Date:         Fri, 30 May 2003 18:51:09 -0700
Reply-To:     Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      New manifold and  carb report
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

My 91 Syncro Westy has had a SOLEX carb for the past 7
or so years after an engine box fire melted all of the
FI pieces.  The Solex has worked fine at times and not
so good at times.  Also I could not find any jets for
the Solex and rebuild kits were hard to come by. The
Solex is jetted for a 1600cc beetle.

I decided to buy a NEW Weber DFEV carb and I was very
fortunate to be able to by a real VW intake manifold
from a carb’ed European van.  I had to have an adapter
plate made to mate the two and I was ready to go.

I was fortunate that my PO mechanic was on a trip and
was able to stop by to help.  Everything went smoothly
and the van started right up and with a few
adjustments to the idling screws, it was idling
perfectly with-in a minute.

Of course the proof is in the driving.  It ran/runs
PERFECTLY.  I have never been so happy with the
driveability of the van.  I used to have to rev it out
for each shift, but now I can pull smoothly from 1800
rpms in 3rd or 4th gear.   I just returned from a 5
hour drive and my first tank of gas shows  20 mpg (11
L/100kms) at highway speeds of 65 mph (115 kph) at
about 3600 to 3800 rpms.  Not bad for syncro westy at
highway speeds.

Anyway, I just wanted to report on this.  I will now
start fiddling with the jets to see if I can get even
better performance and fuel economy out of the new
Weber carb.

A caveat for any Americans who might be tempted to put
a carb on:  Check with your pollution standards folks
first, as carbs may not be legal for your van in your
state.



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