Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 19:01:13 -0700
Reply-To: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Malcolm Stebbins <mwstebbins@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Carb conversions?
In-Reply-To: <20060817003137.3389.qmail@web37403.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
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My experience is interperced below (Weber DFAV carb on a 91 syncro Westy):
> Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET> wrote:
> I have had experience with many carb set ups for many cars over the years.
> While carburetors appear to be an easy solution to FI issues there are many
> drawbacks. Worse, most conversions do not address issues that OEM carb set
> ups used as early as the 60's. Most kits are strictly, make it run, limited
> use fair weather installations. Here is a list of features most kits for
> VW's are lacking.
fair weather? I've run my carbed van from sea level to over the rocky mountains. From the
canadian winter to the egyptian desert. My carb never left me stranded.
> Throttle Dashpot or positioner! When the throttle is closed for idle, direct
> vacuum is used to draw a fuel mix through the idle circuit. If over running
> the engine such as going down hill, this device delays throttle closing or
> may even hold it open so that fuel is not directly sucked into the engine
> without some air for it to burn. Can we say backfire, raw fuel in cylinders,
> black smoke?
Only time my van has backfired is when I was running jordanian or syrian or turkish fuel. Once we
hit european fuel, no more back fireing.
> Choke pull off/Heater! Moist after market either do not have chokes, or the
> choke is operated by heater element, not engine temperature. Further, start
> engine for short time, shut off while choke is still closed and throttle
> held open and gravity will empty the fuel bowl directly into the cylinder
> with an open valve. On the type 2, this is real fun as the entire fuel tank
> can drain into the engine. BTDT! Can we say Hydro-Lock?
I have NEVER experienced this.
> Idle Shut Off Solenoid! I like the lack of this one. Yea, go turn off the
> engine. After a long hard run, Hope you a manual trans so you can pop the
> clutch in gear and get it to stop Dieseling!
I've never had dieseling either.
> Manifold heat! This is a real problem in winter with center mounted carb
> kits. The fuel will sort of puddle in the manifold. Can we say flat spot?
> Oh, no intake air preheat either. You drive along for 10-15 miles and the
> engine just stops. You coast to the side and a few minutes later it runs
> again like nothing ever happened, for another 10 miles. Vaporizing fuel +
> what? Refrigeration. Add moisture in air and can we say carburetor icing?
Again my van never had vapour-lock even at 50 degrees C in the Egyptian Desert.
> EGR ports! Air cooled Vanagons will miss this one. Excess NOx, burned
> pistons.
100,000 kms and no burned valves on my van.
> How about proper porting for 2 stage distributor advance?
> Crankcase Breather the works?
I still have the crankcase breather ported into the air cleaner. I use a "009" bug destributor.
I may not get the 'right' maximum! spark advance, but the van runs fine with about the same gas
milage as other Syncro westies
> Fuel Vapor control!
> Air filter with adequate flow and the ability to trap dirt!
Not sure about fuel vapor control, but my carb van starts with just a touch of the key, unlike
nearly all of the EFI vans that I've been around and certainly my EFI 1989 syncro 16.
There is no reason I've found to NOT have the stock vanagon air filter in the stock vanagon AFM
box (sans the AFM), or as in my case a K&N filter.
> Oh, I can go on. Dennis
different stokes for different folks. This is just MY experience with a single Weber DFAV 2
barrel progressive carb on my 91 syncro westy (that is for sale). Malcolm (Halifax)
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