Keith,
Rootes produced 2 models of Series 3 Alpine, the sports tourer (ST) and the GT.
The ST came with a convertible top and a removable hardtop; the GT only had the
removable hardtop (and more space in the back "seat"). In Britain (for sure)
and the USA (I'm pretty sure) the motors were different. The ST had low
restriction air cleaners and the extractor type exhaust; the GT had restrictive
air filter and non-extractor exhaust. The ST had 8 bhp (gross) more power.
There were other differences as well, the GT had a wooden dash, the ST a
'bakelite' type. The idea with the GT was to produce a quieter car for long
distance touring - power sacrificed for comfort.
I guess what I was pointing out was that in Australia, GTs appear to have been
delivered with the same motor as the ST (i.e. a different specification to other
countries). What makes it more complex is that part way through the Series 3
run, Rootes changed from twin Zenith carbies to the Solex twin choke, for both
ST and GT models.
Cheers mate
Vic
Alkon wrote:
> Hi Vic
>
> It varies between different cars but the effect of fitting an extractor or
> less restrictive exhaust system is always to lean down the mixture. Danger
> from this is burned exhaust valves. The engine I have seen this effect on in
> a most marked fashion was the in line Ford Zephyr. The "hockey stick "
> drainpipe they use for an exhaust manifold was the worst design possible.
> Better scavenging of the burned gases from the combustion chamber allows
> more fresh charge in and hence more power. In the case of the Zephyr nearly
> 50% increase. :-)) However if the carb is tuned to live with a large amount
> of residual gases from the previous stroke this will have the effect of
> creating a lean mixture making the engine run hotter and burning any hot
> bits especially exhaust valves. The solution is easy just rejet the carb or
> replace with a pair of SUs or CD strombergs.
> Alterations to the air filter usually don't have such an effect on mixture
> strength, although excessive restrictions in the filter (clogged up:-)) will
> give a rich mixture and reduce performance.
> I always thought the large "oil bath" filters were bulky, ugly and messy but
> allowed good air flow with efficient filtering out of fine dust. So while
> they don't look sporty they actually do a good job.Especially in our dry
> dusty climate :-))
>
> Rain, precipitation, the fall of moisture from the sky.
> I am sure I have seen some in the last few days.
> Had my baby out in it for a play.
> Had to dry it all off carefully when I got home.
> Do need to improve the wiper arm tension somehow as they don't clear the
> screen very well.
> I do drive it in the rain, then Californians have a hardtop so the rain
> stays mostly outside.
>
> Keith
> 55 Californian
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "hughes" <hughes@scides.canberra.edu.au>
> To: <alpines@autox.team.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 05, 2003 10:06 AM
> Subject: Australian S3 GT Spec
>
> > I always though, from all the literature, that the twin carb (ie the
> > pre-Solex twin choke) version of the Series 3 GT was delivered with the
> > restrictive 'canister' air filter and the non-extractor (header) exhaust
> > system, in the interests of reducing noise.
> >
> > Well yesterday I found an old Australian road test of the S3GT, and that
> > car was fitted with the gravel strainer air filters and extractor
> > exhaust. They even made the point (in the text) that the specification
> > was different to overseas GTs. I wonder if all pre-solex Australian
> > S3GTs were delivered in this spec?
> >
> > Vic
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