VINTAGE WATER INJECTION - NEED INFO

Joined
Aug 16, 2023
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down south in Gemany
Just got this vintage Vanderpoel/EXOLA water injection. I plan to use it on my 41 Chevy. Now I'm looking for a manual or instructions. Any additional information would be very appreciated. Also IMHO it looks very similar to a Octa-Gane Injection - are those somehow related?

Thanks guys, Frank
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I don't know anything about them, but that's a neat piece of equipment.

I the 1970's, while in high school, I built a 6cyl engine with 11.7 to 1 compression by using a cylinder head with a much smaller chamber and milling it 0.060".

It detonated like crazy, and I used water injection to calm it down. Really not "water injection" but just a set of secondary water venturi's inserted into the throat of the 2bbl Weber carb I cobbled on to the thing. I used fish tank valves to regulate the flow, and a mix of methanol and water.

It was easy to tell when the water made it into the engine, as it became smooth and quiet.
 
They used to be common after the first gas crisis in the 70s: Mk IV Vapor Injector.
But I found this @ Google Patents:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US2458256A/en

Perhaps the blue prints will help with your mounting and hook up.

For a "Water" Carburetor.

https://www.weirduniverse.net/blog/comments/octa-gane_water_injection_carburetor

I have an Ampco vaporizer on my 63 Valiant. [www.ampcolubes.com] that uses Marvel Mystery Oil. Marvel had it's own device.

Perhaps that might be an easier route. Instructions were in the box, NOS from the 50s. Check out their gallery for mounting and other information that might be useful for your installation.

I bought an injector plate for the 1bbl carburetor application. It will make a neater installation when time comes for the carburetor to be rebuilt.

Don't know if it works, but with the mystery formula seasonal gas these days....And it just looks fantastic.

I love the pictures, what a great find regardless if you use it or not.
 
What is it, @Fish Fry, about your '41 Chevy that makes you want to use this? What's your engine's compression ratio? Have you increased that? Are you getting detonation (pinging)?
 
What is it, @Fish Fry, about your '41 Chevy that makes you want to use this? What's your engine's compression ratio? Have you increased that? Are you getting detonation (pinging)?
1. Novelty factor and fun with technical gadgets.
2. As the original ad states - keep the engine clean of carbon, saving some gas by advancing the dizzy etc.
3. put some solvable lube in there to double as a top oiler.

To answer your question - yes it's a pretty hopped up 261 with raised compression (pinging is not really an issue though, since I keep the ignition curve reasonable).

Im not looking for some significant improvement (not gonna happen anyway) - I just love to play with quirky old tech.
That's why the 41 Chev also has an Fish carb.
 
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I'm all for playing around. You'll save some gas because this lets you run leaner without detonation, and you can run lower octane fuel.
 
I mean, I remember these. You don’t run them until the engine is warmed up, and it was advisable to shut it off a minute before shutting down. Never had one, but I remember people saying it kept the carbon buildup way down.
 
You know, this and a giant tank of PEA cleaner might be just the thing for those of us with GDI vehicles. Always injecting a small steady stream of cleaner to really get to the backs of those intake valves!

😁
 
You know, this and a giant tank of PEA cleaner might be just the thing for those of us with GDI vehicles. Always injecting a small steady stream of cleaner to really get to the backs of those intake valves!

😁
The water will keep everything clean.
 
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