took. You might notice how many of them are of Stromberg 97s. That’s because there were so many Strombergs at Pendine we couldn’t stop ourselves. It filled us with pride almost as fast as the pub on the quay filled us with Welsh beer. As we drove to the event, we wondered whether this could be the first UK meeting that Americans fly over to be part of, just as so many of us UK folks fly over to US events. And sure enough we met a great couple who had read about it on the interweb literally a few days before, and booked a flight. There they were, hanging out on a beach miles from nowhere, just enjoying the old style hot rods. That’s what the old car hobby does to us.

You won’t be surprised that it’s all happening again next year. Dates will be announced soon. And folks are already retuning and rebuilding looking for an extra few mph. Sand fever! Be there or miss out on one of the best events you’ll ever go to. Which reminds me, BIG thanks to Neil and all the other VHRA (and local) guys who organised, scrutineered, wardened, participated, raced, broke, drove the ambulance and more.

 

Phenolic spacers for Strombergs

DSC_0310Well, we promised a summer of new product launches and it continues with traditional phenolic spacers for your Stromberg 97 carburetors, plus a complementary extended intake manifold stud kit.

Tried buying a ‘real’ phenolic spacer lately? Truth is, the real old-school phenolics are becoming harder to find and those orange colored plastic spacers we’re seeing for sale just don’t seem right on a traditional hot rod, if you ask us.

Manufactured in California, USA exclusively for us here at Stromberg Carburetor, the new 1/4in spacers are cut from Natural Canvas Grade C Phenolic sheet with the classic brown color. The full kit (part number 39447K) includes two gaskets – used above and below the spacer – and work with 97s and other 3-bolt, 2-barrel carburetors like the Holley and Edelbrock 94s, of course..

Made from layers of canvas impregnated with synthetic resin binder, the benefits of phenolic sheet for carburetor spacers are well documented. Reducing heat transfer from the intake manifold to the carburetor, they can promote a cooler, denser fuel mixture for more horsepower. If you live in a hot climate and suffer from fuel percolation, you’ll be well acquainted with the heat insulation benefits too. If you’ve got a two-barrel carb with an aluminum base casting, these should really help.

Carb spacers need extra long intake studs of course, so we’ve also launched an extended manifold stud kit (Part number 89067-E) – three 1/4in longer studs with stainless steel nuts and lock washers.

39447K    Phenolic carburetor spacer – 1/4in   US$25.95    £16.63 + tax

89067-E   Extended manifold stud kit.              US$13.95    £8.29 + tax

Stromberg phenolic carburetor spacers and extended intake manifold stud kits are available now from our worldwide Genuine Stromberg dealer network, and help with installation is available from Stromberg by email or via the Stromberg Tech Center at www.stromberg-97.com.

The 30,000 mile New 97 !

GoytWe love a testimonial here at Stromberg. And this is right up there. Stromberg customer Mark Biggin drives his Model AV8 – a lot. In his own words: “I stuck the new 97 on straight from the box then headed off to Pilzen in the Czech Republic (800 miles from his home in the UK) for the Liberation Festival back in 2010. It’s done nigh on 30,000 miles since and I’ve not had to touch it (occasionally adjust the idle speed). Been through two engines, two gearboxes, rear axle overhauls and a new roof mind you!

New Stromberg fuel fittings

To complement the launch of our new Big Bore 3×2 fuel line (Part No. 9146-BIG) for small block Chevy intakes, we have introduced a range of Stromberg fuel fittings. Some are specific to Stromberg products, like the new 9564K-BIG S jet for 5/16in line. Others are just handy, traditional looking 1/4NPT brass fittings with stacks of uses around your fuel system. Like getting fuel into and out of a traditional hot rod fuel block. Or mounting a liquid-filled fuel pressure gauge. As you can see in our last picture, these fittings can be used with our 9146-BIG fuel line, which has 1/4NPT threads at each end of the fuel block.

Here’s a quick round-up of what’s available:

9182K          1/4NPT hose fitting. The most common hose barb for traditional style fuel blocks. Perfect for the Stromberg 9146-BIG 3×2 line for Small Block Chevy, but NOT to be used in your Stromberg 97 inlet valve (use 9080K instead).

9181K          1/4NPT hex head plug. If you’ve got a traditional style fuel block with 1/4NPT ports, and need to block one off, this will get you straight out of trouble.

9180K          1/4NPT hard line adapter. If you want to fit a 5/16in OD hard fuel line into a 1/4NPT fuel block, this is the fitting you need.

9179K          1/4NPT to 1/8NPT bush. This male to female reducer bush is a must have item if you’re fitting a liquid-filled fuel pressure gauge (which typically comes with a 1/8NPT thread) to your 1/4NPT fuel block port.

9178K          1/4NPT 90deg elbow. Our 1/4NPT male to 1/4NPT female 90deg elbow solves many fuel line problems, like fitting a liquid-filled fuel pressure gauge to your fuel block so you can read it! – perfect for the Stromberg 9146-BIG 3×2 line for Small Block Chevy.

9081K-BIG   Ford Nut compression fittings (x 3) for bigger 5/16in hard line. Has the correct 1/2in x 20 UNF thread for Stromberg inlet valves, but must ONLY be used with Stromberg 9564K-BIG S-jet inlet valves (available now from Stromberg dealers). Regular 97 inlet valves only take 1/4in hard line.

9564K-BIG   A specially designed S-jet inlet valve for use with 5/16in OD fuel lines – eg. 9146-BIG 3×2 line for Small Block Chevy.  Fitted as standard on all Stromberg BIG 97s, it accepts regular 9080K Superseat hose fittings, but for hard line, it must be used with 9081K-BIG 5/16in Ford Nuts.

 

 

 

New Chevy 3×2 fuel line from Stromberg

DSC_0340We’ve been promising a summer packed with new products. So let’s get it kicked off with our new, ready-to-fit, Chevy 3×2 fuel line for small block engines.

Set at 5-1/2in carb spacing to fit Offenhauser and Edelbrock SBC 3×2 intakes, the new Big Bore fuel line (Part No. 9146-BIG) uses the classic 3-into-1 format with CNC-bent 5/16in OD 304 stainless steel lines and leak-free, ‘invisible’ furnace brazed joints. The round-bar fuel block sits down close to the manifold, matching the four degree Chevy intake angle to align visually with the valve covers. And for maximum versatility, it has 1/4NPT threads at both ends with machined 11/16in AF flats so that fittings can be tightened safely without damaging the line. The brass compression fittings (included) to attach the line into the three 97s retain the look and feel of the traditional ‘Ford Nut’ fitting.

Traditionally, all Stromberg 97s use 1/4in line, but for a Chevy tri-power, the 5/16in line looks far more appropriate. The regular 97 fuel inlet won’t accept a 5/16in line, though, so we’ve developed a new Stromberg S-jet inlet valve (part number 9564K-BIG) with the correct 5/16in seat, which must be used with this Big Bore fuel line. The 9564K S-jet, (standard on regular Stromberg 97s) must not be used with 5/16in line. Our forthcoming high cfm BIG 97 carburetor will come with the BIG S-jet as standard.

Prices are US$129.95 and £66.63 plus tax if you pay in sterling.

To help hot rodders install their new Chevy 3×2 fuel line, we’ve also launched a complementary range of 1/4NPT brass fittings. You can read about these in our next Bulletin post.

The new Big Bore fuel line and fittings are part of the Stromberg Linkage & Fuel Delivery range, available from a network of Genuine Stromberg dealers worldwide. As always, full instructions are included in the kit and further help is available via the Stromberg Tech Center at www.stromberg-97.com .