Marvel-Schebel

NOOB here.  Found this forum, and noted a lot of neat threads.  Finally started work on getting my '52 3A back on the road after +25 years sitting un-run (but stored indoors).  Intend to trailer it behind the RV, and do some exploring out west - including over Wolf Creek and Molas passes, and a run up Pike's Peak.  Regardless - higher altitudes, and we live at roughly 800' MSL.  Have a few hundred hours in light aircraft - you know, with a "mixture" control, i.e., lean it out to 50 degrees rich of peak EGT.  I know that Carter WO is just a "basic" controlled-leak, and I'd expect the mixture would be so rich at some elevation that the engine would be pretty much gutless (as well as washing the cylinder walls) so...  I wondered if anyone ever tried using a Marvel-Schebler updraft (or other similar) carb adapted in place of the WO?  I keep thinking that a manual control of the main-jet would be preferable, in that I could lean it out by "feel" and by coolant-temp monitoring...if it's too lean, you can feel it start to miss (don't know if it would over-temp, being water-cooled).  If no one has tried one - and I'm able to cobble one on to the manifold, I'll do another post on it.

Thanks, Oldtime!  Good point about the F-head / hood.  My approach would have been something along the lines of a U-shaped heavy-wall tubing, with the carb placed forward of the current location, and somewhat outboard - between the fender and the exhaust manifold.  Figure that I'd need throttle cable vs. hard linkage.  I'll keep cogitatin' on it - have plenty of time while waiting on a fellow in NW Arkansas  to go through the engine, and while I re-do brakes and electric, and maybe think about a re-paint (with Line-X inside the tub).

Ya' know, Bruce, I hear that around my house quite a bit - "you're overthinking..."  LOL  Now you have me thinking about a "turbo-normalizer."  That'd be a set-and-forget re. the metering rod - sea-level pressure all the way to Pike's Peak!  Imagine - a full "60hp" all the way to 14,010'!

The first year I was on the Fall Color Tour, Mike and Bruce made some adjustments to my timing and tweeked the carburetor so that Ol' Red would run at altitude. The 850 foot above sea level adjustment that Ol' Red had was just not cutting it. With the adjustments they made, Ol' Red has performed very well up to 12,000 feet. I didn't change anything when I went back to Kansas and have not noticed any problems. Each year I went back I got the same great performance. Whatever they did with the timing and carb has worked well year round. The timing was adjusted using a vacuum gauge.

Edited by SE Kansas 46 CJ-2A - 23 Mar. 2022 at 2:13pm

SE Kansas,

Wow, Thanks!  Wife and I watched it all - and then found a bunch of other ones on-line.  Looks like a LOT of fun, in spite of the other vids of the roll-overs.  Had some "Jerry Clower"-like exclamations from the wife, who admitted that she would NOT be going with me on this junket.  I have to admit there was one place - about two minutes in - that gave me pause...the part where the fellow had 3 - or maybe only 2 wheels on the ground, going uphill on the rocks.  Think I'd like to have a winch for that part... 

Thanks, Stan.  Your explanation about the "main trail goes around to the left" will keep me in my comfort zone (in all things), i.e., "I might die havin' fun, but I ain't gonna' die stupid."  Plus, dad made it plain, before I started driving, that 4WD was for "getting out," not getting in.  Really looking forward to crossing Black Bear off my list.