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What's this schnibbin?
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Author:  NewSlanter [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:24 pm ]
Post subject:  What's this schnibbin?
I pulled the Carter BBD out of a 1980 Aspen this morning and found this under the carb:

Image

Image


Before I pulled the carb, I thought it was just a half inch spacer, but once I got the carb off, I found this gizmo. I'm guessing it's some kind of "100 MPG" snake oil product :roll: , but I don't know for sure. Maybe one of you gents may have come across one of these before.

Thanks,

Nat
Author:  Greg Ondayko [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What's this schnibbin?
Quote:
I found this gizmo. I'm guessing it's some kind of "100 MPG" snake oil product

That's my guess.. If it was meant to be there it will probably have a part # or a Pentastar somewhere on it.


Greg
Author:  Rust collector [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:49 pm ]
Post subject: 
Where did that wire go?

Might be a carb heater, or it might be a wire fitted on a crap spacer/restrictor, to make it look cool and scientific :roll:
Author:  Joshie225 [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 3:55 pm ]
Post subject: 
2.8: V6 Chevys with carbs had grid heaters under the carbs. This looks like something similar, but aftermarket. What's the resistance between that wire and the case? I'm wondering the wattage of the heater if it is a heater.
Author:  Rug_Trucker [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 4:23 pm ]
Post subject: 
That is a gizmatchie. The wire goes to the left handed smoke shifter. :lol:
Author:  Ron Parker [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
That looks like a green team frognostacator to me the wire goes to the bat out of hell fuel deal i think. Thanks Ron Parker :D











It Aint Over Until I Win
Author:  Eric W [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:21 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for clearing that up Rug....I was going to call it a domahicky for the whatchamacallit. :wink:
Author:  NewSlanter [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:26 pm ]
Post subject: 
The wire ran to the frontmost, driver's side carb mounting stud. I'm 110% sure it isn't a heater. It's a solid, ½" thick block of metal. I'm guessing the wire is meant to ground the thing as it was sandwiched between two (non-conductive) gaskets. As to why it would need grounding.......... :?:
I have a feeling the guy selling it figured he could get an extra $50 for it if he added this "ground wire" to the plate.
Author:  NewSlanter [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:30 pm ]
Post subject: 
On second thought, if I remember my high-school physics classes (it's been a long time, so the fog is thick), This may well be a second generation flux capacitor. If I install it, my Dart should go from 0 to 1970 in 4 seconds.
Author:  66dart270 [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 6:45 pm ]
Post subject: 
I remember reading an article a while back on how it was possible to increase your mileage using a mesh screen under the carb. If I'm not mistaken, the idea was to further atomize the fuel mixture by making it pass through the screen which was supposed to give you an enhanced burn. I also remember the holes in the screen being more like the size of your old metal screens on windows & doors. These holes look way bigger.
Never heard anything more about it, but this gizmo seems awful close!
Author:  stonethk [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:02 pm ]
Post subject: 
Did you try hooking it up to 12 VDC yet?
Author:  NewSlanter [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:40 pm ]
Post subject: 
Quote:
I'm 110% sure it isn't a heater.
Ok, on closer inspection it may well be a heater. I cleaned up the edges of the thing and there appears to be a ⅜" hole on the opposite side from the wire with a broken off bit of wire in the centre. I can't see how this thing wouldn't create a massive restriction in the intake. By my calculations, the throttle bores on the BBD add up to 4.5 in². The holes in the plate are ⅛" and there are 109 of them which adds up to 1.337 in² !!! That's less than a third of the air flow! Come to think of it, that's even worse than a 2 bbl carb on a 2-1 bbl adapter.
I guess I just don't get it.
Author:  Reed [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
I'll buy it from you. I collect snake oil products. Seriously, if you are willing to sell it, send me a PM. I'm truly interested.
Author:  THOR [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:31 pm ]
Post subject: 
It very well could be for something like emissions. According to my studies, back in the day when they were starting to get all built up for feedbag carbs they stuck those heaters under the carbs to warm the A/F mix as it went through to the engine. This in turn, heated the engine faster. According to the last diagram I looked at, they were designed to "shut off" at a certain operating temperature, so that you wouldn't have a super hot mixture going into the engine once it was warm.

That very well may not be a factory part, however, I have seen hundreds of designs for those things, and even w/o a part number on it, it would not surpirse me if it was a factory part, made by a different manufacturer and then slapped on the car. That sort of thing was common place by the 1970s, and definitely by the 1980s.

If you get emissions testing in your area, they "may" look for that part, however, I seriously doubt it.

Back then, they didn't care much for economy or power compared to meeting emissions and driveability standards. It's not something that can really be met in the middle with terrific results. You either have great power at expense of emissions and economy, no power for sake of fuel economy and emissions, or emissions at the expense of power and economy.

If it doesn't work anyways, may as well toss it.

~THOR~
Author:  Scott H [ Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:15 pm ]
Post subject: 
I doubt it is a factory part or even a factory intake for that matter. everything I have read says that 1979 was the last year for the 2bbl on the Volare / Aspen. the 1980's were all 1bbl's

Scott
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