If your 912E is running on twin carbs...........

[Der Fudgemeister]

Can i ask WHY

Besides my very own Fudgester and the ex Dave Cantel Yellow jewel that i know are still on the original Bosch AFC injection system here in Blighty who else is still running with Fuel Injection of their 'E?.

Most E's i know of in the UK are on twin carbs. I just wonder why. Reliabilty, lack of Bosch AFC injection spares or a fear of 1970's fuel injection technology.

When i was rebuilding Fudge's engine i was tempted with the twin carb route but after talking to the 912E folks on the 912bbs site decided to keep it FI. So glad i did too.

Best wishes and keep on taking it 912Easy.

[Rod 912]

I think the early fuel injection systems in the usa were more aimed towards passing strict emmition controls rather than a performance thing.

although modern day aftermarket efi set ups are now becomming more and more common, i know of 2 early 912`s which are about to run efi

hope that helps answer some of your question

[Nige]

camshaft change, the basic EFi setup can struggle adjusting to suit a higher lift/duration camshaft, unless megasquirt or similar mapable setup is utilised, no other option as far as I was aware

[912uk]

Mine had carbs and ran well, although I did want to change the linkage to keep it tip top. Not sure if Justin did that or left it as it was..

[Der Fudgemeister]

FWIW,

I have owned both carb and injection 45HP, 1050cc 'Bread van' type VW Polo's.
The fuel injection cars always started and ran better, especially from cold AND gave slighly better fuel economy too.

(If you don't suffer from brake fade when you drive an 1050cc Polo then you ain't driving it fast enough )

I get 30 mpg when touring in my '12E and doubt that a carb' equipped car could match that.

[Nige]

Rick,

I think historically the main reason why carbs are fitted as with some 914s is that they can give increase bhp with other choice mod's. Although with the amount of efi mod'd cars that are running megasquirt and alike nowadays carbs are not always the best choice.

All depends on whether you performance over efficiency, I know my 912e's performance increased dramatically when it ran carb's instead of the efi, although the carb's were not the main factor in this. The mpg marginally improved over the EFI setup. Mine struggled to make mid 20s with EFI, although it did runner smoother and more quit than with carb's. But then I didn't want a quiet economical car.

Reflecting what Rod says is that the Efi is more geared up for emissions and economy, if you start increasing the capacity, high lift cams, ratio rockers, serious head work and so on the basic Efi setup struggles somewhat out of its comfort zone. Carb's are/were the only option to unlease the power, whereas now the are other options more accessable efi alternatives.

[Der Fudgemeister]

Nige'

When i was rebuilding Fudge's engine i borrowed a book from a 914/6 owning friend which covered the type 4 engine side of matters including the Bosch Fuel Injection. I cannot recall the book title or author {it had a yellow 914 on the cover} but remember that the author stated that the stock EFI was on the whole better for 914's that replacement carbs and listed several reasons why against only a couple of reasons in favour of carbs.
Mr Type 4 himself, Jake Raby, states that the stock EFI on the 912E will handle 96mm bore {2056cc} engines with no other modifications. Jake has also run big bore modified Type 4 units with twin carbs and is now working on a new progammable EFI system for the 912E that WILL work with big bore and cam mod's, give good economy and be 'Smog legal' in all US states

Strange but back in the early '70s the Triumph TR6 had carbs in emission controlled USA yet Lucas FI for the rest of the world. We all know about Lucas though don't we boys and girls

[MARKYSPARK]

well....

i dont think efi is cool.. i mean i love the sound of the air being sucked in and the little bit od poping you can get (whitch i like)

and you always feel you can sort out and fix a carb problem, but i would be scred of touching efi.


im going to have to sort out picking that box of stuff up Nige lol

[Der Fudgemeister]

Now Then,

Sho' nuff the sound of induction roar of a twin carb set up is ace but on a long trip is a real PITA
I too was once scared of EFI but have learnt a lot since owning Fudge. Many folks on the 912bbs site pointed me in the direction of where info can be found relation to problems that the Bosche AFC Injection can succumb to. I covered over 2000 thru France last july armed with my regular tool box plus a good quality multi meter and Bosch EFI checklist.
I had no problems at all, why?, because I KEPT THE FAITH

Still if the old office Lottery comes up then a Belgian Roadster with twin carbs will be joining the fleet. To me the 912E is an easy, laid back lifstyle kind of car whilst the 356 Roadster is the ultimate adrenalin fix.
Each to their own i suppose.

Er, by the way if you don't want that box of stuff that Nige still has then could i have first refusal please

[MARKYSPARK]

sure if i ever get my act togeather and pick the box up and if in the future i dont wan tit you have dibs.

but you are right each to there own on induction nose.

me im not happy unless the engine is roaring and AC/DC rockin out the sound system.

window down elbow on the door and fingers tapin on stearing wheel in time with my head boppin

[Der Fudgemeister]

Ah what memories,

I passed the old drivin' test back in 1983 and recall doing something simular in my old '72 Weber progressive and Monza exhaust equipped VW Bug with The Stranglers or The Doors blasting out of my old portable Hitachi radio/cassette player on the passenger seat.

Happy Daze

[MARKYSPARK]

funny thing is mate not to make you feel old im only 24 now so i was a one year old when you past your test lol

[Der Fudgemeister]

Heh Heh,

Well as i look at life Age is in the mind and not the calendar. I may 44 yoa but i feel much better about myself now than when i was in my 20's. OK so i have a more mellow groove about life these days but as the old adage goes,

"Growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional "

[Nige]

Mark

Will sort out meeting up with you soon, I need to drop some stuff off at Turbo Thomas so could maybe meet there at some point in February?

What do you think?
Nige

[King_Jut]

I must admit guys, the best thing about my 912e was the sound of Led Zep full volume, the sound of the induction of the twin carbs at 6k, followed by the flash and bang of a two foot flame out the exhaust on lift off...!!!! I loved it...

although cleaning small children and animals from the filters became quite tiring.