$3,450 Solexes!!!

[Alfajack]

Now here's someone fishing for dollars: There is a set of rebuilt triple PHH Solexes currently on ebay asking $3,450 as a starting bid!

Now granted rebuilding these "properly" by the usual Mercedes specialists is a costly proposition, but my understanding was that even that was well under $2000.

AJ

[tubut]

Initially, I had the same reaction. Rebuilding 3 PHH carbs by what I consider to be the leading specialist in Germany currently costs about EUR 2,700 -- which translates to about USD 3,400. Throw in 3 rebuildable carbs that on European market seem to cost another USD 6-900, add the hoses, fittings, intake plenum, and the labor to assemble the thing, and the price suddenly doesn't seem to be unreasonable. Still, the price hurts...

[Alfajack]

Shocking. That kind of pricing makes the Ford V8 drivetrain in my Sprint seem downright sensible, at least in economic terms.

AJ

[dretceterini]

Just part of the reason so many 2600s are just sitting and slowly rusting away.

[Alfajack]

No question it is hard to justify spending that kind of money on Solexes alone for a car that is on average worth $15,000-$20,000, maybe at best $30,000. If the cars were worth $75,000 or more it would be a different story.

[tubut]

Puzzling, isn't it? I'm scratching and shaking my head so often that there's barely any hair left.

[67alloy]

Brand New Weber 45 DCOE's would be $1500- and an improvement! The link that was sent for the guy in Germany who rebuilds the PHH is impressive- they are probably better than new. But unless you have a concours Porsche or Mercedes which uses them....

[JoeCab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67alloy Brand New Weber 45 DCOE's would be $1500

[67alloy]

webercarbs.com

[JoeCab]

I think that site is in a bit of denial, they speak of a "strike" at the Weber factory, when in fact it has been closed for over a year. Since it looks like Webers are their primary business, they probably don't want to promote that information while they sell off their stock.

But, if they have the carbs in stock, great for us!

Joe

[dretceterini]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeCab But where would you get them? With Weber out of production, the NOS caches are drying up pretty quick and the prices are going up. Sadly, brand new Webers of any stripe are almost a thing of the past. Joe

[67alloy]

Aha! The greatest debate in the 2600 world! Weber v.s. Solex, unaltered manifold v.s. altered manifold v.s. stock Weber manifold.
From everything I have read, from all the various sources- the difference is NEGLIGIBLE. Here's a link to the latest, and pretty comprehensive, attempt-and the results...

weber conversion

[dretceterini]

I haven't seen any dino tests, but I would think there would be some difference, especially at the top end, because of the un-siamesed manifold.

[Alfajack]

Some Webers are more available than others. I have a buddy who recently put a new Edelbrock 4 bbl carb on his 68 Mustang's V8. I noticed the box said it was manufactured by Magneti Marelli USA.

On close inspection, the carb had an Edelbrock decal on the front, but on the side clearly embossed in the metal was the word "Weber" along with an embossed "W."

And this "Weber" retailed for a whole $240.

I think I'm getting one for my Sprint.

AJ

[twoliterlover]

Just noticed a comment about weber carbs on 2600 cars. Highly recommend. 45DCOE webers absolutely finest. However, one must also carefully weld a small upright divider in the intake manifold so as to get rid of siamesed runners. Otherwise the raw gasoline will run out the intake side. Reason is simple. The siamesed runners are specifically for the solex carbs which run on a "wet" plenum theory instead of the "puff of air" theory of webers. The aerated gas drawn into the larger "wet" plenum slows down in the larger area where the siamese crossover and this allows the droplets of gas to precipitate out of the air mixture. This does not happen as much when the air passes faster, and the best way to get faster air passage is to have smaller volumetric air passage. However, even if at "full cry" the passage of air does not let as much precipitate, at slower speeds such as idle or cruising the gas just finally puddles and runs back out the carburetor ends despite the passage of air above the stream. I have done several different conversions (and tried several different theories of creating individual runners in such intake manifolds, mainly for old 102 Two liter) and a carefully fitted upright divider welded in does two things -- (1) runs the air faster with one runner to each cylinder so the true double weber carburetors can be individually timed for maximum effect, and (2) gives the slightest of "rolls" to the passage of air from the flat side to aid in making the mixture more consistent when in the burn pattern atop the piston. Frankly, I consider anyone with PHH 44 Solex carburetors on either the old two liters or 2600 cars a masochist who does not deserve to enjoy such wonderful cars. Jay Nuxoll of Seattle, the Old two liter lover.