Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Greetings,
Will Dellorto carbs fit the factory original Fulvia air cleaner box without any modifcations? I supose installing the correct Dellortos on a Fulvia engine is basically a "bolt on" type of job? Any linkage or other mods?
Will installing Dellorto carbs on a factory stock Fulvia detract from the car in some way?
Thanks in advance and happy motoring!
Tim
U.S.A.
P.S. I ran the OEM Solex single barrel carbs on both a Lancia Appia and a BMW 2002 for quite some years with absolutely no problems. Once in a while the idle jet would have to be cleaned as some dirt would lodge itself in there but other than that they were very trouble free carbs. Don't understand why everyone hates Solex carbs; perhaps it's parts availability or maybe the double barrel Solex carbs are less dependable than the single barrel versions?
Will Dellorto carbs fit the factory original Fulvia air cleaner box without any modifcations? I supose installing the correct Dellortos on a Fulvia engine is basically a "bolt on" type of job? Any linkage or other mods?
Will installing Dellorto carbs on a factory stock Fulvia detract from the car in some way?
Thanks in advance and happy motoring!
Tim
U.S.A.
P.S. I ran the OEM Solex single barrel carbs on both a Lancia Appia and a BMW 2002 for quite some years with absolutely no problems. Once in a while the idle jet would have to be cleaned as some dirt would lodge itself in there but other than that they were very trouble free carbs. Don't understand why everyone hates Solex carbs; perhaps it's parts availability or maybe the double barrel Solex carbs are less dependable than the single barrel versions?
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
The Solexes are not really bad when new. I find the older Solexes better than the later ons.The construction of the spindle mechanism is such that it causes wear. The butterfly valves scrape against the barrels. Both are soft materials and wear making it more and more difficult to adjust the idle and mixture.
The Dellorto's have ball bearings and are virtually bullit proof. They can be bolted on. The Dellorto trumpets fit inside the airfilter box. Some minor mods have to be made.
The operating lever is on the other carb. One end of the linkage rod has to be rotated 180 degrees.
A longer choke cable has to be installed. It is supplied with a pair fo new Dellorto's. I usually don't bother and leave the choke not connected.
The operating lever comes very close to the metal flange of the carb rubber. Too close. When you mount the carbs on the rubber it seems just not to touch. However when you put the things on the car it suddenly does. So grind away a bit from the flange.
The length of the fuel hose is different. Have fuel hose at hand when you mount them.
Make sure you have the proper jetting for the type of Fulvia engine.
The Dellorto's have ball bearings and are virtually bullit proof. They can be bolted on. The Dellorto trumpets fit inside the airfilter box. Some minor mods have to be made.
The operating lever is on the other carb. One end of the linkage rod has to be rotated 180 degrees.
A longer choke cable has to be installed. It is supplied with a pair fo new Dellorto's. I usually don't bother and leave the choke not connected.
The operating lever comes very close to the metal flange of the carb rubber. Too close. When you mount the carbs on the rubber it seems just not to touch. However when you put the things on the car it suddenly does. So grind away a bit from the flange.
The length of the fuel hose is different. Have fuel hose at hand when you mount them.
Make sure you have the proper jetting for the type of Fulvia engine.
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Huib's comments are always spot-on. The only addition I can make about Solexes is to observe that the idle needles and seats tend to wear out and the accelerator pumps cause trouble with the result that the cars will stumble when moving off. Replacement parts are a definite problem. Every rebuild kit I ever bought seemed to consist of a random fistful of parts only loosely related to the C35 units they were supposed to fit. I never tried a Dellorto conversion. I'm sure Huib's endorsement is enough to end all debate.
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Hi,
Fitted 32 DHLA Dellorto's to my 1049cc Fulvia 2c Berlina, what a difference, pulls much better(needed) runs much smoother and jets are accessible, well worth buying new.
Brian
Fitted 32 DHLA Dellorto's to my 1049cc Fulvia 2c Berlina, what a difference, pulls much better(needed) runs much smoother and jets are accessible, well worth buying new.
Brian
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
I completely agree with you on the "rebuild kits". They contain useless junk. Fortunately there are still a few professional carb shops left where you can get original parts.
I understand that the 13 degree butterfly valves are a problem. If anyone plans to remake some, it may be interesting to try POM instead of copper. POM is a very stable plastic. It might eleminate the wear.
I understand that the 13 degree butterfly valves are a problem. If anyone plans to remake some, it may be interesting to try POM instead of copper. POM is a very stable plastic. It might eleminate the wear.
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Randy, you've hit on the exact problem with my brother's solex car! The car is very hesitant when moving off. I've rebuilt the solex carbs, including new accelerator pump diaphragms and am confident they're set up right, properly balanced, adjusted and with correct mixture settings. I also know that the accelerator pumps produce a good squirt of fuel - so does this mean I need to adjust the threaded pushrod that operates the accelerator pumps? Problem is I've no idea how to set them - the only technical information I have includes a handwritten note (I believe by Peter Gerrish), saying don't fiddle with this threaded setting! But I'd love to give it a try and see if I can solve this one niggling problem......
Can you / anyone help?
Can you / anyone help?
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Don't fiddle the setting of the threaded push rod. The advise of Peter Gerrish is always to be taken SERIOUSLY. It is also my advise with which you can do as you like.
10 to 1 that the pump jets are blocked.
Take off the airfilter and look into the barrels with a good torch light. Behind the venturis are the pump jets at the top of the barrel. If you operate the throttle by hand you should see a squirt of petrol coming out of them.
If not, let me know and I will tell you how to solve the problem in scrambled Latin as my method is frowned upon by experts.
10 to 1 that the pump jets are blocked.
Take off the airfilter and look into the barrels with a good torch light. Behind the venturis are the pump jets at the top of the barrel. If you operate the throttle by hand you should see a squirt of petrol coming out of them.
If not, let me know and I will tell you how to solve the problem in scrambled Latin as my method is frowned upon by experts.
Re: Questions on Dellorto vs Solex
Thanks Huib. I've checked the jets before and they're definitely not blocked - theres a good strong squirt of fuel in each barrel when you open the throttle + the accelerator pump diaphragms are new. Theres quite a bit of slack before they operate though - from memory a gap of 2-3mm before the locking nuts make contact with the arms which operate the diaphragms. Can this be right? What happens is that at the moment when the throttle is opened, the inlet manifold sucks air without enough petrol, slowing the engine momentarily so that by the time the accelerator pumps do their job the engine is already almosty stalled and struggles to "pick-up". Its terrible to drive!
I agree that its generally good advice not to mess with these settings, but what if they've been altered before - can anyone confirm whether they also have clearance between the adjusting nuts and actuating arm?
I agree that its generally good advice not to mess with these settings, but what if they've been altered before - can anyone confirm whether they also have clearance between the adjusting nuts and actuating arm?
Solexes
Jim
Some years ago I bought a Flaminia coupe with the infamous 3B carb. The price was relatively low as the previous owner could not get it to run right. In fact he blew a head gasket when fiddling with the carb. He had been able to pick it up at a low price, because the owner before him could not get it to run right either.
I replaced the headgasket and took the carb to Fourfooz in Antwerp. The gentleman has been servicing carbs for 40 years as a Solex and Weber dealer. He told me hardly any part (of all the springs, washers, membranes, jets, emulsion tubes etc etc) was correct. Took him some time to get all the right parts, but when I put the carb back on, the engine ran like the proverbial sewing machine. I did not have to re adjust anything. Not even the mixture.
Then and there I decided to take the carbs there without thinking twice whenever I bought a car that was not running or running badly. Sure enough in most of the cases there were wrong parts. I sent a friend there who could not get his Giulia spider to run. The carb did not have an emulsion tube! A friend of mine, far more experienced with Lancia's than I am, restored a couple of Augusta's which he could not get to run right. The took the carbs there. Same story as with my Flaminia. He bolted the carb on and the engine run perfectly immediately.
That does not mean I don't touch any carbs. If the engine ran fine before I am sure that the parts inside the carb are of the right type and no parts are missing. So, I fix those.
I just looked at the pile of parts I keep here at home. No carbs. I will have a look when I am in my workshop tomorrow if I don't forget. Some people already call me Huib Alzheimer.
Huib
Some years ago I bought a Flaminia coupe with the infamous 3B carb. The price was relatively low as the previous owner could not get it to run right. In fact he blew a head gasket when fiddling with the carb. He had been able to pick it up at a low price, because the owner before him could not get it to run right either.
I replaced the headgasket and took the carb to Fourfooz in Antwerp. The gentleman has been servicing carbs for 40 years as a Solex and Weber dealer. He told me hardly any part (of all the springs, washers, membranes, jets, emulsion tubes etc etc) was correct. Took him some time to get all the right parts, but when I put the carb back on, the engine ran like the proverbial sewing machine. I did not have to re adjust anything. Not even the mixture.
Then and there I decided to take the carbs there without thinking twice whenever I bought a car that was not running or running badly. Sure enough in most of the cases there were wrong parts. I sent a friend there who could not get his Giulia spider to run. The carb did not have an emulsion tube! A friend of mine, far more experienced with Lancia's than I am, restored a couple of Augusta's which he could not get to run right. The took the carbs there. Same story as with my Flaminia. He bolted the carb on and the engine run perfectly immediately.
That does not mean I don't touch any carbs. If the engine ran fine before I am sure that the parts inside the carb are of the right type and no parts are missing. So, I fix those.
I just looked at the pile of parts I keep here at home. No carbs. I will have a look when I am in my workshop tomorrow if I don't forget. Some people already call me Huib Alzheimer.
Huib