Sterling Carb Gains Question
 

Does anyone now the approximate percentage gain from a stock to Sterling carb?

It's almost tax return time and I want one :D .

Thanks a lot, oh and best guesses are good too. Just want to know how much I will get for the money.

Thanks!

gain of what? hp? cfm?

guess: +20% cfm and +21 hp

I think I saw the 450 cfm figure somewhere. Compared to around 300 cfm stock, that's about 50% gain.

Dennis and Carl to confirm.

Stock Nikkiflows 313 cfm, ours flows 452.
I suggest that with a freeflowing exhaust, a 12A will see it's maximum horsepower potential of about 155 HP with our carburetor.

have you guys started on manifolds by chance?

Carl has been working on them but they are not in production yet.

just say its 455. no need to be humble. sounds better too.

I really was guessing. I'm very impressed with the real numbers ! about 50% hp and cfm. Damn !!!

Keep in mind that an exhaust system alone on a stock intake still gives a good chunk of hp. What Sterling is saying is that his modified Nikki removes the rest of the bottleneck allowing the 12a to "see its maximum horsepower potential". Just slapping a Sterling carb on doesn't magically yield 55hp, but matched with a good exhaust it will.

As will a carefully chosen and perfectly tuned Weber, Holley, Dellorto or Mikuni.

But the Sterling carb is nicely matched to our cars (considering it's made out of a stock Nikki, you would hope so ;)). For the match, and for the money, I'd say it's the best damn carb you can get :p:

And of course, the fact that I own one doesn't bias me ;) (insert sarcasm here)

Jon

Oh, and I forgot to add:

While the hp numbers may be relative to the other bottlenecks on your car, the cfm numbers aren't. That's because they were tested on the flowbench. Max cfm seems to me to be a good comparison, but even there, too much cfm isn't always better either. It's the Art/Science of carburetors is beyond me, but it's a delicate dance between raw flow, and flow characteristics.

Jon