I love my Solex!

[chuckspeed]

Took me 20+ years, but:

I've licked the Solex.

Starts like a dream; idles smoothly.

Here's what I did:

a) I'm runnin' a 1974 vacuum secondary Solex on Maggie. Seven bolt air horn. The original 5 bolt air horn will strip out and distort, giving you idle quality fits.

b) I've rejetted the main to run *slightly* rich. This seems to improve tip-in.

c) The accelerator pump nozzle is aimed right at the spot where the throttle plate touches the inside of the throttle body; this gets the first shot into the manifold the instant the pump is engaged.

d) ALL the brass bits were removed, knurled , and replaced to prevent vibration leaks/fallout.

e) The carb was pulled completely apart, and the throttle plates were CAREFULLY set in the throttle body so they provided tight shut-off at idle. This allows the bypass air screw and idle circuit to do its job without 'loping'.

f) The stocker electric choke was replaced with a water choke off a '70. Now the choke plate position is purely a function of water temp - the way it should be.

So - to start Maggie, all I hafta do is tap the throttle to set the choke and twist the key.

Sweet.

[Sportwagon75]

Years ago I used to do business with Bill Daley up in North Brookfield Massachusetts. He swore by the Solex and could tune one like nobody's business. I think he's still in business and I think he's still a Solex fan. (Bill Daley Opel Parts)

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by Sportwagon75 Years ago I used to do business with Bill Daley up in North Brookfield Massachusetts. He swore by the Solex and could tune one like nobody's business. I think he's still in business and I think he's still a Solex fan. (Bill Daley Opel Parts)

Have NEVER had any particular problem with any of my Opel Solexes, either vacuum or mechanical secondary. Prefer the mechanical except with an A/T. Like he said, it's the small details that make the difference!

[nobody]

Where were you guys when I couldn't give one away.. or 2 or 3 or...

[greensmurf20]

same here, just getting kicked around the garage, i think its setting on the tripod with my old cam and lifters now.

[baz]

Originally Posted by chuckspeed a) I'm runnin' a 1974 vacuum secondary Solex on Maggie. Seven bolt air horn. The original 5 bolt air horn will strip out and distort, giving you idle quality fits.

used to do a roaring trade in my youth fixing vac secs on all the opels and vauxhalls here
when the diafram went on a night when we were crusing i would take the car to my home and stick the diafram back together with a condom worked a treat and never told anyone how to fix
used to get big when they got a car that worked back

[West Coast GT]

Originally Posted by chuckspeed Love my Solex.

Admin: Should this be moved to a humor thread?

[nobody]

I'm gonna have to say humor. I good running Solex falls into the same list as things like "Military intelegence" or "sorta pregnant",, It just doesn't happen. no matter how much it's polished it's still a turd.

No support no jetting options and a tendency to warp and no documentation to this day does make it a Joke.

[GTJIM]

Originally Posted by baz used to do a roaring trade in my youth fixing vac secs on all the opels and vauxhalls here when the diafram went on a night when we were crusing i would take the car to my home and stick the diafram back together with a condom worked a treat and never told anyone how to fix used to get big when they got a car that worked back

I trust that some of the car owners were female and the condoms were from time to time .. used.

[baz]

not enough jim not enough

[tekenaar]

Originally Posted by nobody I'm gonna have to say humor. I good running Solex falls into the same list as things like "Military intelegence" or "sorta pregnant",, It just doesn't happen. no matter how much it's polished it's still a turd. No support no jetting options and a tendency to warp and no documentation to this day does make it a Joke.

I agree with a Solex's general tendency to warp on the Opel CIH heated intake manifold, especially if over-tightened, which happens a lot. Perhaps I displayed a certain lack of "intelligence" by not being more clear that my personal positive experiences with Solex carbs are with "STOCK" engines. Within these parameters, there is no need for jetting options OR support. Just a thorough understanding of basic carb operation, applicable to ANY carb, is quite sufficient. I don't believe anyone here has the resources to "one-up" the factory for basic carb reliability, performance and economy, do you?

I'm NOT arguing the fact that you can ALWAYS improve your stock Opel engine's performance, even with an "out-of-the-box" Weber. Any Weber is by design more tuneable for further performance enhancement, BECAUSE it is an after-market carb. The single, most fundamental, design (marketing) requirement of ANY after-market carb is that it be "tuneable" for as large a range of engines as possible. Simply put, the more engines it covers, the more $$$$ they make!

OK, 'nuff said about "STOCK engine" Solexes.

[nobody]

Many yaers ago when I was still messing with the solexes I pollished the bores on one and redid the link for the mechanical secondary to make them closer together. We put it on a little Luv pickup and it worked great till the motor went south. It wasn't the carbs fault more to do with driving styles and aviation fuel maybe.

In the right hands a solex for a stock motor is fine. In the wrong hands even a weber can't help.

[greensmurf20]

a chevy luv, solex, with aviation fuel!!! sound like a odd, but plenty of fun combo to anybody else?

[nobody]

back then this same friend lived near the airport depot storage and watched to see if they opened a barrel. Two healthy guys can get a half full barrel over a 6 foot fence but not a full barrel, is my only coment on that.