FI to carb conversion?

[USMCbug]

Just curious as to how hard it is to convert FI to a single weber carb? It looks pretty straight forward but do the heads and dizzy need to be changed too? Im considering changing mine but I hear FI is a good thing. Im more used to troubleshooting and repairing carb issues. This FI business is a new game to me.
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72 Super Beetle
73 Standard Beetle
79 Baywindow Bus
65 Split Window Bus
79 Baywindow Bus
71 Super Beetle (current)

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the
scabbard."
- General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

[pawesty]

here's some previous discussions to start with
http://thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_id=769150409&start=0

i was looking at the same bus a few months ago. i thought all of the FI stuff was new? if i had to vote i say no. if you decide yes i'll give that FI a good home

dave
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"Go smell the wind, go far. Hear the marvelous strange chime of midnight" Kerouac

79 westy
78 westy

purveyor of refurbed westies and parts!!! inquire within!

.

[USMCbug]

You looked at my bus? What did you think of her. And be honest. I can take it. The link you posted was dead....
_________________
72 Super Beetle
73 Standard Beetle
79 Baywindow Bus
65 Split Window Bus
79 Baywindow Bus
71 Super Beetle (current)

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the
scabbard."
- General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

[pawesty]

i actually was just forwarded a zip file from the PO. i didn't find it solid as he did from the pics. i was however very interested into buying it, correcting the engine or swapping it and using for a daily driver. i think you got a deal i would be hesitant to ditch the Fi before diagnosing the real issues with this engine. from the info the PO offered me i suspected a problem far less worse than he did. at worste i thought a dropped valve. pull the heads and have new valves ground or buy new heads with the improved design fromBD. but as i said, i didn't ever make the drive to NY to see it. in fact i emailed the guy about a week before you posted about it and he said it was sold...you son of a........j/k. i hope you have luck with it. i really beleive you got a great deal. do a search for endless discussions regarding the pros and cons of the infamous FI to carbs..........critics and nay sayers commence arguing again NOW!

dave
_________________
"Go smell the wind, go far. Hear the marvelous strange chime of midnight" Kerouac

79 westy
78 westy

purveyor of refurbed westies and parts!!! inquire within!

.

[USMCbug]

Thanks Dave. The guy told me that there was a catastrophic engine problem since there was no compression on 2 cylinders. He said his mechanic told him so. He said when he tried to start it it made awful noises and he was just tired of it. Did I mention before he had a rebuilt engine installed to with like 300 miles on it? I drug it home and charged the battery and it started up and ran. I heard the awful noise he spoke of. It was backfiring into the air distributor. The problem was an intake coupler being loose and worn. I found the compression to be good in all cyls. I guess his mech was crooked? I dont have the heart to tell him it was a simple fix. I think Ill update the guy and tell him I had to to a total rebuild or something I think Ill stick to the FI system since it is fairly new. Someone dumped a lot of $$$$ into this bus and my wife bought it for around 500 bones or so. Im thinking about garaging my bug and driving the bus for a while.
_________________
72 Super Beetle
73 Standard Beetle
79 Baywindow Bus
65 Split Window Bus
79 Baywindow Bus
71 Super Beetle (current)

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the
scabbard."
- General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

[VWBusrepairman]

1. do the basic tune up
2. obtain a multi-meter
3. snag a fuel pressure gage
4. Read a Bentley, Muir, or other approved manual
5. Run the tests mentioned
6. Obtain a wiring diagram of the FI layout

and keep the fuel injection. It's not a complicated system and can be diagnosed most often with a test lamp and multimeter.

Good luck! (I accept fuel injection donations, especially the main wiring harness)

[steve74baywin]

Cool, I get to express my thoughts..
For one I'm big on leaving the vehicles as close to it was from the factory, so that in itself would mean I favor keeping the fuel injection.
2) It isn't that much harder, in some ways simplier to troubleshoot, just maybe could leave you stuck longer if you don't have the spare parts on hand. But this don't happen too much
3) Changing to carbs be like taking a vehicle of such year, and removing the worthwhile improvements that was done to it over the years.
Like taking a beetle with a 1600CC engine and putting a 1300,,, kinda don't make sense. Taking a FORD LTD and removing the V8 to put what ever engine was in a Model T in it.
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Steve

[Duncwarw]

Not to mention that in our neighborhood, that single carb icing thing is a real bugger. In England, by the way, they sell a heated jacket that fixes the problem. I'm working on getting one.

Want to guess how I know about icing?

[Amskeptic]

[MAF240]

I got my '77 bus cheap for $1000 because of faulty F.I and vacuum leaks, etc...The PO couldn't deal with it, he said.

I know now/ knew then basically little to nothing about the bus or engines. I tooled around and replaced every hose and rubber connection one at a time. Injector seals, the big "S" air intake tube, intake runner (braided 2" hose, all other 3.5mm and 7mm vacuum hoses, everyone)

Then, the bus ran excellent with a tune-up. The PO wanted to change his mind about selling it when he drove it. I then drove it by myself cross-country from CO to FL and back home to NY (3000 miles in 12 days). No problems whatsoever.

[b]My bus lasted 100,000 miles more in 5 years, without any adjusting or replacing of the Fuel injection whatsoever.[/b] I love fuel injection. I'd like to see/hear from any carb'ed bus who can post the same results, especially in NY winter. If you want to spend time tooling around with carbs, ok I understand from a "high performance" point of view.

Good luck,---your results may vary, but our love is the same---

Peace, Mike

[VWBusrepairman]

I'm feelin' the fuel injection love here. Finally, someone who understands the passion of injection, yo! It's all the shizzle with your volt mizzle!

Air flow is our friend!

[USMCbug]

Yeah, Im sticking with the FI. Thanks for the advice everyone.
_________________
72 Super Beetle
73 Standard Beetle
79 Baywindow Bus
65 Split Window Bus
79 Baywindow Bus
71 Super Beetle (current)

"When war does come, my advice is to draw the sword and throw away the
scabbard."
- General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson