TheSamba.com :: View topic - Newbie to my car and here

Sat May 07, 2016 8:13 pm

Hello all – I’m a newbie here, and am loving all this information and care shown on the site.

I expect I’ll be a frequent visitor over the next few years (and onwards).
If you want to get directly to my question – I need carburettor advice for replacing them on a `71 1600 – but if you have time, hear me out and please read through this.

About a year ago I needed to buy a small, cheap, practical car to travel the occasional long distance but mainly to get to and from work. All was going to plan until I saw a Type 3 for sale . . . now I’m the happy happy owner of a lovely 71 1600 model that is totally impractical but just perfect.

The previous owner really seems to have taken care of it, but there are, of course, issues to address. At the moment it is off the road and in the hands of a trusted mechanic, and I basically need to replace the carburettors. Both are very worn, and one is non-salvageable.
Apparently .
I do want to sort this as quickly as possible, life without a car is quite tricky.

Anyway, hope that’s not too much of a long winded introduction, Bear with me while I explain things a bit further so you understand where I’m coming from.

The car seems to be pretty much stock and fairly neat. (I haven’t yet got photos to attach of the engine bay, but should in the next 24 hours). I am not super mechanically skilled – oil changes, spark plugs, tightening loose bits and push starting are about where I’m at, but I’ll happily give things a go. Right now the car is at a mechanic (whom is also a friend and highly trusted – he’s not a VW expert persay, but worked on them quite a lot 20 years ago and still prefers to work on older vehicles today)

I live in a fairly remote small town in Australia (Kalgoorlie) – we get hot summers (up to forty celcius) and cool winters (about -2 occasionally overnight), and thankfully not too much rain. Any parts I purchase need to be posted in, the closest city is 600 kilometres and even though they have some VW suppliers, parts are very limited and costly.

This is my only car, I can’t afford to have the VW as a hobby car and have a run around vehicle, and I currently work 65 kilometres from town, and drive that once or twice a week, as well as shorter distances every day (car pooling where possible). Every couple of years I drive across to visit my family, about 3000km each way.

I don’t need to keep the car looking ‘stock’ just want to put in parts that will keep it running well – high sporty performance isn’t needed , but if I am able to drive it at 100km/h on occasion that would be great. Of course, price is a consideration, but I don’t want to save a hundred dollars today and get carbies that might be problematic in three years – I’d rather just bite the bullet and pay for something long term.

So – finally – here’s my question –
What type of carburettor would you recommend to replace mine with – preferably a set that is more or less jetted & ready to go/bolt on?
And – where would you recommend I source them (online)
I’m trying to figure out what I should do between Solex/Webber/Dellorto, and exactly what model I’m chasing. I’m getting a little confused by all the options as to what I should focus on, and what I should stay away from (ie, Spanish made carbies are not recommended?) What about Chinese made copies?

I have found the following
EMPI dual 34mm EPC Kit ($730 AU) EMPI EPC DUAL 34 FOR TYPE 3 DUAL PORT http://www.vollks.com.au/store/Empi-EPC.html

A 40mm IDF carb kit from an Australian supplier ($960 AU)
http://rodpenroseracing.com.au/rpr-idf-kits-carbs/...olt-on.htm

VW TYPE3 Fastback Variant Notchback 1967-1973 Dual 34ICT Weber conversion (from ebay, $670 AU)
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/VW-TYPE3-Fastback-Varia...SwUuFWvm2s

VW VOLKSWAGEN BUG BEETLE DUAL EPC 34 TYPE 3 EMPI CARB CARBURETOR KIT 47-7311 (from ebay $510 AU)

Type 3 Twin Weber ICT34 carburettor kit ($725 AU, http://www.dellorto.co.uk/shop/vw-carburettor-kits...ber-ict34-

Any and all help and suggestions greatly and humbly welcomed 
Thankyou - Tash

Sat May 07, 2016 8:30 pm

What do you have for carburetors now? The stock dual Solex 32 PDSIT are the correct dual carburetors & use this black oil bath air cleaner that draws cool intake air through the fender vents. The throttle plate shaft does wear, but can be rebushed by a competent machinist.

Sat May 07, 2016 9:04 pm

Thanks Mike - yes, those are what I'm using at the moment. Although I don't have that oil bath air cleaner - just the circular chrome looking filters that sit on top of the carbies.
Especially given that summers are hot where I live, I presume that is a better option?

So- really, all I know is what the mechanic has said, that one of them is completely out of service - he's recommended replacing them as both are worn. The town I live in has many tradespeople - but finding one to do such delicate work would be nearly as costly as a replacement set. Sadly.

Finding replace Solex carbies seems to be hard though, is this why the Webers are so popular?

Sat May 07, 2016 10:14 pm

Sun May 08, 2016 2:53 am

It seems that I can't find a pair of these ( could just be that I'm searching on a small phone). If I'm unable to buy replacement solex carbies, what else might suit?
Thank you

Sun May 08, 2016 8:09 am

Tashgonewalkabout wrote: It seems that I can't find a pair of these ( could just be that I'm searching on a small phone). If I'm unable to buy replacement solex carbies, what else might suit?
Thank you

You might try contacting CB Performance, or even looking thru their online catalog, as I believe they are 1 of the few companies still offering Solex carbs. They won't be the same as you have, as they're 32-34 PDSITs, and are actually for a bus, but the carbs are very similar. Another option is their 34 Weber ICT kit. I've actually got 2 of them here (my son owns 1 of the sets), which are properly jetted, and come with everything but a fuel pump to install them. Yes, they are Spanish Webers, but they work just fine, and deliver fuel economy within 1 mpg of the Solex carbs. The only drawback to them, is that the air filters/cleaners are in the engine bay, drawing "heated" air (like you're already doing). They also don't have any chokes on them, which means they might be more tempermental in the winter, although I never really noticed that, as I've driven mine when the outside air temp was in the low to mid 20*F range (don't know what that is in Celsius :wink: ). I've also driven with them (the Webers) in 95*F temps as well.

One thing I've found over the years, and that's the cheaper ICT kits (usually from China), don't come with everything you need, and are almost always jetted wrong (too rich). The linkage for most also leave something to be desired.

Since you're depending on this car as a daily driver, you should be looking at quality versus price. I do understand you're in OZ, which makes shipping very expensive.

You could also look thru the Samba classifieds for a used set of Solex carbs, and have them rebuilt. But, with shipping that could get expensive too.

I hope this helps.

Sun May 08, 2016 7:45 pm

Thanks Bob - wow, That CB performance site seems excellent. They have both the Weber and the Solex carburetors. Which would you actually suggest I use. The price difference is one hundred dollars, so if one is better than the other I'd rather get it right.

sadly the shipping cost is nasty, but that's just life :)

Sun May 08, 2016 8:49 pm

Tashgonewalkabout wrote: Thanks Bob - wow, That CB performance site seems excellent. They have both the Weber and the Solex carburetors. Which would you actually suggest I use. The price difference is one hundred dollars, so if one is better than the other I'd rather get it right.
sadly the shipping cost is nasty, but that's just life :)

These are the Webers I'm using.
http://www.cbperformance.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=6430

These Solex carbs look good, but I think the air cleaners might be too tall, and you'd have to add the manifolds below, to get them to fit in a type 3 as the manifolds in the kit are for a bug (way too tall to fit). You could always try and re-use your existing manifolds, as they should bolt on as well.
http://cdn3.volusion.com/adets.qcfpr/v/vspfiles/photos/3285-2.jpg?1441294126
http://www.cbperformance.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=3081

To be honest either set up should work, it's your money though.
I tried to warn you about shipping, several others from OZ have been here and complained too. :wink:

Sun May 08, 2016 10:16 pm

Thanks again, Bob, I'm really appreciating your help here. I'm sorry to be asking another question (and I think this should be the last one) -
have you any opinion on the EPC 34 kit? These are apparently Chinese made, but according to an Australian supplier I just chatted to on the phone, he is suggesting these as opposed to the Weber (possible because he doesn't stock the weber's in that size)

My understanding from searching through other Samba posts is that Weber would be preferred over Chinese made - even if the Chinese ones are now getting good reviews. Again, and like you said, I'd rather pay a few dollars more and get something more long lasting/reliable.
Thanks so much (again!) Tash

Sun May 08, 2016 10:33 pm

Actually - forget that last question, as I understand it, the Weber is the better option.
Thank you so much for all of your help and time. Since the shipping is kind of costly, I'm going to see what else I can include at the same time :)

Mon May 09, 2016 5:53 am

Tashgonewalkabout wrote: Actually - forget that last question, as I understand it, the Weber is the better option.
Thank you so much for all of your help and time. Since the shipping is kind of costly, I'm going to see what else I can include at the same time :)

I prefer the Webers to the Chinese knock offs. And your comment about adding stuff is common for you guys in OZ. Hell, I do it here in the states too. :wink: