No kidding! I was still in high school when you wrote that. Hard to think that I've been messing with Rx7s for close to 5 years already...

 

I found the info in that thread very useful when I made my first attempt at modding a Nikki in '04. Great info.

 

Sterling, if you don't mind my asking... where do you get that orange rubbery gasket paper that you use? I've looked around, but all I can find is the black paper kind, and the cork variety. I'm not very fond of the black papery stuff, and the cork distorts like crazy and smashes out really bad when tightened down...

 

Well Sterling, thanks to you and many of you guys on this forum, I'm freakin' hooked on rotary.

 

I've never had any problem telling folks how happy I am with my Sterling carb. The difference in performance is just insane, and they are so much simpler and "cleaner" looking than the stock carb with all the BS attached.

Good luck with going at it full time man. I have no doubt that the demand for these carbs will keep you plenty busy!

 

I too have a sterling carb, I have had others but a sterling takes it home for me.

I may have to contact you about getting mine rebuilt and powder coated, but as forum rules goes I will contact you directly blah blah blah

 

Thats the thread that got it all started for me too. I'm on my 7th. one now. (not all mine of corse) Its amazing the differance before and after. Of corse I do a full carb rebuild and clean with those mods. I can only imagine what a Sterling would do.
I think I spaek for quite a few on this forum when I say THANK YOU for all the great info you share with us rotorheads.

 

Fast-idle-only for the win!

Seriously, I don't know why the stock carb has a choke because my Sterling starts and runs a 2.5k RPM warm-up sequence like a stock carb, and all it has is the fast idle rod. Even when it's only 10C outside in the late fall before the car goes away I never have much trouble starting. A few shots of that super accelerator pump is all it takes.

For me, the extra cotter pin and washer when taking the top off the carb is well worth the benefit of not having to constantly feather the throttle until the engine is warm. Considering how much other stuff has been removed, taking the top off is still quite easy on the Sterling. About a thousand times easier than the stock one!

Jon

 

Figured I'd help contribute to Sterling PicFest 2k8:

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/got-my-sterling-back-autocross-pics-56k-run-hide-695161/

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/sent-carb-tuning-662000/

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/new-bling-things-586535/

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-generation-specific-1979-1985-18/project-update-if-anyones-interested-541098/



This pic is my favorite, from that last thread. It shines with the light of a thousand suns!

https://www.rx7club.com/attachment.p...8&d=1147916812

 

wow v. Your engine bay was almost as dirty as mine is. pretty soon we'll have twins, right down to the sterling.

 

What took you guys so long to decide to do this full-time! BTW your website looks great!

 

Now are those the 'SMW stock nikkis' for $280 or are those the 'SMW sterling nikkis' for $380?

Nice work.

Where abouts in NY are you?

 

I had apprenticed as a traditional silversmith for 9 years, making hollowware and vessels, etc, but there was only sporadic money in it. For the past several years I'd been training as a goldsmith and supplementing my income by landscaping, lawn mowing, stonework, and doing an occasional carb job.
Carl and were all Gung-ho about the carbs in the beginning, years ago. But even after staggering flow bench numbers were finally achieved through endless trials and venturi configurations, we kept hitting walls with finish problems and linkage configurations.
It just became obvious to both of us that we couldn't ever make any money doing "the occasional Sterling Carb". People would place an order and it would become more of a chore than a delight to complete it because in the end, neither of us would make any money on it. Carl and I tried splitting the work up in various ways and we ultimately decided that with the cost of shipping these things back and forth, it was just counter productive. Then he bought a new place and began work on his shop, which took over all his time. He's finally getting it all together, but he's not building the Sterlings any more. He does all the flow tests and helps with developing new stuff, and we've been talking about all kinds of ideas. He's got a few tricks of his own he wants to try out, too. He's got his own projects, but we still collaborate on a lot.
I finally got tired of being a starving artist, and decided to go for broke and put all my efforts into something I knew there was a demand for. My tools and skills as a jeweler are what makes it easy for me to give these carbs a nice finish.

...Now, if someone wants a nice gold bracelet, I'll be sure to oblige!
http://www.sterlingmetalworks.com/im...let_img001.jpg

 

The large photo is of an older model Sterling Nikki. They're a little cleaner looking now, with different mods, but the performance is the same. That carb is probably from 4 years ago.

I'm in Dutchess County.

 

what my sterling has done for me!!!!

I have a sterling 465 carb on a Semi-periferal 12A in a Mazda B2200 short bed. 5.29's rear, 1979 rx7 tranny, holley red pump, Dual MSD 6AL's, good flowing exhaust...
This is where it gets interesting

We transported a wooden crate in the bed with aprox 1800lbs of steel & aluminum from NY to Bridgeport CT about 60miles each way ..yes the rear end was sitting on the rubber bushings. No spring action whatsoever . brakes were glowing red.

Amazingly we got about 20-22 MPG using the sterling on our semi 12A..
Truck ran at aprox 3800RPM at 65mph..

I wonder if DOT would of said anything?

Sterling carbs are worth every penny.

 

I plan on getting one actually. I just got my rex, and I really need a fresh start on the carb.

 

Way to Go! Keep the ideas coming for these Carbs, they are so awesome!
I am running a street prepared class in the PHA and tearing them up, think I can do better still.
I must have gotten one during the transition and have had some issues. I got it Dyno'd at 105 RWHP up from 75 RWHP and think there is still more Hp according to Carl, but then he stopped responding to my emails.
I would like to discuss some issues I've had with you if you don't mind supporting one that Carl did for me? What is the best way to contact you?

 

Sterling said he likes the greasy oil covered carbs because they are very well preserved. I too have seen this effect.

I have a couple like this and a couple dusty crusty ones that appear corroded and maybe with a little water damage. I'll experiement with the dusty ones and send the well preserved ones to Sterling.

Just a note for anyone else with a few carbs sitting around contemplating sending one or two to Sterling; try to pick out the best of the best, and oil/greasy ones are usually better than the dusty dry ones.

 

but you should probably clean them yourself cuz he says he does minimal cleaning if its just a rebuild

 

Right.

I'd send these two to Sterling for the full Sterling carb mods. They both came off of running cars.



I'll keep these two for experiements. One was on a water damaged engine. The other was found in the back of a parts car.



No stock spring, but it does have the emergency return spring, so I will need to figure out the cool Sterling return spring mod.

 

i definetly want to get one of his carbs. I wonder how long approx his wait time is for one.

 

Is it more difficult to get a Sterling modded carb in a '79 ?

 

He won't mod '79 carbs. Try to find yourself an '81-'85 carb or buy one from a member. Once modded, an '81-'85 carb will work great on your '79 manifold since there are less restrictions than stock '81-'85 manifolds.

 

Whoever said that?! That's just plain crazy!
I can mod any Nikki you want.

 

I think you said that a few years ago. Well, it's good to know that you will mod the '79-'80 carbs too.