Abarth 36 Hp carburator kit

[6V-Knechten]

A carburator kit has found it's way into our garage. The kit fitted a 36 Hp "dummy" engine very well, and the fuel lines matches up perfectly with the fuelpump. The intake manifolds have a "Abarth" logo each, and the aircleaners supplied has a "F.I.S.P.A Torino" sign on them. The carburators looks like Solex 32 PBIC as far as I can tell. The setup seems very wide, but after some control meassuring, the engine would squeeze in my 52 T1 with some milimeters clearence. The linkage is missing on the kit, but it looks like a kadron-like linkage could fit. I have searched the internet, and this forum, without finding much information about this kit. There is no doubt that it's "factory" made, and not a home-build. Any information on this Abarth kit would be very helpful, especially something that can show the linkage. I will try to post some more pictures on the garage blog: http://outlavws.blogspot.com

[vwtoyguy]

That carb setup is pretty cool.

The Solex 32 PBIC carbs where used in the Okrasa kits as well.
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[oval53/split52]

I've been following this tread carefully. Lots of people have read it, but allmost no replys. WHHY??

This kit has to be extremely rare - and rare stuff is often commented.
Express anlage is next to nothing in rarity compared to this.

Dig deep into your old adds and see if you can find some information about it. Pleeeaase..

[oval56]

[quote="oval53/split52"]I've been following this tread carefully. Lots of people have read it, but allmost no replys. WHHY??

This kit has to be extremely rare - and rare stuff is often commented.
Express anlage is next to nothing in rarity compared to this.

Dig deep into your old adds and see if you can find some information about it. Pleeeaase..

[6V-Knechten]

Here is another angle of the manifold. I don't think it has much to do with a "redone" OG manifold, except perhaps the flanges. The only information tracked down on the internet is of course the famous exhaust systems made by Abarth&Co. But Abarth were also working toghether with Porsche in the fifthies, developing their racing cars. Given that this carburator kit has 32 PBIC carburators, the same used on early 356 and Okrasa, there could be a connection? I have also heard that someone maybe has seen a Ghia with this kind of setup in a magazine some years ago. Hopefully the kit will be cleaned up and running on an engine before the summer.

[Kombi]

I was searching a while back and didn't find much. I found a few pictures similar to your set up on some 356 Porsches. I don't know any for sure though.
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[6V-Knechten]

Here is the latest latest "score" on the internet. A schwimmwagen with a aircleaner that looks very similar to the filters on the Abarth-kit.

Anybody out there with some information? I would be very happy for any feedback.

[6V-Knechten]

Well it's been a while since the last posting about this carburator kit. But now the carburator kit is mounted and tested. I mounted the manifolds, carbs and aircleaners to a stock 36 Hp industrial engine with few running hours. The original fuel line was rotten and is temporary replaced by a modern rubber hose and banjo fittings. The linkage for the kit was missing, and a modified CSP linkage is bolted up for now. After a lot of troubleshooting and leaking carbs, the 32 PBIC's is running nice. The summer of 2009 the Abarth carb kit took me and the zwitter for a roundtrip from Norway to Germany covering over 1100 Km. I have about 2500 km on the kit now, and it's running quite nice. I have confirmed that it's definately made for a 25 Hp engine, and given the parts used, it's most likely produced sometime around 1952 by Carlo Abarth in Italy. My next plans involve restoring the fuel line to the exact look of the original. The hose itself is the same as used on Ferraris from the early fifties. I have found a repro line at $10 per inch. Oh well, I only need a little over one meter... (Glad I'm into Volkswagens and not Italian sportcars). I will also try to make an exact copy of the original linkage when I get the time.

More pictures of the carburator kit and car can be found here (1952 zwitter): Vau-Max article

[paulski]

Cool find, and very nice car too.

Have you noticed much of an increase in power since fitting the kit?

[Boonies]

You can find more information on Knechten's car here.
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[loor]

hey, nice pics!
can you even read the text?

cheers lorenz

[WorkingClass]

I saw a car with the same caburator kit at "hessisch oldendorf" this year.
whas it yours ???
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[6V-Knechten]

[oval56]

[The Vdub Hub]

[WorkingClass]

[surfindo]

[The Vdub Hub]

[oval56]