Can anyone guide me through my carburettor confusion please? My engine is a 1600 on a late bay and I still have the standard vacuum advance distributor however a previous owner has ditched the stock carb and put on a brand new EMPI 34 PICT 3 single arm carb instead. At low speed in second gear the pick up and flat spot is terrible - giving it more gas has the opposite effect and it feels like the engine is being choked. I am sure this has something to do with the vacuum however I am no expert. The EMPI is brand new however I am thinking it has to go. Seems this combination is well known for the flat spot hesitation? Am I right to be looking for an original (preferably rebuilt) Solex 34 PICT 3 to put this back to how VW intended or should I be considering something else? Ditching the distributor even? I hear talk of twin head Weber's being the best thing then others telling me stock is the only way to go. Help!
One thing with the EMPI 34 PICT 3, check that the auto choke is set up correctly and is coming fully off when hot.
I am no expert but I have a Solex with a 1600 and it has always been fine - EMPI carbs don't have a great reputation so I would try and find a Solex
When i bought my bus 1600 tp, it was fitted with a Brosol 30/31. went all through the adjustments on the web and could never get it to run nicely. Had a virtualy new empi 34 in the garage that i had fitted to my gt beetle, it was crap on the beetle, tried this on the bus and had the same results as you, tickover and awful flat spots. Have just bought a original solex 34 pict 3 off jonno 74 on here, bolted on and the bus runs spot on, even tickover pulls well and no flat spots. someone may have one on here, put a post in the wanted section or try ebay. Original is the way to go chap, empi , bocar get bad reviews,
Don't be too quick to write the carb off...it could be that other things are contributing to the engine running poorly. Usual suspects: Valve Clearances Ignition timing Leaking/defective vacuum diaphragm (hoses etc.) incorrect spark plug grade Carb maladjusted uneven compression Air leaks exhaust leaks etc. etc. It is also reasonably cold....so single carb set-ups need all the help VW gave them with correct pre-heating form the air cleaner and inlet manifold heating from the heat riser tubes....(if the latter are blocked from years of use, the symptoms are similar to the ones you describe)
Are you sure the jets are the same as the original spec? And as above if you do not have a stock air cleaner with preheated air you are now entering the season where it is colder than EMPI's Orange County LA California HQ and the chrome air filter will let cold air in and it will run badly even with a well setup carb. Same as for any centremounted carb.
