Carb vs FI pole who has them and what do you think??

[DF]

I currently have slightly modified FI....Definately considering web's..especially considering the increasing lack of FI parts and their prices!!

[echocanyons]

I have dual webers and I think that these are much more user freindly than the FI.
Although they do take some occasional tuning.
As an added bonus they look very cool with the velocity stacks and combined with the exhuast they have the decibles to shake all the fiberglass and F1 wings off the modified Hondas and the like .
I cant say that they give much of an HP increase or not due to my short time spent with FI (towed it home and tore the FI out).
I have a 1.8liter and I understand that the L-jetronic was a bear compared to the D-jetronic FI.
Wait all you FI purests before you condemn me. I still have the original FI incase I decide that I want to convert back(not for sale).

My vote is for the Carbs.

[JmuRiz]

I have dual webbers too...the PO had them installed. They do sound and look great but they aren't too fond of the cold. Once they are tuned right and warmed up they are good. A real nice FI is the way to go, I believe. I love the car no matter what so it's not that big an issue for me
Nathan

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'73 2.0 914

[Conrad W Peden]

Dual 40mm Dells

More driveable than the Webers I used to have. Well turned Webers only work in two positions, idle and WOT. (my opinion)

Not that its a bad thing, what other positions are there?

I like the carbs cause there is more power, different response, cool sound. DEFINITELY need the cam and distributor upgrade 050,009 when going to carbs.

Geez this could take a while to sort out. Most of us have been through it more than once. Try looking for threads on the subject.

Bottom line... More power? Yes, with cam and distributor swap. How much? ....? Maybe 10-15HP no-one can say for sure unless you put it on a dyno.



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CWP/VIR
72 914 L20E in rusto.
73 914 L20E 2.0L in resto.
http://members.rennlist.com/a914lover

[bowlsby]

I'm a big fan of FI cars, they were designed stock for FI. So what...

There are just as many carb proponents, maybe more. There seems to be a huge misconception that the FI is difficult. Its not really, but you do need to learn how it works. D-Jet FI is actually quite primitive and there are lots of resources on how to trouble shoot any problem.

Brad Anders http://members.rennlist.com/pbanders/DJetParts.htm has been doing some remarkable research and writing some amazing tech articles on various aspects of the FI and of course there is Kjell Nelins article, and Jim Thorusens work. Check the archives.

Carbed '74 and newer 914s in CA aren't street legal either yet. In fact if you are splitting hairs, even the earlier 'exempt' cars run the risk of being tagged if they are run on the street with carbs as the original equipment must be intact to fully comply with the laws, even though exempt from bi-annual smog inpection...but they would have to catch you first.

Buying a set of carbs and linkage and the right cam and....can cost way more than maintaining the FI right. FI parts are still available if you look and maybe the single biggest depreciation a car can suffer is to be carbed. The FI cars are holding their value and escalating.

My vote is for FI, but thats just my preference, it may not be yours. Carbs aren't worth it to me.

[SteveStromberg]

I have both FI and Weber 44 IDF 2.0 cars.The FI starts right up and is drivable right away, The Webers need a few minutes of warm up time with some coughing and spiting.
As for overall driving Balls out ripping thur the canyon the Webers are better, stuck in traffic or putting around The FI is much more Civilized The FI hauls ass too, but the Webers have more pull and hit redline quicker.
If you car now has FI on it I would Stick with it. You can correct any problems for less money than buying a set of new Webers, but if you are building up a car and a set of Weber can be had cheap go for them just remember to put in a Hipo cam so that they can breath. Steve

[echocanyons]

Originally posted by Conrad W Peden:
Dual 40mm Dells
I like the carbs cause there is more power, different response, cool sound. DEFINITELY need the cam and distributor upgrade 050,009 when going to carbs.

I would stay away from the 009 distributor with carbs for the 914. I made the mistake and I am in the process of switching to a 050. I have a freshly rebuilt engine built by a competent shop, the motor never ran smoothly due to the 009's timing.
The 050 has the greater advance needed for the 914 as stated in other distributor postson pelicans BBS.

Kelly

[vw@micron.net]

I have been playing with Weber carbs since I was in 10th grade in high school. I am now playing with quad throttle bodies and programmable EFI. My 914 2.0 retains the stock D Jet.
The best carb is always a compromise at all load points, it is built in. With programmable EFI you can have the perfect mixtures at all RPMs and load points. There is no debate about which is better.
Carbs are cheap and easy though, I like to save those characteristics for something other than my induction
Steve Arndt

[B Komar]

Having had Dellortos and stock carbs on all my VW's in the past I was somewhat afraid of the FI. After giving all the threads on this site some thought I figured I should go for the original FI. I found every bit of info I could on the D-Jet and really studied it and I am now convinced that this is the way to go... My car starts pefectly and quickly in all kinds of weather/ humidity/ Temp. I believe that once you understand the components and how they work together it is really a good system. This car definitely has a bunch more power than the big, tuned, dual Dollorto'd VW's i have had and driven in the past. Having this BBS and all the info on the net (easily found) there really is no "too complicated/difficult" excuse anymore. Many of you live in the real world (west coast) where you have access to people/ shops that know this system. I (transplanted Huntington Beach native) live in Podunk Kansas so if I can figure this animal out....anyone can! Brian

[Bleyseng]

It would be interesting to dyno a car with both to see what is going on with each system. I ran dual 40mm Dells that came with the car then switched back to Djet. I find that the Djet has lots more low end power than the Dells which is nice for street and Auto x. The Djet was a pain to figure out at first but now is pretty simple to tell what is going wrong. I love the easy maintanence of having FI and not having to clean the idle jets all the time. Parts are available, you just have to look. When I go to the junkyard I always look at new 914's to see if I can "score" any FI parts. Gotta have a stash....
Plus now I can talk in the car, it's not so loud!
Geoff

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76 914 2.0L

[Conrad W Peden]

Echo,

I know about the 050/009 thing, I'm using an 050 myself but the thing is... get a different dist.


I guess I wasnt clear on my post. I like the Dell's over Webers. But I think I would rather have FI in fact I will when my 73 is finished. My 72 came with a fire buggered FI so carbs went on. along with cam, 050, 10:1 compression.....it was all or nothing. Too bad the motor only lasts about 30000 miles or so. About 1.5 - 2 yrs. Nothin less than 94 octane.

Where I live there is no such thing as smog. Yet.


Be careful what you wish for.....

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CWP/VIR
72 914 L20E in rusto.
73 914 L20E 2.0L in resto.
http://members.rennlist.com/a914lover

[LilMur9]

I'm quite fond of dinking around w/ carburetors...they're fun to play w/ and there's all kinds of little goodies inside... although the dual webs seem a little past my comprehension(i'll figure 'em out sometime). I definately would go w/ the carbs if I were you...they may not be as efficient as FI, but I always like to be able to screw around inside engines, which the technology in newer cars doesn't allow quite as much. Anywho, I'm getting off subject here. Go w/ the webs man!

[captjm]

I have run a 71 1.7 ltr with Weber 40 idf's from 1976 to 1987 with a bosche 031 dist.(from a 912?) Ran Great!. I had the engine built up a little to a (1.8?) back in 83 tried the bosche 009 and went back to the 031. Now the 71 914 is apart for a complete restro and looking for a 3.0 or 3.2 to complete it. In my search for parts I came across a complete 76 914 with non terminal rust cancer which I plan on combining with a 73 parts car to get on the road ASAP. The 76 has FI and I do have the spare 40 IDF's So this discussion about carbs vs. FI is very timely--- TO CARB OR NOT TO CARB THAT IS THE QUESTION?

[sammyg2]

I am running a 780 cfm Rochester 4 bbl carb right now, but I am drooling over the holley aftermarket fuel injection. some day:-)


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Gerald Gore II (Sam)
73 914 350 small block

[rkyrdrcr]

Is anyone running stock f.i. cam? What cam did Euro. 914's run? Thinking about 40mm Webers, but don't want to change cam right now.