Carburetor options

[joshcrd]

Hi all,

I've searched this forum quite a bit on replacement carby options for 1.6 manual mk1. Nearly everyone suggests putting a weber on. My limited knowledge of carburetors is that the weber is a racing carb and not the best option to improve every day drivability. I've done a bit of reading and it seems the weber is opened or closed depending on whether you are on or off the pedal. This is fine for racing but for every day driving and fuel economy would it be better to use a different carby that varies how much it opens up depending on how you're driving?

Hope this makes sense, I know upgrading the carby is definitely a good way to improve the overall everyday drivability of the car, and I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a good replacement for the original. Mine's not too bad but the choke element has gone and apparently you cant get them anymore. Ideally I would go for one that still has an automatic choke, I think webcon is one brand available on crazyquiff brand new, and is designed very similar to the original MK1 carby. Perhaps thats one option, any others?

Cheers,
Josh

[richo]

I had a Weber 40 DCOE on a lynx manifold on my mk1 1.8l and it was great sound and power wise, but fuel economy was terrible. Went to a Weber 32/36 on a Passat TS manifold and economy was much improved due to the progressive design and with little loss of power. Only funny thing was it would occasionally sputter/stall on sharp turns due to being designed for longitudinal rather than transverse engine design.
cheers

[Peter Jones]

There's different types of Webers. What most people would recommend for you is one of the twin barrel progressive units that bolts up to a Passat manifold. DGV, DGAV etc.

A "racing" style Weber for your car would be one or two DCOE sidedrafts.

Neither style are simply on or off, they both open gradually as you put your foot down.

A progressive carb has two barrels, a primary and a secondary. The primary opens first and when it's about 80% open the secondary begins to open.

With the DCOE the barrels are synchronous meaning that both barrels open together.

Tuned properly either setup will give you good economy.

There's also a few single barrel Webers out there that will replace you stock carb too.

For a stock 1.6 a well tuned DGV or similar progressive carb on a Passat manifold is the way to go.

Conservative driving is economical because you're only using the primary circuit but when you want to go fast you can put your foot down and open up both barrels.

[dubstar]

Poor economy is not usually down to the type of carb. It's usually the carb tuning (or lack of) and a mismatched ignition system that will cause poor economy. A pair of DCOEs with proper tuning and a matched ignition system will give great economy and power.

[joshcrd]

okay thanks all for clarifying

this is car is just a run around for me when the mrs is driving the other car which is a 2012 118 TSI golf... im only making mods to the car that will improve reliability/drivability... if I get a bit more pep or some extra milage out of it thats just a bonus

the current way it drives is not terrible, the thing that prompted me to even do the conversion now was the choke element dying and conceding I need to now get a manual choke... having said that i've been in a few other mk1s which drive much nicer than what mine does (plus the engine in mine only has 76000km) the stock carb is still okay apart from the choke element, but if im going to now need a manual choke because I cant replace the element I might as well upgrade the entire carb at the same time

so I guess a weber it is then

my next question is, if I was to go for a twin barrel that bolts onto the passat manifold, is there somewhere in sydney that anyone can recommend to do the entire conversion i.e. find the actual parts (dont mind second hand) install and tune with a dyno

also for others who have done this before, what kind of damage should I expect? some say its reasonable and others say it would be super expensive but to get a rough dollar amount would be good just so I know im not getting ripped off (which has happened before unfortunately when the mechanic realises I know very little about cars)

[EwenHayton]

Put an R1 carb on it can get the inlet manifolds off eBay and the carb's

[Campaign]

Sorry if this goes off-thread a bit, but the thread has caused me to go to the garage and I have found a late model Solex PICT 5 carburettor which is clean and looks to be in good nick. Don't know where to find the VW part number on it, but wondering if it is of any use/value?

[ByronRichesMk1]

I've been quoted around $1500-$2000 for two DCOE 40 Webers, Mangalesi manifold, linkages, instillation and a tune.
So that probably gives you a ball park figure dude.
Twin 40's is a pretty damn decent set up though..

[joshcrd]

I've been quoted around $1500-$2000 for two DCOE 40 Webers, Mangalesi manifold, linkages, instillation and a tune.
So that probably gives you a ball park figure dude.
Twin 40's is a pretty damn decent set up though..

crikey thats how much my car cost, I could do an entire engine conversion for that much

i can get a 40mm delorto with lynx manifold for 320 from one of the members, been doing some research and this looks like a good option