Weber or Solex

[yellowbeard]

I have read on here that a weber is better. Does the stock carb. have a name or markings telling me what I have on my car? thanks Joe

[namba209]

Yeah Joe, the stock carb is a Solex. The main problem with them is the casting process and or material used. After so many years of have fuel going through the passages, they just get eroded away. Kinda sorta like the Grand Canyon in a smaller size.

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by yellowbeard I have read on here that a webber is better. Does the stock carb. have a name or markings telling me what I have on my car? thanks Joe

Joe;
An easy way to tell which carb you have (without going into detail) is to look at the top. If it's oval, it's a solex, if it is rectangular, it's a weber.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Joe; An easy way to tell which carb you have (without going into detail) is to look at the top. If it's oval, it's a solex, if it is rectangular, it's a weber.

And if it has an oval air horn rising from a flat area it's a Weber/Holley, not the best choice either.

Some swear by the Solex, most at it! I've never had any luck with one, but I'm not a carb person. Webers are easier for simple folks like me to adjust.

IIRC "SOLEX" is prominent on the bowl area facing the fender.

HTH,
Harold

[yellaopelgt]

If you can start and drive your car.....chances are, its a weber!!!
Just kidding!!!! Also be aware that there is an adapter made for the weber to allow you to use the original GT air snorkel. The only way to find out for sure what you have is to look around the base of the carb for the stamp identifieng the maker.
HTH
Joe

[Dennis Texas]

Originally Posted by yellowbeard I have read on here that a webber is better. Does the stock carb. have a name or markings telling me what I have on my car? thanks Joe

I believe the solex is the better carb when all things are equal (new or in a good repair state). The original solex does get a bad rap mostly because people believe the weber will fix all their problems and they lay out the money for them. If you don't believe that then post a thread on carburetor problems with an original solex and some of the first pieces of advice would be to swap it out for a weber, won't even ask what is the problem before recommending you to change it out..
You can't repair a worn out carburetor, so at times it is economically feasible to swap it out for a later model carburetor that works on these engines and thats where weber steps in as an off the shelf replacement carb.
Like the previous post solex has oval top and two piece air cleaner that is mounted on the inside fender wall passenger side, the Weber has rectangular top and it has a chrome air cleaner assembly that sits on top of it. Some webers have added a modified piece to keep the original air cleaner assembly in place.
You didn't say what year but here is a sheet with up to the 71 model numbers for solex.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by Dennis Texas I believe the solex is the better carb when all things are equal (new or in a good repair state).

When new you may be right. For the most part the Solex is a little more difficult to tune, at least for me. The biggest problem I've seen with Solex carbs is the base being over tightened and, because of their design, warp as a result. Don't think Webers are immune to the malady either though. Their base is one piece but can still warp. Probably the reason OGTS sells the thick carb base gasket with plastic inserts in the holes is to combat the heavy handed Opeler.

Harold

[djenkins63]

Originally Posted by yellowbeard I have read on here that a webber is better. Does the stock carb. have a name or markings telling me what I have on my car? thanks Joe

Please see the attachments. This is an Italian Weber with a oval top that was for the English Mercury Capri? The best is a newer version 32/36 weber and I have on my GT and MGB

[deaner]

Originally Posted by djenkins63 Please see the attsachments. This is an Itialian Webber with a oval top that was for the English Mercury Caprie? The best is a newer version 32/36 weber and I have on my GT and MGB

That is a weber carb with an aftermarket adapter to adapt it to the oval Opel air cleaner, or any other oval air cleaner.

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by deaner Originally Posted by djenkins63 Please see the attachments. This is an Italian Weber with a oval top that was for the English Mercury Capri? The best is a newer version 32/36 weber and I have on my GT and MGB That is a weber carb with an aftermarket adapter to adapt it to the Opel, or any other oval, air cleaner.

. . . and, a manual choke type, at that!

[opelnut10]

Originally Posted by yellowbeard I have read on here that a weber is better. Does the stock carb. have a name or markings telling me what I have on my car? thanks Joe

Solex is a good carb., if you are knowledgeable in how it works. They do not like trash or dirt and will let you know it by running like crap. The solex has a seperate air & fuel mixture adjustment and requires a little more tweeking to get right. The Weber is a much simpler carb. to maintain and to tune. True story, I bought two GT's in Roanoke Rapids, NC (one wrecked and one that had been driven to where it was), but had been sitting more than a year without being run. The runner had a solex and the wreck had a weber on it I got the runner going and it would not idle and didn't want to take throttle without acting up. I took the weber off the wreck and cleaned a (mud dauber) wasp nest out of the top of it, put it on the runner and drove it 125 miles back to Virginia without a problem, try that with a solex and you will meet with a problem.

[bigjim5551212]

Got a Weber? Got it made.