WTB: Webers 40 IDF / Solex Carbs

cameroncole · 10-28-2004, 04:57 PM

Just picked up a 1968 912 and I am in need of a set of carbs.

The original solex II's are shot. They have been rebuilt a few times, with not much luck.

Does anyone have a set of Webers or Solex's for sale?

I have located the webers new - just looking to save some money.

Thanks,

Frank

lapuwali · 10-28-2004, 05:38 PM

I'm curious. What makes the Solexes unrebuildable?

avsarinana · 10-28-2004, 07:40 PM

What makes you think there shot?Did you take your car to a reputable mechanic and let him take a look.If your entirely new to the 912 world there's alot you have to learn.(honestly).Stick to the solexes they were made for the car.I have a set of solexes that have seen 150,000 miles an can still be adjusted, so don't give up.Good luck with your 912,these cars are blast when there running right, also very reliable.

Art

Hoffman912 · Hoffman912's Garage

solexs are not unrebuildable. infact seeing as how old they are, you dont just rebuild them with a kit, most of the time now, you have to take them to a competent machine shop and have them remanufactured (ie reboard with bigger butterflies etc)

john benton does this quite well and so does harry bieker.

dimps8 · dimps8's Garage

When solex's are working their a great carb. I've rebuilt mine and adjust sharply every time. Look for worn butterfly shafts. the rest of the componants can be easily replaced on the rebuild.

erobinson · 10-29-2004, 05:54 AM

diddo on what has been mentioned already. You have probably already checked all of this out but make sure everything else is well in tune. Maladjusted valves, ignition woes and just general items (badly in need of new air filters for example) can add up to an impossible to tune carb set.

Good luck!

C. Clark · C. Clark's Garage

I run Webers and they work just fine...once you get them jetted right.
Chas.
356
912

914Ghost · 10-29-2004, 07:50 AM

Yeah, like they say Solex's are great. And can be fixedin almost every case- the worst case is frozen or bent shafts.
Since in your post you say you're trying to save money- get rid of the solex's. The "remanufacture" of them will cost you as much as a brand new bolt on Weber setup.
Check out the classifieds on a site called: www.thesamba.com
Its a VW site and has extensive classifieds. I see Weber sets there all the time for $200 to $300. But then you need to get the manifolds or adapters too.
Is your car a VERY nice car, is everything 100% original?
If not I wouldn;t worry about what people say about the swap "Solex's are perfect, they're the original carbs, they were designed for the engine"...blah..these cars also came with bias ply tires and am/fm radios (if any). Solex's are great, but Weber's are better "for the average person". The parts are easier to get they are cheaper, the carbs are almost idiot proof and you can buy a Tech manual (REQUIRED!) that will get you thru any truoble you have.
a'ight, off the soap box.
my .02
Bob O
p.s. I run Dellorto's on ALL my cars, they're perfect- haven't adjusted a carb in a year.

erobinson · 10-29-2004, 09:51 AM

Also, may wanna look on ebay, I have seen several type IV VW kits on there in recent weeks while looking to round up a trio of dcoes.

cameroncole · 10-29-2004, 12:38 PM

Thanks to the community at large for all of their replies.

The Porsche trained mechanic here in town tried twice, but could not get the idle right. I have been reading up on the Solex's and have considered sending them out to a shop in California.
It is his opinion, that I should source a set of Webers or Solex's.

However, I am concerned that the rebuild will cost as much as a new set of webers.

The Weber vs Solex debate is raging alive and well. I owned a 1963 356 in the 80's and remember the debates then. It was a great car, but I moved on to other car interests.

This 912 will be a retraining / learning experience for me - so I sought the advice of folks here. Thanks for your input.

Frank

avsarinana · 10-29-2004, 05:29 PM

A porsche trained mechanic doesn't mean anything.You need a qualified 356/912mechanic.Any qualified 912 mechanic will tell you to stick to the solexes,because he can get them to perform for you and knows the difference.other mechanics will tell you to go with webers,because they don't know the art of working with solexes.Many owners will install webers,because there easer to work on, which is ok.But they still don't perform like a solex or sound like a solex.There's nothing better than hearing the roar of a solex,that a weber won't give you.But if you want to tweek your own carbs,it's easer on a weber,you will have to give up performance.

Art

C. Clark · C. Clark's Garage

When velocity stacks are installed and the jetting is right Webers sound just fine.....set them and forget them.
Chas.
356
912

avsarinana · 10-30-2004, 11:45 AM

What's your opinion on the performance factor?C.clark (honesty).Or maybe you have never had a good set of tuned solexes?

Art

C. Clark · C. Clark's Garage

Art,
There's no need to be pissy about our difference of opinion... I believe this site is for exchange of information and knowledge; this topic has been kicked around for years here and many other places, but to answer you question, I've had Solexes 40, Zeniths 32 on my 356 and on my current 912 I've had both. The solexes I still own but the Webers made more sence to me, point being they're expensive to rebuild and when it's done you still have 30 plus year old carbs. Webers for my driving purposes, the roads of Mendocino county are perfect, all the "performance" this 56 year old hot rodder needs. Most people in my opinion who don't like them don't have the talent or know how to tune and jet them right, and of course there's the purist factor which I assume is where you atitude is coming from.
Try this site also, http://www.912bbs.org/index.php. you'll be preaching to the choir.
Have a great day now, ya hear,
Chas.
356
912

914Ghost · 10-30-2004, 04:45 PM

I'm not arguing with anyone, opinions and experience are what makes these BBS's great!
I have no proof, but my 40mm Dellorto's are smoother and less work than ANY set of solex's I've ever come across on any Porsche car. I have 13 years of shop experience (started when I was 17 in high school).
For Dellorto's (and webers) Parts are still plentiful for the moment- I can get any size venturi I need for them and any size jets, and gaskets-BRAND NEW! From any VW shop.
The shafts are mounted in sealed ball bearings, and they have a modern style auxillary venturi- which is nice.
Other than the originality factor, I see absolutely NO advantage to keeping a set of 30 year old carbs on a car-- for the average person.
If you run solex's and know them or have some that run great, by all means keep them , they are great!
But need to make a choice between which carb to "fix" or buy outright?, then someone somewhere should show some proof that solex's provide any better performance than webers or dellorto's, let say on a stock engine. Likewise, I don't think weber's or dellorto's offer a noticable difference over solex's for regular people who just want their car to run and be reliable and fun. For practicality and economics the aftermarket carbs are a great choice.
Bob O

avsarinana · 10-30-2004, 07:51 PM

I'm not getting pissy mr.clark just asking an honest question.I don't know you or porsche status.That's why i put a question mark behind my question.Let's not get sensative,it's all in good fun.I'm also not a purist,I'm for what ever works the best.If you would like to get rid of your solexes,since you don't like them i would love to buy them.take it easy mr.clark.

Art

C. Clark · C. Clark's Garage

Sorry Art, my Solexes aren't for sale. Try eBay.
Chas.
356
912

rosntom · 11-05-2004, 09:49 AM

I have had a 912 for over 30 years. I started out with the Solex carbs, but got caught up in the Maestro's Weber propaganda and switched. They were good carbs and easy to maintain, but after talking to some 356 race drivers, I decided to go back to the Solexes as most of the racers use them. I also found out that the 40IDFs were originally designed and used on a Fiat econobox! I agree with the writer that said that Porsche designed them for the car, and Porsche did not take shortcuts or use cheap stuff. The big problem with the Solexes is wear in the body around the shaft. This will make them impossible to adjust. I sent mine, along with those for my 356, to Bieker Engineering on some very reliable advice. He really did a beautiful job! They are perfection in every respect! He has been doing this since the 50s, and really knows about the old cars. The job was not cheap, but neither was the work! It would have cost me significantly more to buy a set of new Webers from Performance Products. I am very happy with the change and plan to clean up the Webers and put them on Ebay.

avsarinana · 11-05-2004, 09:54 PM

There you go rosntom,you know wants happening.I'm installing freshly rebuilt solexes thusday the 11th of november.Your right it's not cheap having this done,but a brand new set of webers will cost you more, with less of a carburetor.

Art

rosntom · 11-06-2004, 08:12 AM

Amen Art!! I have been fooling with sports cars for a good many years, and I have always had to deal with the "experts" that really don't know what the hell they are talking about, or even worse, plotting to make a lot of money on you. I forgot to mention that the 40 P11 carbs were used on the Carreras, and Porsche built these cars to win!