Carb cylinder head and manifold cooling/heating

[2655steve]

Looking for some advice off anyone who knows about the cylinder head/manifold setup on a 1.8 EX engine.

Basically the heads off the car, I'm getting valve guides,seals etc done due to the old girl getting a little smokey. It's the first time I've done a head on one of these and could do with a little clarification of what's what. There's a water way between the head and intake manifold which seems to have been blocked off completely by silicone by someone in the past?? I have the weber carb conversion fitted don't know if that's anything to do with it. Any help appreciated. Also do you guys with the weber conversion run the hedgehog heater or disconnect it. If anyone has the weber fitting instructions handy I would love a copy if poss. Thanks

[bengould]

You have PM.

Ben

[2655steve]

Thanks Ben that's a massive help cheers . Think I will reconnect the water through the manifold then, will check there's no leaks in the bugger first. And I'm ok with leaving the manifold heater wired in happy days. I know people often disconnect and blank off the heater. Is this a better option with the weber, has anyone given it a go?

[bengould]

No worries.

On my last car i took the hedgehog out and ground the spines off it. That way you keep some of the heat from it but also gain a bit of airflow. Not sure how much difference it made but every little helps.

Ben.

[2655steve]

It certainly does. Thanks for all the help mate

[james butler]

the hedgehog helps heat up the air/fuel mixture before going into the engine when started from cold.
ive tried it connected and disconnected over the years and to be honest the only time u notice is on a really cold day in winter.
definately would use the water connection between mani and head. the reason it probly looks full of silicon is it might have leaked in the past and someone has bodged silicon in it to seal it.
however that part of the engine gets really hot from the exhaust and thats the main reason the water feed is there.
cheap rubber gaskets between manifold an carburetta are prone to splitting from heat soak from the manifold.
i changed mine to an aluminium one so it wouldnt split but now its a bugger to start from hot as the carb gets too warm

[2655steve]

Mine's a pig to start from hot too mate got the same aluminium gasket between carb and mani. Suppose no water cooling the manifold didn't help either . I see your point with the aluminium conducting more heat and heating the carb up, might try a rubber gasket if that make hot starts easier,don't mind changing it now and then if it saves me struggling to start from hot. Hate sitting in tesco car park cranking away like a nut trying to start the thing after she's warmed up!! Thanks for the above info James.