any VW bug guys out there

[widebody911]

I've been running Pertronix's for years now; I have one in my Unimog, 56 VW single cab, and 356A.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by rcooled

Back in 1974, VW distributors were designed to work best when paired with a specific carburetor. There should be a number stamped on the base flange of the carb (left side as you're looking at it). If this motor still has it's original carb (not always the case after all these years), that number would be either 427-1 or 428-1.
If the car was originally sold in CA, that number could be 429-1 or 430-1.

For a 427-1 (the most common carb), the original distributor would've been VW P/N 043905205. A 428-1 or a 430-1 (not very common) would pair with a 043905205A. A 429-1 carb used an 043905205C distributor.

Be aware that distributors and carburetors on air-cooled VW motors are easily swapped around and many no longer have the same components that were originally supplied with the car. Plus, there are now a ton of aftermarket carbs out there with no numbers on the base flange at all. If that's the case here, you just have to do the best you can to find a suitable match...different combos can be made to work. If you can get the model number of the carb (on the left side of the float bowl as you're looking at it), that would be helpful in picking a suitable distributor.

Thank you!! This is amazingly good info, the PPOT abides once again.

[T77911S]

it has the original 34-pict.
i have not looked for the other numbers.

from what i have read is the "009" that everyone puts in has a flat spot off idle due to lack of enough advance, thus the need for the vac pot.

it is running better but he told me it seems to have a flat spot around 1800-2k. not sure if he is just hitting the "power band" of that 50hp or what.

my concern is the slight miss/engine shake at idle and holding RPM at 2k.
only thing not replaced in ignition is coil, but new one on the way.

funny, when we first started it with the new dist the miss was gone but timing was way advanced at idle.

[GH85Carrera]

Ah the easy old days of carb, points and plugs.

One of the girls I dated back in the 70s had a bug that was running like crap. She came over to my place, a dumpy apartment to visit. It was my first apartment and price was my only reason for renting there. Her car would not start when she was ready to leave. I suggested she just spend the night. I loved that car.

In the morning I went out in the daylight and pulled the points, cleaned them by pulling a piece of paper through the contacts. I then put them back in, and used a matchbook cover to set them. I sprayed some WD-40 in the cap as it looked a bit damp in there.

It fired up and ran better than it had in a year. She was very happy and so was I.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by T77911S

...from what i have read is the "009" that everyone puts in has a flat spot off idle due to lack of enough advance, thus the need for the vac pot.

Yes, this is true. The '009' distributor doesn't pair well with the 34PICT carb for the reason you mention. Your best choice for a distributor would be VW P/N 043 905 205, which is a single vacuum, dual advance (SVDA) unit like this: https://www.vwnos.com/043-905-205-2

...it is running better but he told me it seems to have a flat spot around 1800-2k.

This is right about the point where the carb transitions from running mostly on the idle circuit to running on the primary circuit controlled by the main jet. 34PICT carbs can be a bit finicky and hard to adjust. A good cleaning in an ultrasonic tank and a careful setup and adjustment should go a long way toward improving its performance. Here's how to properly adjust a 34PICT carb: SOLEX 34 PICT/3 Carburetor Adjustment Procedures

...shake at idle and holding RPM at 2k.

There's another factor that'll cause difficulty in setting the proper idle speed, and it's due to the way the ignition timing is set at idle (either before TDC or after TDC, depending on which distributor is being used). 34PICT carbs all have a small hole in the throttle plate. Carbs that were originally paired with dual vacuum, dual advance (DVDA) distributors (timing set after TDC) have a 5/32" hole, while carbs paired with single vacuum, dual advance (SVDA) distributors (timing set before TDC) have a 1/8" hole.
If the carb has the larger 5/32" hole, it'll be more difficult to set the idle correctly when using an SVDA distributor, like the 043 905 205. This can also be the case when using the '009' distributor. A common fix for this is to install a pop-rivet in the hole and punch out its mandrel, resulting in a smaller hole in the plate.

I know, probably way more info than you need, but that's the full story on 34PICT carbs and distributors.

[T77911S]

oh no, great info .
i have read up on the 34pict.
i know these carbs are very sensitive to idle rpm.
i have it set to just below 900.
i did tweak the mixture. in until it dipped and out until it dipped then to fastest idle.
i will check it again.

he did say the cold idle is no good and the warm idle is now good.

the miss is what bothers me.
could mixture cause the miss.

oh, i do have a "color tune" it didnt change any when i was adjusting mixture. it stayed blue.
even above idle.


he DID have the dist with vac retard and vac advance. timing was originally set to 7.5 ATDC.
its now set to 30 BTDC full advance, maybe 32. idle is now 6 BTDC.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by T77911S

...the miss is what bothers me. could mixture cause the miss.

Well, it could...but it's not the most likely culprit. Is the miss constant or intermittent? Try to determine which cylinder is missing by pulling the plug wires off one at a time and noting any changes in the way the motor runs. If the miss is confined to only one cylinder, it's probably a bad plug, plug wire, or connector. If it's random, then something's up with the distributor. Double check the points gap and make sure all plug wire connections are tight at each plug and at the distributor cap. If using standard Bosch plug wires, make sure the plastic connectors at the plug ends are secure...they just 'screw' onto the ends of the wires.

...he DID have the dist with vac retard and vac advance. timing was originally set to 7.5 ATDC. its now set to 30 BTDC full advance, maybe 32. idle is now 6 BTDC.

Full advance set to 30° BTDC is good for both the '009' (or any non-vacuum distributor) or an SVDA distributor (set with vacuum like plugged). If the motor's original distributor had both vac advance & retard, then the carb's throttle plate would have the larger hole. Reducing the size of that hole can help get the motor to idle properly (see my other post).