Still haven't changed to carbs from K but had an interesting point raised by a friend on the lines of remove the K and fit a downdraft carb to the K manifold.
Anyone out there have any thoughts comments?

Ok I'll bite - WHY? K-Jet is superior to carbs in every measurable way. Why not just fix the K-Jet system?

Converting to carbs is like taking a Porsche 911 and installing a VW 1100 engine. You can do it, but WHY?

__________________
Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

I agree. The carb would most likely be too tall on top of the engine in most cases too.

K-jet is such a simple system. Carbs seem so much more complex to me.


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__________________
Past mb: '73 450sl, '81 280slc stick, '71 250, '72 250c, '70 250c, '79 280sl, '73 450sl, parted: '75 240d stick, '69 280s, '73 450slc, '72 450sl,

andy:

If you feel that you must abandon the Kjet, skip that idea that you had about putting a carb on the Kjet plenum; get an original M110 carb manifold.
See pic.

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I knew I would get a bit of a beating on this one but I don't mind.
I'll try to explain. I live in Thailand and the only knowledge of systems like Kjet is in the hands of very few people. 99.9% of car owners are only interested in new cars and the vintage market is still in it's infancy. Very, very few people are interested in anything older than brand new. When you see the price of spares and parts here you would have to sit down in a darkened room for a while. Importing spare parts, even if 2nd hand can attract 30 to 50% on the price of a new part. Last week in Bangkok a 70's left hand drive 280 SLC sold for 2,000,000 baht. You work it out in dollars.
Anything that makes it easier and cheaper to own a classic here, as a third car, is very welcome. That's why I'm going for carbs. I can adjust them myself without letting others who know nothing about Kjet screw up my car.

Further reply to carry on.
Sometimes out 'here' you can get some really good work done but you need to know the right people and workshops. I gave a hand drawing of a manifold to a fabrication shop and was quoted 150 dollars plus 50 for chroming.
The centre section of the rear bumper, mine was shot, I had copied in 2mm steel and chromed for about 100 dollars.
I'll try to post photos.

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If you're going to do that, then you may as well put 3 twin 45 DCOE carbs and have a party.
What are you going to do about fuel pump, fuel regulator and pedal linkages?

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With best regards

Al

K jet with worn injectors, failing warm up regulator and a bad fuel distributor diaphragm is miserable. Plus $$ to fix no matter what brand of car it is used on.

If you go with the suggested manifold, I'd go straight for a General Motors Quadrajet carburetor or the available new Edlebrock copy. The Solex looks like it was copied or licensed from GM. I don't know if it is a direct bolt on however.

Alabbasi,
The pump and an inline regulator not a big problem here and not expensive.
97SL320.
I would like to do that😆. The relationship between hen's teeth and Webers 'not' made in China might cover that.
A couple of 50mm SU's is most likely the way I will go. Easy to adjust and balance is the main reason.

Using a colortune plug and a vacuum guage once a month on SU's makes things very easy with SU's.

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An old American saying: Necessity is the mother of invention.

This is a novel approach. To me the K-Jet is no big deal. But if I could not get the parts it would suddenly become the only deal.

Let us know how this works out. A lot of folks will be following this.

It will be slow but sure. It's taken over a year for an almost floor up rebuild on the car, that includes the new floor, inner sills, chassis front leg, inner wings, firewall etc. All the parts copied by local workshops etc. So far about 8,000 dollars maybe another 1,000 to go including the new windscreen.
When done I will try to do a full post of photos and work.

I think some of the detractors are used to living in areas with ease of getting parts, and also elevation changes, to where carbs are ineffective and need re-tuning when going on a 200-300 mile round-trip (sometimes less) because of the 1500+ feet (or more) of elevation changes. I can go on Pelican, eBay, Amazon etc. get stuff shipped ~2700 miles here from LA for $15 (or less), and get it in 5 days (or less). That's probably not the case for you.

That being said, it'd be probably under $200 US for a US-based business or individual to ship you the entire K-Jet setup you would need... have you looked into having the whole shebang sent over?

__________________
Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2018 Durango R/T

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

Tomguy.
That would be a solution. One of the other problems in searching US based sellers is the model type. They all lead to 380/450 models . Obviously not many 280SLC's were imported to America.
This leads to the problem of trying to find part No's etc. I believe only 9000 280 models were built so getting parts can be a problem.
If I can find them another problem comes up with the, in many cases, won't ship to Thailand statement.
If anyone out there (US) can post a fuel distributor and 6 injectors reconditioned etc I will do a cash transfer to them, they can post after receipt of the cash.
I have never used paypal etc, over here I don't even have a credit card, it's just two risky.
I may have to throw myself on the mercy of customs here and bite the bullet on import dues for K system or Carbs when they arrive.
'Global shipping' ? is the best I've heard, they deliver to home address. Others that are generally used may hold in BKK for a few and on collection charge a storage fee.

If you want a quiet restful retirement don't try to rebuild a classic car here.

Regards

Andy.

I don't know this for sure but I am betting the same engine and FI set-up could be found in the US version of the 280e. This was a 123 bodied car. They are not common but can be found.

Shipping cost is the big thing. Up to four pounds is not expensive but if you go over that the cost rise quickly. I mail stuff to your country now and then and have never had anything go missing. But then I am mailing paperwork and the custom's charge is close to zero if not zero.

You would need a list of what parts are necessary before anyone could see if they could help.