The biggest problem w/setting up Solexes is the expense of buying all the
jets, emulsifiers and what not. My second Z had triple Webers and the car
didn't run well with them. I brought the car to an Italian car specialist
and had them tune them up for me. 20+ years ago it cost me about 300 if
memory serves me right. It took them all day and then some to tune them but
since they had every part they needed they could do comparisons and they
were familiar with the carbs and how a well tuned setup is supposed to run.
Probably in the long run I saved money as I didn't have to buy anything and
they didn't charge me for any parts as they took mine in trade.
Needless to say the car ran 100% better with no dead spots to speak of and
the one or two problems I noticed they fixed. My mileage went from 19 on the
highway to more than 26 and the throttle response was far crisper and the
car ran mucho faster. My money was well spent.
On my third Z I had a Holley setup and I had to fiddle with the jets,
accelerator pumps and a few other items but when it was completed it ran
well and got 30+ MPG on the highway. Holley parts are far cheaper than Solex
parts btw and I have several friends who were able to help me and supplied
me w/spare jets and pumps.
Unfortuantely my Z was totaled by a rearend collision after a full
restoration. After that incident I never became too emotional about any car
as they can easily be destroyed or stolen and all cars to me are just cars
although I do enjoy them. In the blink of an eye your prized possession can
be destroyed. Oh well.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: "Brian Hollands" <bholland@hayes.ds.adp.com>
To: "Datsun Roadster Mailing list" <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 10:09 AM
Subject: RE: Solexes 4 sale
> I'm glad this came up. A while back I had asked what jets/block/venturies
> folks were running in their Solexes. There was very little response,
which
> was not unexpected. When you go to set a Solex type carb up you have to
> understand that you can't just bolt them on and go. Even the Webber DGV's
> they sell to go on the stock Z car manifold (and anything else that ran
SU's
> or Stromberg's) are not bolt on items. They can't be as any two cars will
> likely require differences in the carbs set up because of differences in
the
> engines (how worn things are will affect set up).
> I would still like to compile a list of who has what in their solexes and
> what camshafts and engine modifications they have as I think that would be
> valuable in helping to set these things up. I will post the results of my
> own tuning when I get the car back together in a couple of months. In the
> meantime, for what it's worth, I will post what I know now:
> Out of the box the 44PHH has 34mm main venturies, "55" pilot jets, 135
main
> fuel jets and 140 main air jets on "8" jet blocks with "M" bleed pipes.
> According to Rebello the stock setup in 67.5 was 37mm main venturies,
> 165-170 main fuel with 250 main air on "OA" jet blocks.
> I believe that both set ups run 4.5 auxiliary venturies (or pump jets).
> From what I've read in Frank Honsowetz' book and talked to some others
> about, the Rebello setup sounds like a racing setup. They made no mention
> of bleed tubes in the OA jet block. Bleed tube have an effect on part
> throttle operation and are not used in the OA tube according to Honsowetz.
> I believe that they can be used in the OA tube but are left out in racing
> applications.
> I also remember some 15 years ago that the SCCA restricted the solex
2000's
> to 32mm main venturies in E production. I don't know if that is still the
> case.
> Needless to say, these are very different setups. If you want to run
> solexes you can set them up yourself without a dyno but it'll be a good
> weekends worth of work and could get frustrating (I'll let you know how
many
> times I throw my good carburetor screwdriver across the garage when I post
> the final results of my own tuning). If you want to do that you
absolutely
> must get a good book on the subject. "Tuning Webber Carburetors" is very
> valuable even when working on other carbs. Honsowetz book on rebuilding
the
> Nissan/Datsun OHC has a good chapter on carbs. I also saw a Solex manual
on
> Ebay a week or so ago that might have been some help. It sold for $52
> though and I wasn't going to pay that.
> I would still like to hear from others regarding what they are running in
> their solexes so that I could compile the information for those who want
to
> make these things run right.
> Most of the Solex
> equipped cars are not living up to their potential because each car
requires
> their own set up and people don't do that they, just slap on the carbies
> with no real performance gain. I drove several Solex cars and was not all
> that impressed w/most of them as they had stumbling, dead spots and the
> like.
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