Date: Sat, 29 Mar 2003 17:18:25 -0500
Reply-To: David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
Subject: Re: About the Solex's VS Weber
In-Reply-To: <20030329215615.63332.qmail@web13504.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Malcolm Stebbins wrote:
>Having more money than brains, I have just ordered a
>single downdraft Weber DFEV 32-36 progressive (from
>the Canadian branch of CIP1) and my mechanic will be
>trying to fit that to my van in a few weeks after
>which I will be driving from Nova Scotia to Michigan.
>I'll post a subjective review in May or June. Malcolm
>
>
I had one of these on my '75 bus (with 1977 Type IV 2.0L engine) after I
got fed up with constant problems with the FI system. I forget who made
the conversion kit I used. It ran great, started easily, and got 17
mpg, about the same as the FI had gotten before it failed for the last
time. Installation is easy but you can expect to tinker with the
jetting a little. I found the idle jet that had been put in it from the
factory was too small and caused the van to hesitate coming off idle.
(It came with a larger jet in the package, which I installed to correct
this.) It also seemed to run lean at high RPMs, which I probably could
have fixed with a smaller air correction jet in the secondary barrel if
I hadn't sold the van. This was all seat of the pants, though, I never
put a tester on it. During highway cruising at 60 mph the secondary was
just barely cracked open, so changing the jetting for it wouldn't have
affected my fuel economy much.
The major problem I could see with the kit I had was the lack of
manifold heat. Even on an 80 degree summer day you could see
condensation forming on the outside of the manifold pipes. I didn't
drive the van in winter but I think some kind of intake or manifold heat
would have been necessary to prevent bogging and stalling due to
manifold icing.
Another problem was the air filter that came with the kit. It was small
and didn't do a very good job filtering dust or muffling the intake
noise, which was substantial. Pintos used this carb, as well as a few
other cars, so it might be possible to find a better air cleaner that
would fit.
Oh, and watch out when you're tinkering with the linkage. If you get
the nut on the throttle shaft too tight, it'll work just fine until the
first time you open the secondary barrel, then the throttle will stick
half open. Been there, done that, scared the heck out of me...
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