TheSamba.com :: View topic - Deciding between these 2 dual carb kits

Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:19 am

I have a 1914 these carbs will go on but keep in mind it's just a bigger 1600.

There is nothing special about this engine, stock cam, stock heads, stock rockers, stock.... not building up a race engine.

Just looking to get a little more power out of it than the 28 PICT gave me the first 5000 miles and the garbage 34 PICT has given me for the last 1000 miles

I do lean towards the Solex set due to the chokes but that is the only reason. If the Weber set is just better, I can deal with not having the chokes.

Or if there are recommendations for other sets I have not included, please feel free to mention them.

Thanks for putting up with the questions...

https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/3285.htm
https://www.cbperformance.com/product-p/6428.htm

Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:37 am

single or dual port? Don't waste your $ on 1bbls if it's a dual port.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:46 am

[email protected] wrote: single or dual port? Don't waste your $ on 1bbls if it's a dual port.

Good point, had not considered that. It is a dual port.

Thanks!

Sun Aug 11, 2019 9:51 am

Weber 40 IDF. Or HPMX.
Also Dellorto 36 DRLA work great. All three are IR (individual runner) carbs.

Good Luck.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:28 am

Its not the 34 Pict´s fault that you can´t make it run well (unless it is totally worn out or something else is crap, like the ignition system) That´s the person holding the wrench.
Dual IDF´s or the likes is the sweet option.
But it does not sound like you have that much skills in engine tuning (No offense) In such cases a set of Kadrons may be a simpler and easier solution. Buy from the experienced people with these carbs, give them your exact engine specs, and they can set you up very close so you only need to fine tune on your engine. Also, on such set up there will be almost no difference in performance.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 10:49 am

Alstrup wrote: Its not the 34 Pict´s fault that you can´t make it run well (unless it is totally worn out or something else is crap, like the ignition system) That´s the person holding the wrench.
Dual IDF´s or the likes is the sweet option.
But it does not sound like you have that much skills in engine tuning (No offense) In such cases a set of Kadrons may be a simpler and easier solution. Buy from the experienced people with these carbs, give them your exact engine specs, and they can set you up very close so you only need to fine tune on your engine. Also, on such set up there will be almost no difference in performance.

You must not of read his post. He has a 1914cc.... a 1600 was under carbed with the 34 pict.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:47 am

ekacpuc wrote: Alstrup wrote: Its not the 34 Pict´s fault that you can´t make it run well (unless it is totally worn out or something else is crap, like the ignition system) That´s the person holding the wrench.
Dual IDF´s or the likes is the sweet option.
But it does not sound like you have that much skills in engine tuning (No offense) In such cases a set of Kadrons may be a simpler and easier solution. Buy from the experienced people with these carbs, give them your exact engine specs, and they can set you up very close so you only need to fine tune on your engine. Also, on such set up there will be almost no difference in performance.

You must not of read his post. He has a 1914cc.... a 1600 was under carbed with the 34 pict.

No offense taken but just so you now, I hold my wrench as if I'm sipping tea...so there's no issue there.

But also, maybe I didn't explain it well enough for someone like you (no offense). The engine has always run great, even with my tuning skills. It's more that a stock OG 28 was way under performing and a less than stellar EMPI 34 is garbage, even though with my tuning skills I got it run quite well.

I'm looking for something that will run the engine more like it should. Something more than what I can get out of a 28 or 34, even with my tuning skills.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 11:55 am

I was a bit confused too as to why one would put dual singles on a dual port engine. I think for the money spent and value obtained from tunability and performance a dual dual kit would serve you well.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:03 pm

Emeraldlion wrote: I was a bit confused too as to why one would put dual singles on a dual port engine. I think for the money spent and value obtained from tunability and performance a dual dual kit would serve you well.

Makes sense. Thanks for the input

Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:25 pm

Emeraldlion wrote: I was a bit confused too as to why one would put dual singles on a dual port engine.
You should put that question to VW, they did it successfully twice for the North American market. Once in the mid '60s type 3s and again in the early '70s on the type 2s. In Europe the early type 4s were also single barrel dual carb cars. It works, is a valid choice and is easier to tune and maintain.

Emeraldlion wrote: I think for the money spent and value obtained from tunability and performance a dual dual kit would serve you well.
I would have to agree here, these carbs can cost a bit more especially when buying jets (double everything here), take more skill to tune and make other engine maintenance more awkward. The pay off is better all around performance and drivability.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:56 pm

I have a 1600 with a small cam and ICT’s. Kinda feels like I have a rev limiter on it.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:56 pm

camit34 wrote: I do lean towards the Solex set due to the chokes but that is the only reason. If the Weber set is just better, I can deal with not having the chokes.

Or if there are recommendations for other sets I have not included, please feel free to mention them.
I know that I am going to incur the wrath of many here but this is a valid concern if you are driving your car in a cooler climate/weather, have others in your family that drive your car or want to tune for lean part throttle mileage.

Because I was in all three of these categories I wanted chokes on my carbs. With the help of someone here I learned that it is possible to find unmolested early Webers that have not had the cold start circuits removed/disabled. The bonus here was that some of them have 5 transition ports, are the smoothest carbs I have ever experienced for street driving and the cold start operation is flawless and amazingly easy to operate. These used carbs came reconditioned and cost me very close to the same dollars as you were looking at for the new single barrel ones.

No matter what carbs you choose make sure all the cooling tins are in place, fitting properly, adjusted and functional INCLUDING the thermostat and flaps. The quicker the engine warms up and the more consistent the running temperature under all conditions the easier the carbs are to tune!

Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:10 pm

I run Kads (single barrels) on several of our own cars (1600 up to 1914) and they work well. However I am liking the 2 barrels like the Weber IDF and Empi HPMX. Only drawback is that tuning is more expensive since you have 3 jets per barrel. If going that route, I suggest that you work with someone that knows what they are doing. I have been down that road and there is so much conflicting information. John at Aircooeld.net has consistently given the best info on this type of carb. I don't know if he sells HPMX or not, but he handles the Webers.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 1:50 pm

DUEL HPMX 40 'S. AND IF YOU HAVENT BUILT THE ENGINE SCRAP ALL THAT OE STYLE JUNK AND MAKE/DO IT RIGHT.

Sun Aug 11, 2019 3:30 pm

ekacpuc wrote:
You must not of read his post. He has a 1914cc.... a 1600 was under carbed with the 34 pict.
A 34 mm Solex will make a stockish 1914 go well, no problem. It just needs a larger idle and main jet. An aftermarket version of the 34 may have issues.
Also, a 28 mm pict or pci has no place on a 1914. That is just plain s... well not very rational. If you are looking for better power bolt on style, then yes better carburetion is the next step.
A set of Kads can work well on such engine. Yes, it is almost like VW did themselves on the bus engines. (Many of them did´nt run well. In those cases, especially the latter it was not just the fault of the guy with the wrench. Those bus engines were seriusly under developed. (Long story)
Kadron carbs are simple and easy to work with, and if something goes wrong like an idle jet that clogs, you will not be in doubt, whereas if an idle jet clogs on a set of IDF´s or DRLA´s many people wohnt notice at first leaving the risk of something else failing.
Properly set up dual duals can give you super smooth idle and driving