One for the mechanics this: I've got a 1.6 Mk4 Escort, fitted with a twin-barrel Weber carb with automatic choke.  Only thing is I don't like the auto choke; I gather they're very maintenance-heavy and prone to causing problems unless they're perfectly tuned, which I'll admit I'm not savvy enough to do.  In theory, can I have this converted to a manual choke without having to change the carburettor?  Or if anyone knows a forum where this might get answered, let me know!

Yes is the answer .Due to the age of the car I'm not sure if the kit is still available but you could  at one time buy the complete conversion kit real easy to fit.  If I remember right it consisted of a cable and a bolt on replacement  lever asy  that replaces the old hot water thermostatic spring system and a metal pipe that connects the old rubber hot pipes together fairly simple really.. Another mod I did years ago to the twin barrel Webber was to remove the larger choke plate in the bigger barrel and cut the choke plate (the bit the two screws are in) support bar off in the middle so that there is nothing in the larger barrel at all you don't need the larger choke plate as you will only use the first barrel at cold as the larger barrel only opens at much higher revs. This way the large barrel is not restricted by the choke plate. Does it give better performance well in real terms  I dun know but in the day they said it would. The smaller side you leave alone. If it where me I would look for a kit (might be a general one) in the high street  small motor factor shops that sell general car stuff (not Halfords) and ask there.

On 21/02/2017 at 3:39 PM, Gizza11 said:

Yes is the answer .Due to the age of the car I'm not sure if the kit is still available but you could  at one time buy the complete conversion kit real easy to fit.  If I remember right it consisted of a cable and a bolt on replacement  lever asy  that replaces the old hot water thermostatic spring system and a metal pipe that connects the old rubber hot pipes together fairly simple really.. Another mod I did years ago to the twin barrel Webber was to remove the larger choke plate in the bigger barrel and cut the choke plate (the bit the two screws are in) support bar off in the middle so that there is nothing in the larger barrel at all you don't need the larger choke plate as you will only use the first barrel at cold as the larger barrel only opens at much higher revs. This way the large barrel is not restricted by the choke plate. Does it give better performance well in real terms  I dun know but in the day they said it would. The smaller side you leave alone. If it where me I would look for a kit (might be a general one) in the high street  small motor factor shops that sell general car stuff (not Halfords) and ask there.

Thanks for that.  Funnily enough mine only has a choke plate on one barrel anyway:

47 minutes ago, Rob85 said:

Thanks for that.  Funnily enough mine only has a choke plate on one barrel anyway:

Yes you have a later (newer ) carb (a pierburg carburetor I think) than the one I was going on about mine was more square shaped than round A Webber I think if (I remember right). Anyway that's a mod already done for you .Have you found the Auto choke replacement kit yet. It is worth doing if your auto choke is playing up as it fix's that problem.

No luck so far!  I've tried two London garages who have taken ages to get back to me saying they don't know where to find the kit, and I'm now searching for it myself...