On Sat, Mar 7, 2009 at 12:18 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans
<scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
> Good electronic fuel injection just can not be beat ........for cold
> drivability, emissions, good drivability etc. �A carb is always a crude and
> mechanical compromise device. Electronics trump mechanics every time. You
> can see it throughout �automotive development - electronic ignition
> replacing points, distrbutorless ignition systems replaceing ones with
> distrubutors , etc. etc.
> �There was the electronic feed back carb..........for a few years, That
> sure didn't last............replaced by EFI.
>
> The EFI system on waterboxers is quite crude btw........compared to more
> modern stuff.
> Any good system with an Air Mass Meter instead of an Air flow Meter ( a
> place where something mechanical interfaces with electrons .........which is
> ALWAYS a weakness ) ..................Subaru and say, Volvo with air mass
> meter.......is always a more reliable and consistent system.
> Subaru EFI ...........
> makes waterboxer EFI look like lawn mower technology.
> The Subaru system is sequential, has cam and crank sensors , and knock
> sensor ignition........makes the wbxr EFI and ignition system look silly.
> "Distriubutor' ........what's that ?? � - some old fashioned thing the 80's.
>
> Not finding the time, but I have a plan in the back of my mind to fit Subaru
> EFI to a vanagon waterboxer engine........
> but it would be even easier to do 1988 740 Volvo inline four EFI with air
> mass meter to a waterboxer........no cam or crank sensors on that system,
> but has a air mass meter. �If I just happen to stumble onto a non-turbo
> volvo 740 system in a junkyard ...............hmmmm........get rid of that
> hokey air flow meter, though they hang in there fairly well, most of the
> time.
>
> 'new type of carb'...........I'd like to hear more about that. �If there is
> some way to get beyond the float bowl and float concept in
> carbs...........perhaps something better than the traditional carb can be
> done.
> What fun.
> Scott
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Hargrave" <thargrav@HIWAAY.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 9:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Replacing FI with Carbs on WBX 2.1L
>
>
>> There is no carburetor that will come close to a FI system, even a FI
>> system
>> from the late 80s. A good FI system keeps your fuel mixture very close to
>> a
>> perfect 14.5:1. A carburetor can't do this across all RPM ranges. But this
>> does not keep people from switching.
>>
>> Don't get me wrong, I'm an old carburetor guy and I love working on them.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Tom Hargrave
>> www.kegkits.com
>> 256-656-1924

As a shade tree dude who used to hack away at the old Solex carbs, I
can say that the only virtue I can see with carbs, is that if stuck in
the middle of BFE, (and a rebuild kit is stowed away) one might stand
a better chance of getting home. i.e. a clogged jet. On the flip side,
it seems that with a more modern EFI system, if one carries spare
parts, (sensors) they might stand a chance of getting to where they
need to be.  Sort of a "6 of one" type of thing. And IMO, any system
can fail causing the engine to stop.

 I guess it depends on what one is used to servicing. Prior to
converting, I had NO idea how an EFI system generally worked (still
have lots to learn) and would have leaned toward carb(s). Regardless,
I am confident that unless the ECU melts or the wiring harness fails,
if I have known working spare parts, I'll likely get it running again.

Just my .02 and as they say, YMMV!

-- 
Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"

http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/

http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines