Fuel Injection Conversion to Carbs

windlake · windlake's Garage

I have a 914-4 1.8L with fuel injection. The Injection is getting worn out and I'm going to convert to WeberCarbs this winter. The car is used mainly for street and drives in the country, which carb setup should I get?

34IDCT Dual 1 BBL
40IDF Dual 40'40 2 BBL

I understand that I will need a new fuel pump and a 009 distributor.

Alfred1 · 08-05-2004, 06:55 AM

Dual 40 IDF Webers? Kit Carlson's engine management system should be available by that time so that's another alternative for you and probably not much more expensive than carbs (if you already have a laptop to program the EMS).

Jake Raby · 08-05-2004, 07:07 AM

Yes, what Alfred said... It will use all your stock FI parts and is much simpler to adjust... I changed to it on my car, as one of the test vehicles for it, and I LOVE IT! (I'm not one for FI normally)

OR, use those 40mm Webers

lapuwali · 08-05-2004, 07:27 AM

And don't use an 009 distributor, get a Mallory instead. Since you'll be spending upwards of $1000 on the carbs alone (assuming you buy new ones), spending extra on the Mallory shouldn't be such a big deal. Makes a big difference.

The cheapest and easiest route, however, would be to rebuild your existing L-Jet system. Most of the parts are still readily available, and it's a simple system once you understand it. Look for Probst's Bosch Fuel Injection book. Just switching to carbs will gain you NO power, and adds cold-start difficulties (the Webers don't have a cold-start system). You'll probably also need to remove and clean your fuel tank, as the accumulation of cruft in the tank will cause some idle jet clogging even with good filters.

Jason Porter · 08-05-2004, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by windlake
I understand that I will need a new fuel pump and a 009 distributor.

Don't you mean an 050 distributor.

mikey · 08-05-2004, 08:03 AM

No......he said Mallory!!!!! Much more adjustable.

Jason Porter · 08-05-2004, 08:21 AM

Anything's better than using that 009.

Clay Perrine · 08-06-2004, 07:40 AM

I would just fix the L-jet. The carbs will be terrible on a stock 1.8. The L-jet will get you better performance. Now if you are going to rebuild the motor with more compression and a hot cam.... the carbs would be better. Stock FI doesn't like radical cams. BTDT.

Jake Raby · 08-06-2004, 08:34 AM

I don't like an 050 either... I'd rather have a 009, atleast you don't idle at 2degrees ATDC to get 28 out of tit.. The key is higher initial advance for a faster curve and good low speed operation. This makes the progression circuits of the carbs really do their job well.

balthazar · 08-06-2004, 07:55 PM

yes, what jake said...

I have a 1.7 with 40idf carbs and an 009, and it does just fine! It's not a very street friendly setup, mainly cause the carbs load up at low revs. I can't let the engine drop below 1500rpms, or it will prolly die. You need to have 3 feet to work the pedals...

The 1.8 should adapt to the carbs just fine. When you get them balanced and set up properly, the idle will amaze you! It's hard to tell if my engine is running when at idle!

You will need to be careful when you first hit the gas. You can easily drown the engine. Once you get to 1500 or so, she will pull like any fuel injected engine, all the way to 5500!

I enjoy my set up thouroughly! MY CAR IS NOT A DAILY DRIVER! The car is a handful in Denver rush hour traffic. If you want to drive to work and stuff, stick with the fuel injection.

Just my .02...clink,clink

lapuwali · 08-06-2004, 09:54 PM

It does just fine, except for horrible drivability and the near constant tendency to flood ...sigh.

I have a stock 1.7 with 40IDFs on it. It has far better drivability than described above. I can start gently or floor it in any gear at any speed and it will simply accelerate w/o bogging or flooding. It IS possible, but it took a good long while to get it working this well. I ran an 009 for some time, and replaced it (with a Mallory) primarily because I couldn't get it timed so that it wouldn't ping anywhere in the rev range. Get it working in the low end, and it pinged in the midrange. Fix that, and it affected the low end.

My gas mileage sucks (less than 20mpg), and cold starts take some cranking to get it to fire, and I have to futz with the throttle until it warms up (no cold start or fast idle circuits on the IDFs sold for VW engines). I still intend to go back to EFI, but the car came to me this way.

jamcleod · jamcleod's Garage

well, if you are able to spend, what..., $600 for carbs, couldn't you spend $600 to get the L-jet working right? for $600 you could buy rebuilt injectors, rebuilt brain, cylinder head temp sensor, rebuilt dist. i got a whole L-jet system, used of course, for under $200. depends upon what the plans are for the car. i'm a stock weenie and like my car stock, anyway, any 1.8L is not going to win any races unless you can find a flock of Yugo's and even then it would be close. the factory workshop manual states that the L-jet is the "more modern FI system" and personally, i don't think L-jet get any appreciation. everywhere i read i see "more power... -6 conversion, v8 conversion..." i read that as big $$$$$ that i don't have (2 kids in college). guess i'll go have afternoon tea with the grandma's before my nap....

balthazar · 11:04 PM

actually, my drivability sucks because of the pertronix ignitor I have installed. The thing seems to cut out when it gets hot. The PO completely cut up the wiring harness. Oh and also, the transaxle needs rebuilt. But thats another story.

My next step is definetly the Mallory dizzy. Looks like an awesome product.

Alfred1 · 08-08-2004, 05:10 AM

What coil are you using? Apparently not every Bosch coil is compatible with the Pertronix or Compufire units http://www.shoptalkforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=62438 .

balthazar · 08-11-2004, 06:15 PM

the coil checks out. ~3.0 ohms. Its heavy, oils filled...