I Need Input On Replacement Of Fi System With Carb.'s

[Bleyseng]

I like to replace the hose at the injector as it does crack there. Pertronix is a good set up if you don't leave the key on.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

The special curved hose sections have been NLA for a while, though either people keep finding them in old boxes or the manufacturer does run off small runs of them periodically, because they do become available from time to time.

I usually just us a short length of FI hose, and route it so the hose doesn't kink. A spring inside the hose can help with that, of course. Use FI hose clamps, not the worm-gear type clamps that are more common. The rolled edges and such keep the clamps from cutting into the hoses.

BTW, so far my experience is that vapor lock is a problem that everyone blames, but fairly few people actually have...

--DD

[toyvo75]

Thanks dave and bleyseng. I have also repaired the hose at the injectors, but some ppl. dont think its a good idea. Well I have a meeting with the owner tomorrow I will again try to talk him out of the conversion, as i did after the reply's i recieved from my first post. And as a new twist on the problem, Weber is (from what i gather) is in chapter 11, and is in the process of selling to another company. So ordering a carb. set up now has become almost impossible. This thread may already be cut. Thanks again to all who have contributed.

[Grantsfo]

If he's not worried about ultimate performance why not go with a single carb? Less expesive, less hassels etc. I had a Type 4 VW bus with a single carb before I upgraded to dual carbs and it ran great and got excellent gas mileage for a Bus. I think dual carbs on a street car is overkill if your not looking for ultimate performance. Sounds like this guy just wants reliability.

I would have to agree with most of the people here however. Fuel injection is pretty fool proof and very reliable. I have been on several cross country trips and never had fuel injection crap out on me. Rather than spending money on carbs why not just buy all the key spare parts for fuel injection?

[tat2dphreak]

single carb setups run too lean and never get right... carbs like, nay, DEPEND on the manifold getting warm enough, and the single carb setups DON'T get warm enough... this will cause the engine to wear quickly and run too hot.

[toyvo75]

Well rouser will be happy to know that the owner has surrendered. Weber isnt coming out with a carb. setup for the next few months soooo, he is gonna go on the trip with the F.I. working.
Now all I have to do is replace hoses and repair electrical connections.
I am stoked. Ok, off I go to the tech. artical I saw on hose length and size. You guys have been great.

[Grantsfo]

Originally posted by tat2dphreak
single carb setups run too lean and never get right... carbs like, nay, DEPEND on the manifold getting warm enough, and the single carb setups DON'T get warm enough... this will cause the engine to wear quickly and run too hot.

.....Hmmm. I ran a single carb type four for over 60,000 miles on a hard working VW Bus engine and then switched to dual carbs and it was running for another 20,000 and was still running great when I sold it. So guess the bus manifold was getting hot enough?

[tat2dphreak]

I think, from what I've heard, you are the exception, not the rule... the single carb setup will work, but everything I've ever heard is that you won't get enough gas, and what gas you get won't atomize well because the manifolds don't get warm enough near the carb itself... and by wear quickly, I'm not talking type 1 20k miles/rebuild quick... the type 4 will last a long time... very tough little engines.

I have a single carb setup if someone wants it, but I don't recommend it... the 1.8 it was on could have had it's own issues, but the single carb didn't help. I haven't torn into it to see HOW bad it really is, but I'm betting money the heads are toast... a 914 engine running rich will run cooler than one running lean...

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Bus != 914...

If the FI harness is in really bad shape, give Jeff Bowlsby a yell. http://members.rennlist.com/914_wiring_harnesses

--DD

[jhadler]

Regarding webers...

Yup, pretty much in agreement with the rest. If the motor is stock, the best you can do (for longevity, economy, power, and reliability) is the stock FI. It hasn't lasted 30+ years for no reason.

As for the webers themselves? Weber is beyond chapter 11, they are no more. Buying new -webers- will be an excercise. However, EMPI is flooding the market with chinese knockoffs. I don't know how good they are, but they've seriously depressed the value of webers from what I've found... They're cheap...

-Josh2

[Bleyseng]

I ran a single carb setup on my 72 bus and what a hassle. The icing up of the steel runners, hard cold running and all of the pain wasn't worth it. Now maybe in Boony Doon its plenty warm so it didnt happened much to you, but here in the NW I would never ever run that again. On cold mornings, I would start up the bus and let it warm up and then turn it off for 5 minutes so the runner could soak up the heat. Otherwise, ice would form on them and the bus would die and you were stuck for 5 minutes.

[WCJim]

I need recommended jetting for a pair of weber 44 idf's on a 2.0 motor, european mahle p/c, cam.

thank you.

[Tobra]

I also have a 1979 VW convertible with the stock FI. It has been absolutely trouble free. When my fuel injector hoses started to leak, I replaced them with the high pressure hoses, similar to what pelican sells. The smooth stuff, not the cloth covered stuff, and secured it with the original hose clamps(they are far superior to what you get at an auto parts store, perhaps still available through VW or Porsche dealer, though I doubt it, AC VW is a bastard child to VW now). It still has all the original injection parts, except for the hoses, seals and fuel filter. I replaced the fuel pump recently and I expect the thing will go another 27 years. I have driven the car from California to Nebraska, on another trip to Albuquerque from Sacramento and several times to LA, Oregon. The only problem with the original fuel injection is that it prevents me from putting a larger engine in the car,which dual carbs would work well with, even with the stock 1600, it could stand a little more fuel. 50 horsepower in a car that weighs close to what a 914 does is just not fun. I had intended to put a 2.0 liter type IV in it, but they changed the smog laws and made it so I almost certainly could not do it. Selling it to buy a stock, 2.0 914. Electronic ignition is nice because you eliminate the mechanical parts that can fail, no more dwell, ever.