Weber history lesson?

[xb-60]

This is more general discussion, but it IS Weber specific...

Does anybody know when Weber IDA and DCO/E carburettors first became factory fitted? and to which cars?
(I know the company has been selling carbs since around 1923, and has been part of FIAT since the early '50s)
Are current IDAs interchangeable with the IDAs used on CSX2xxx series Cobras?
What cars were they used on pre-Cobra?
Cheers,
Glen

[Caprimaniac]

IDA's were factory fitted first, I'd guess, on Porsche's.
DCOE's a wilder guess: Alfa's.
DCNF's: Ferrari and Maserati.

All during the 60's... Or maybe early 70's. You'll find the hitory in some of the books written. Pasasni (if i remember the writers name correctly...) have some notes on where the carbs were first seen and so on. although, I cannot tell you what book gives the best historical view on the webers.
What I can say is that I once stumbles across a book "Das entvicklung und -
funktionprinzip (?) des Vergasser" or something like that by a German engineer.... 500 p. or so?


None of these carbs were common in the day. Not to be seen on any veichle on your street....

The IDA's have changed some during the time passed. The bolt pattern on the 2- barrels should be the same, whereas other things are changed. A swap has to include some re- jetting and other small changes.

[Rick Parker]

46 IDA's were on the Porsche Carrera 1600 GT 4 cam in 60-63. An incredible engine by itself. Worth North of $100,000 if you can find one.

DCOE's, I think were on Shelbys Aston Martin??

[xb-60]

Originally Posted by Rick Parker

46 IDA's were on the Porsche Carrera 1600 GT 4 cam in 60-63. An incredible engine by itself. Worth North of $100,000 if you can find one.

DCOE's, I think were on Shelbys Aston Martin??

Thanks Rick. It sounds like the fitment of IDAs to Cobras was an early fit in the IDA's history then. The typical Holley-type carb is, or can be, a little better at high revs than the IDA, so does anybody know why the Weber IDA was used instead? I'm assuming - and I don't know - that Holley-type four barrel carbs were available in the early '60s?

The Weber DCO or DCOE was used on D-Type Jags, I think on the originals in 1955 (C-Types had SUs). No doubt there have been refinements in the designs, but good to know that what was new 50 to 60 years ago on the DCO/E and IDF can still cut it now.
Cheers,
Glen

[Rick Parker]

Understandably there has been a lot of development with manifolding, 4 bbl carbs, camshafts AND exhaust headers. But iF i had to hazard a guess, I would say the IDA's were used because they definitely increase the Torque of the engine significantly, and with the number of turns (road racing), being able to squirt from one corner to the next quickly was a major advantage. Also remember that the 327 Corvette which was much heavier was its only rivalry for 2 or 3 years. Once the 289s were put into A production (with Webers) they were pushing their luck, since they had to compete with cars with larger engines albeit 4BBL Carbs.