Leh Trip : Preparing a Carb car

Shashank.A · 20th July 2009, 11:09

I am planning to take my Carb Esteem 97 to Delhi-Manali-Leh-Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi trip. I am sure most of the team bhp members are aware about the terrain and conditions over there.

Considering the age of the car, I would like to take some advice on how to ensure that car performs to its optimum level at high altitudes, and to minimize the chances of stalling or getting stuck somewhere.

nitrous · 20th July 2009, 11:26

Learn how and when to advance/retard ignition timing. Might help at higher altitudes.
Leave the fuel mixture as it is. At high altitudes, it will just run a bit richer which is good for the engine.

Sha · 20th July 2009, 11:30

Contact Swastikviji he has good knowledge how to configure carb, recently he completed 8000 KM in Carb Gypsy.

Shashank.A · 20th July 2009, 11:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitrous

Learn how and when to advance/retard ignition timing. Might help at higher altitudes.

Now this is something I seriously need to consider, I have come across this term quite a few times and have no idea what it means. I guess last time it was mentioned to me was when I was gathering knowledge on Bullet.

simply_sunny001 · 20th July 2009, 14:32

Carry a couple of air filters and like Nitrous mentioned you have to have the knowledge of advancing/retrarding the timing as Oxygen get low and Carb engines find it difficult to manage the climb.

Get your tyres/suspension and get some protection for underbelly like skid plates done.

Get everything checked, the esteem should be in a gr8 condition before you start the trip as i dont want to repeat what you did in Shimla/Kufri.

Rest i think you have to drive/negotiate the potholes/snow/slush carefully and you would be good to go.

cheers

Shashank.A · 20th July 2009, 16:07

Thanks Sunny Bhai.

Quote:

Originally Posted by simply_sunny001

Get everything checked, the esteem should be in a gr8 condition before you start the trip as i dont want to repeat what you did in Shimla/Kufri.

After that I got a new clutch installed. I have also been told that if the car stalls on steep inclines that Choke is helpfull.

Regarding the timing, I guess I will get it done in Manali itself. Also GD told me to remove one of the pies from Carb and close it, it would good for higher altitudes.

What about Underbelly protection ? Where to get it done in Delhi and approx costing ?

suman · 20th July 2009, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shashank.A

What about Underbelly protection ? Where to get it done in Delhi and approx costing ?

Lordofgondor just returned from a Leh trip in his Esteem - you could check with him.

techn0l0gist · 20th July 2009, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shashank.A

What about Underbelly protection ? Where to get it done in Delhi and approx costing ?

Go to the guys that build/repair buses and trucks - and ask them to make a sump guard for you with a thick sheet of aluminum(6mm - 8mm thick sheet should do the trick ).

GTO · 21st July 2009, 11:02

Shashank, you might want to screen through this thread too.

Shashank.A · 21st July 2009, 11:43

Thanks GTO, have gone through that thread earlier. The Picture of Tavera stuck in mud makes you thing twice.

But thats the fun part, the unpredictability of it all.

here are two major factors in my mind, the Underbelly and Carburetor.

techn0l0gist · 21st July 2009, 12:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shashank.A

Thanks GTO, have gone through that thread earlier. The Picture of Tavera stuck in mud makes you thing twice.

But thats the fun part, the unpredictability of it all.

here are two major factors in my mind, the Underbelly and Carburetor.

get a proper sump guard done , and about the carb - well I don't think there should be anything much to worry about, learn to tune the carb if you already don't - and make it a little rich when you are up in the hills (well, might not be necessary too, as the AFR would become rich anyways as the altitude increases )

You might want to go to any of the guys that prepare cars for Raid De Himalaya and get your car checked - I don't think you would have anything to worry about then!

Shashank.A · 21st July 2009, 14:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by techn0l0gist

You might want to go to any of the guys that prepare cars for Raid De Himalaya and get your car checked - I don't think you would have anything to worry about then!

Seems like a good advice.

Does anyone know about someone who does this ?

nitrous · 21st July 2009, 15:01

In the process of fabricating a sump guard, make sure you don't lose your ground clearance.

Shashank.A · 25th July 2009, 11:45

I talked to couple of modifiers y'day was quoted figures of 10K +, for Sump Guard and fuel tank guard. However have also been told that it can be done by people making bodies of trucks and buses for much lesser price.

Does anyone has nay experience with that ? I guess I need a body maker who has already done the job, because I have no idea of cars anatomy on the lower side.

Secondly, Just tried using the Choke, as have never used it since I have this car, and once I pulled the choke, the engine dies out. It did not start when choke is pulled on. However once I relase the choke, in the next self it sputters back to life. My Mechanic said he has to open the carb and change the Diaphram (I did not get what he was trying to say, I am assuming this is what he said).

And lastly, what is Dholki is in English, I know its the part ofthe exhaust pipe, but what is it called in english and what is exact function ?

phamilyman · 25th July 2009, 12:04

ask gondor. he got it in 6500+ tax from Motorcraft!

20th July 2009, 11:09	#1
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	Leh Trip : Preparing a Carb car I am planning to take my Carb Esteem 97 to Delhi-Manali-Leh-Srinagar-Jammu-Delhi trip. I am sure most of the team bhp members are aware about the terrain and conditions over there. Considering the age of the car, I would like to take some advice on how to ensure that car performs to its optimum level at high altitudes, and to minimize the chances of stalling or getting stuck somewhere.
	() Thanks

20th July 2009, 11:26	#2
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	Learn how and when to advance/retard ignition timing. Might help at higher altitudes. Leave the fuel mixture as it is. At high altitudes, it will just run a bit richer which is good for the engine.
	() Thanks

20th July 2009, 11:30	#3
Sha BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Canberra Posts: 539 Thanked: 17 Times View My Garage	Contact Swastikviji he has good knowledge how to configure carb, recently he completed 8000 KM in Carb Gypsy.
	() Thanks

20th July 2009, 14:32	#5
simply_sunny001 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London & Rohtak Posts: 1,340 Thanked: 18 Times View My Garage	Carry a couple of air filters and like Nitrous mentioned you have to have the knowledge of advancing/retrarding the timing as Oxygen get low and Carb engines find it difficult to manage the climb. Get your tyres/suspension and get some protection for underbelly like skid plates done. Get everything checked, the esteem should be in a gr8 condition before you start the trip as i dont want to repeat what you did in Shimla/Kufri. Rest i think you have to drive/negotiate the potholes/snow/slush carefully and you would be good to go. cheers
	() Thanks

21st July 2009, 11:02	#9
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,512 Thanked: 300,665 Times View My Garage	Shashank, you might want to screen through this thread too.
	() Thanks

21st July 2009, 11:43	#10
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	Thanks GTO, have gone through that thread earlier. The Picture of Tavera stuck in mud makes you thing twice. But thats the fun part, the unpredictability of it all. here are two major factors in my mind, the Underbelly and Carburetor.
	() Thanks

21st July 2009, 15:01	#13
nitrous Senior - BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: UAE/Lon/Madras Posts: 6,965 Thanked: 325 Times View My Garage	In the process of fabricating a sump guard, make sure you don't lose your ground clearance.
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 11:45	#14
Shashank.A BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 484 Thanked: 10 Times View My Garage	I talked to couple of modifiers y'day was quoted figures of 10K +, for Sump Guard and fuel tank guard. However have also been told that it can be done by people making bodies of trucks and buses for much lesser price. Does anyone has nay experience with that ? I guess I need a body maker who has already done the job, because I have no idea of cars anatomy on the lower side. Secondly, Just tried using the Choke, as have never used it since I have this car, and once I pulled the choke, the engine dies out. It did not start when choke is pulled on. However once I relase the choke, in the next self it sputters back to life. My Mechanic said he has to open the carb and change the Diaphram (I did not get what he was trying to say, I am assuming this is what he said). And lastly, what is Dholki is in English, I know its the part ofthe exhaust pipe, but what is it called in english and what is exact function ?
	() Thanks

25th July 2009, 12:04	#15
phamilyman Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Gurgaon Posts: 5,968 Thanked: 4,642 Times	ask gondor. he got it in 6500+ tax from Motorcraft!
	() Thanks