I just recently got my first rx7 and it has a Sterling Nikki on it. Ive done a lot of research and read every bit of sterlings website. It seems like everyone wants a sterling and those that have them enjoy them. So really Im just trying to understand why exactly it is so special and how it compares to other such as a weber sidedraft(give that example because I always liked the way they looked on my friends datsun). Please excuse my ignorance im just trying to learn and understand everything. This is also the first car with a carb ive had.(im 22)

I would assume that which carb is better for you depends on what your plans are. Right now I have a full RB sp exhaust set up and thats about it but a street port is in the near future. Also what kind of whp should I expect given the exhaust and Sterling? I have a dyno sheet that came with the car that says its at 92whp/90tq but its seems that it should be higher. Maybe I need to rejet it? Anyways thanks for the help!

 

nope they suck. take it off and send it to me. i'll dispose of it for you. After doing research I think they're good for ported engines and a good upgrade to doing light dragging.


if you do ever decide to get a side draft....let me know and i may buy the nikki off of you.


for the Dyno thing, i've been noticing that carbed cars never seem to give the same dyno results twice. I'm sure someone will correct me on that, though. maybe it's just running really lean or gummed up a bit?

 

I've ran a Sterling carb for several years now. Never even considered changing to anything else. Excellent throttle response, and lots of power.

If you are curious about what a Sterling carb is worth, just throw it up on Ebay and stand back.




.

 

A Sterling massaged nikki has been modified to flow close to 400 cfm so it can easily
max out a stock ported 12A and is sufficient for even a streetport. The RB prepped
Holley flows 465 and a Weber is at around 500 depending on the chokes installed.
The nikki will be smoother than a holley or a weber throughout the rev range and
for a stock port the Sterling nikki will perform on a par with the other carbs. A 48
DCOE or IDA or Dellorto can be easily tuned to run the largest street or bridge port
you might develop.

Your dyno numbers seem down, I would redyno it at some time if your curious. With
the mods you have you should be up around 120 or 130 whp. Of course you may
need to set your timing better or your fuel pump may need to be upgraded. Also
your ignition needs to be spot on to get to those levels with a stock port.

With the mods in my sig I'm sitting at about 134 whp, you should be able to get
close to that as well.

 

there are a number of things that can lower HP, and there are also a number of things that influence the dyno readings, and some models of dyno just give a different reading....

my stock 12A dyno experience is all on the Pro7 cars, in the 90's on a mustang dyno. a Pro7 had a stock 12A, stock 81-85 intake, stock ignition, and timing, stock exhaust manifold, 2.5" exhaust. the carb could be modded, this is pretty much where paul yaw made his name, although rotary engineering offered a carb like his, and the IMSA people were doing hot rodded nikki's in the 70's.

an average Pro7 would do about 112rwhp, a top shelf was about 116rwhp. putting an Rb header on that adds 10hp.

HP on those (or any car really) takes attention to the basics. the 116hp cars had fresh engines, IE new rotor housings, new seals. the cap/rotor/wires/plugs need to be good. they also wired the ignition power right to the alternator, i guess 13.6volts is better than 12. fuel pump and filters need to be adequate too.

 

Yeah ive been wanting to go dyno it again. The guy I got it from didnt drive it much so it could be gummed up.Since ive had it ive been running either MMO or premix alternating every tank to try to clean it out and it feels and revs much better then when I got the car.

Also should the jets be changed since it has a better flowing exhaust on it now?