I own a 1969 Jaguar XKE roadster that has been modified with a series I bonnet and triple Weber carbs. I do not need the extra horsepower nor the expense of higher gasoline bills because of the Weber carbs. I would like to restore the car with its original type carburators. I am not sure if it was fitted with double/triple Su's ? How do I go about finding out which carbs were "stock" from the factory? If I did decide to change the carbs and manifold back to the original type, WHERE would be the best place to sell the triple Weber's and the manifold? I'm sure that the Weber's would be highly valued on the used market. Where would you recommend purchasing the correct Su's and manifold? Would any other items be need for the conversion?
I know that there are some people out there who think that I am crazy to get rid of the Weber's, but am not a "speed-freek". I would appreciate your comments and suggestions.

Thanks,
Peter

Submitted by mfrank@westnet.com on Fri, 09/03/2004 - 11:39

Careful here. The Series 2 cars had three manifold configurations. The early cars had a rear crossover. The late cars had a center crossover. But the '69 had no crossover at all. As a result, you don't need to change the exhaust manifold. But the intake manifold will require the proper blanking plate(see photo).

In addition to the stromberg carbs and intake manifold, you will an assortment of small parts...linkage, choke cable, bellcranks. If you are equipped with a vacuum advance distributor, you will have to go to a non-vacuum advance distributor. You will also need the correct air cleaner, which is the round cannister type like the older cars, but with a double airhorn.

Submitted by mryan@EHGfinan… on Thu, 09/02/2004 - 11:35

Peter, If your car was a US destination car then it had the dual Stromberg set up. In'69, UK cars and cars destined for Canada still had the Triple SU set up. I too have a spare dual Stromberg set up, manifold, and cross over that I would interested in working out some sort of deal for another triple carb set up. You also might need a different rear exhaust maniflod that the cross over manifold would tie into. Check your rear exhaust manifold to see if there is evidence of a rectangle opening that may have been plugged. If it is easy to unplug you can use it, otherwise I think I have an extra one from a '69. I am in the process of converting my '69 to triple SUs. My Strombergs should be rebuilt but you my find that is a good idea anytime you do a carburator change form another car. Good luck

Mike

Webber conversion manifolds. Needed intake manifolds for conversion of '71 or '72 V12 XKE to Webber

Submitted by guystarbrd@aol.com on Thu, 09/02/2004 - 01:14

\'68 E-type Roadster

I have seen both the dual Stromberg carbs and manifold go for as little as 100 dollars and I have seen the tripple SU carbs and Manifolds go for as much as 1500 dollars on E-bay. I am currently trying to convert my 68 e-type to the triple set up and would be interested in a trade. My dual carb set up is working well on my e-type as we speak and your three carb set up is working on your 69 so condition is good on both. My dual manifold is polished to show shape but not the carbs. You need a crossover pipe on the dual Strombergs (original on a '69) and this involves a special piece which crosses from the exhaust manifold to the intake manifold which is a smog item on the '69 (warms the intake manifold and helps the engine run more effeciently). I have all these parts and will be glad to send you some pictures if you like. My '68 is a 1 1/2 and these cars came both ways depending on what month it was built in 1968 and what state it was sold in. Mine has the later two carb set up. As for milage I get 12 miles a gallon with the dual carbs and that ain't great.

Much as I would like to trade you for the original equipment I don't recommend it if you have a successful conversion you loose major horsepower and gain little mileage advantage ( and the crossover pipe makes the e-type run a little hotter.

Any thing else I can tell you let me know.

Guy Sandoval
'68 Roadster

Submitted by bblackwell@jcna.com on Wed, 09/01/2004 - 22:48

You could advertize them here to trade with someone, plus some extra cash for you. I suspect you had dual Stromberg-Zenith carburetors by 1969. Mine is a 1970 built car, and has that set-up. Depending on relative condition of both sets of hardware, you ought to get $500-1500 plus the trade.
If that does not work, advertise on www.jag-lovers.org. The email response will probably overload your in box.

Brian Blackwell
San Antonio JC