carburated vanagon

[catamount bus stop]

hi all this might seem like a strange question, but here goes.. i have an 83 waterboxer westy that is having fuel problems. it runs crappy with the o2 sensor hooked up so i have been running without it (its been replaced) the bus runs really rich and gets about 12 mpg. i know it has many sensors and switches on the engine as well as old and cracked wiring throughout. i want to know if anyone has tried going with an aftermarket weber like on the aircooleds it seems like an easy swap

[sbclayton]

Hey, C.B.S.! Welcome to The Samba!

Seems to me I remember someone doing that, and yes, it would seem like an easy swap (don't forget to install a new fuel pump, though!).

One of the nice things here on TheSamba is the Search feature ("Use the Search, Luke!"). Doing a quick scan, I found this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=224295&highlight=carburetor and this: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=173721&highlight=carburetor.

There might be more - I only gave the Search a quick glance. Anyway, these oughta get you started.

Once again, welcome!
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Steve - Tampa Bay Area
Original Owner (12/1990) of
NavDog, a 91 Carat

Enlightenment came when I realized that any time in my life I was having fun, it was somehow connected with owning a Volkswagen.

[ftp2leta]

[foodeater]

Most folks here are going to tell you to fix the FI, same as they tell others whenever the carb. vs. FI question comes up. Dogpilot has the FI protraining manual posted on his website. I dont know the URL, but I'm sure someone can post it here.

Also welcome to the samba. You will find lots of knowledgeable, helpful people on here. I'm not one of them, but they are on here for sure.
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89 Bluestar-2.5 Subaru Powered-RIP
'84 Westy Tiico-daily driver-sold
'82 Caddy diesel-sold
'87 Vanagon Syncro-RIP
'81 diesel rabbit-sold
'82 Vanagon auto-RIP

[Blood Loss]

Type I (air-cooled beetle) dual carbs bolt right up to the wasserboxer cylinder head. They do not need the preheat that a single carb does to prevent winter manifold icing. The vanagon carb conversion kits usually use a single carb and don't run well in cold weather. I would keep the FI. If you do go with carburation, I would use dual type I carbs. You will have to figure something out for the likage.

[MarkWard]

You'd want to check the engine cover clearance too. By the time you got the linkage sorted out and then air cleaners, it could be tight.
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[bucko]

Why you'd want to step backwards in technology is beyond me. A foolish thing to do. Carbs were phased out years ago for a reason; inefficiant. If you think your gas mileage will improve, you're wrong there too.

Get the FI fixed. Take it to a mechanic if you cannot figure it out. DOGPILOT has posted many times his site where you can download a free repair and troubleshooting guide. It will walk you along. It is for the 2.1 liter, but many of the tests can be done on your 83 aircooled Vanagon FI system.

The money you'd spend on a carb system (foolish waste of money and time) can be better spent repairing the FI system, if that indeed is the fault here.
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Current VW drives: 1984 Westfalia

Past VW drives: 1967 Beetle, 1973 Beetle, 1977 Bus, 1971 Military Type 181

[Randy in Maine]

I think he is a 83 wasserboxer, but I agree figure out what is wrong with the FI and fix what you already own.

Dual carbs for this thing would run the better part of $1K + some tuning time.