Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Vintage Mercedes Forum

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 01-29-2004, 06:48 AM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
Zenith Rebuild

A friend just starts to recover the chassis of this 250 coupe w114. He is a specialist whit chassis but not so much whit engines. I’m considering giving him same help whit the mechanical parts but I know even less. My question is, are the carburettors a job to difficult for a person whit no experience? I researched the forum and read “the Zeniths are not that hard to rebuild if you take your time and make notes”.

Attached Thumbnails
Zenith Rebuild-3.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 01-29-2004, 06:49 AM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
Foto
Attached Thumbnails
Zenith Rebuild-1.jpg  
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 01-29-2004, 07:50 AM
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 5,318
Forget about those carbs ...

Don't even try to rebuild them. They appear to have rusted and corroded to the point where the various valves and orfices and pivot points and linkage parts are unusable. You can use them for parts, like screws.

These carbs are easy to find in rebuildable condition. Look for a pair that has run in at leas the last two years.

The Haynes manual has some good info on rebuilding. All you need are basic tools, compressed air, and a 4-liter can of carb cleaner. But the kits are now about $50 apiece, so you don't want to waste them on carbs that have no future.

All IMHO.
__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-29-2004, 08:28 AM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
Thank you for your advice. Can you tell me what Zenith model should I look for? Is it better to go for Weber. I read same posts strongly advising to change.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-29-2004, 08:40 AM
Super Moderator
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 5,318
The carbs are Zenith 35/40 INAT. I believe that this refers to a primary/secondary size of 35/40 mm, respectively. No one that I know has ever figured out what "INAT" means.

Weber is better, but I think you need adapters. Try www.jameng.com for more information. Sometimes Webers come up on e-Bay for a reasonable price.
__________________
Chuck Taylor
Falls Church VA
'66 200, '66 230SL, '96 SL500. Sold: '81 380SL, '86 300E, '72 250C, '95 C220, 3 '84 280SL's '90 420SEL, '72 280SE, '73 280C, '78 280SE, '70 280SL, '77 450SL, '85 380SL, '87 560SL, '85 380SL, '72 350SL, '96 S500 Coupe
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-29-2004, 09:19 AM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
We still don’t have e-bay in Portugal but I understand these are British, so they must also equip other European cars. Ill check in the junkyard for one in good conditions, Weber or Zenith.
What Weber model should I look for?
Is there some one in the forum that know what models were equip whit the Zenith 35/40 INAT, or viable Weber replacements?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-29-2004, 10:37 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK USA
Posts: 139
I know that the 250 models (coupes and sedans) had the INAT. Also, BMW's of the 2500, 2800 and 2.8 series also had these carbs and you may be able to find more of those - not sure.

A couple of things however with the BMW versions. A lot of them had water-heated automatic chokes rather than electrics so you would need to use your electric choke covers. Not a problem as the covers are a direct replacement and you already have the wiring. Also, the BMW intakes (some) were a different design so the would have long mounting studs in the carb base plate. You would have to remove them (should be able to get them out) and replace them with the shorter ones from yours or get new ones or possibly (depending on condition) use your base plates.

IMPORTANT - Save all of the jets and air-correctors from your original carbs as you will want to use those if you get non-mb 250 carbs.

Six years ago one of the local import parts people said it was possible to get new INATS (he didn't say where) for about $1,100.00 (US) EACH. Just for comparison, I installed the Webers with the kit for $550.00 (US) for both.

Good Luck.

Dan
__________________
Dan Taylor/ Tulsa, OK MBCA
'84 300D/'90 Jaguar XJ6/XJ40
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-29-2004, 12:05 PM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
DANTRCAV can you tell me what kind of Weber did you use? Is this available as a complete carburettor that Ill be able to find in the junkyard in other model or makes?


Did a bit more research about Zenith 35-40 INAT and found these models

MB 220SB
MB 230 – M180.949
MB 230S – M180.947
MB 250
MB 250S
MB 280

Opel comodore B - 25S and 25H engine
Opel Manta 2.0L S
Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 2.0L S

BMW E3 - M55/3.3L
BMW E3 – M06/2800
BMW E9 – M06/2800CS

The BMW 2500 and 2.5CS have Zenith 32/40 INAT

Last edited by VCR; 01-29-2004 at 12:13 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 01-29-2004, 02:06 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK USA
Posts: 139
VCR:

The Carb model is DGEV 32/36. I am not a Weber expert by any means. I do know that some Ford Pintos used Weber carbs that were made in Spain. Not sure what is available in your country though. I think that most of the Weber carbs like the DGEV 32/36 were added as "after market" items and not original issue (I could be wrong but I just don't remember seeing Weber
Carbs on stock cars - except the Pinto).

US Prices for these carbs seem to be in the $250-$295 per each range (US). If you are lucky and find two used ones or just get the new carbs by themselves, you will still need to either find (purchase) an installation kit or fabricate your own mounting plates, linkages, etc, PLUS since these carbs can be used on a variety of engines from 4-cyl to v-8, you will "probably" have to have them re-jetted. I purchased mine from a US supplier (NOT JAM Engineering) specifically (I thought) for my 250C and still had to have the re-jetted locally. In addition, if you go the used route you will need to eiither fabricate an air-cleaner adaptor or purchase K&N Filters. I paid $90.00 (US) for two K&N filters for my Webers as I did not really like the stock air cleaner. If you get the installation kit, the adaptor to use the stock air cleaner is included.

CHUCK:

I thought that "INAT" stood for "Is Nasty And Troublesome".

Dan
__________________
Dan Taylor/ Tulsa, OK MBCA
'84 300D/'90 Jaguar XJ6/XJ40
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-29-2004, 11:42 PM
wbain5280's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Northern Va.
Posts: 3,386
This may bother some people but I wonder if it would be possible to convert the car to use throttle body fuel injection. Perhaps he could find a 250CE engine with electronic FI and swap the engines or manifolds at least.

Just asking.
__________________
Regards

Warren

Currently 1965 220Sb, 2002 FORD Crown Vic Police Interceptor

Had 1965 220SEb, 1967 230S, 280SE 4.5, 300SE (W126), 420SEL

ENTER > = (HP RPN)

Not part of the in-crowd since 1952.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-30-2004, 05:06 AM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
Thank you all for the input. Spain is just 5m driving distance for me and there is a big junkyard near Sevilha, 45m to 1h driving, and they must have at least one Ford Pinto.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 01-30-2004, 08:05 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Tulsa, OK USA
Posts: 139
VCR:

Ooops. I think my reply referring to Spain was not too well stated.

The Weber carbs for the Pinto were made in Spain - not the Pinto. Not sure what (if any) significance there is to the Spanish Webers. Webers were originally made in Italy.

Sorry for any confusion.

Dan
__________________
Dan Taylor/ Tulsa, OK MBCA
'84 300D/'90 Jaguar XJ6/XJ40
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 01-30-2004, 10:08 AM
VCR VCR is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Portugal
Posts: 118
Ok, Ill try to track the company in Spain and Italy. No wonder I couldn’t find it in the UK
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 01-30-2004, 11:27 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Posts: 215
Took this from the UK Weber Distibutor site (www.webcon.co.uk)

Mercedes 230 and 280 Auto ch 1972-76 PNo2268062300 2x32/36 DGEV Replaces:2xZenith INAT 391.75 GB Pounds

Hope this helps
__________________
Cheers, Neil
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 01-31-2004, 03:52 AM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Qaliphornya
Posts: 6
Rebuild 'em

There's nothing wrong with those Zeniths. They may look dirty, but they will rebuild just fine. Clean them really thoroughly, follow the instructions in the book and make all the adjustments correctly (Having first made sure the engine is internally sound), and there should be no problems. Also, the car stays original that way.

Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:10 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2018 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page