Solex Crabs?

[chandlerGTi]

Is the Solex four barrel carb original equipment on the 1973 280? It seems like a lot of carb for the car

[Mike D]

Yup. That carb you have is one of the premier reasons for the amount of 280's being abandoned. They are a highly over-engineered and extremely abused animal. When in peak tuning and condition they work fine. They have usually been rebuilt by someone who overtightens the screws and are usually warped beyond repair. They are also prone to metal fatigue which adds to their warping.

There are a few ways to replace them. You can go with a Weber conversion set-up, a standard two barrel from some American iron, a Rochester 4 BBL or the Megasquirt system.

The Weber set-up can be obtained from Jam engineering and it's pricey. A standard 2BBL reguires an adapter plate, some machining of the plate, some linkage work and a manual choke. The Rochester requires the same as the 2BBL with the exception of not needing the adapter. The Megasquirt is an aftermarket fuel injection which requires some manufacturing and adapting.

The Solex when it is working is a good carb. If yours works then I'd stay with it. They really don't flow as much as they appear to.

I ditched mine because of it's complexity and previous abuse. I went with a standard 2BBL from an old Ford. Easily obtained, rebuildable and simple. They only flow about 390CFM at peak and it's easy to re-jet them for economy, emissions or performance. I did lose the stock air cleaner (bought a $15 chrome aftermarket) but I also eliminated most of those Mickey Mouse vacuum lines running down to the solenoids on the front passenger side and the wiring to the idle compensation (I guess that is what they are) solenoids.

I am going to the Megasquirt system but for now I'm happy with the 2BBL.

[Iva Biggen]

Yes that is the orig equipment and looking at the pic you posted your carb needs some basic adjustments beginning with the secondaries stuck partially open and the idle compensator needs adjusting as well . The carb had its issues but is repairable and there are some mods you can do to make it more effecient and get rid of the hesitation you are obviously experiencing .

[ctaylor738]

Actually the JAM kit uses a small Holley 4-barrel (4360C, I think). I have one on my '73 and it works reasonably well. I fought three different 4A1's, and I couldn't get any of them to work right.

[t walgamuth]

i once adapted a quadrajet to my bmw 3.0 liter. i had to do a lot of fabricating and such as i used a european manifold that was designed for a solex like yours. i did finally get it running very sweetly.

if you find normal rebuilding wont solve your problem, i would look at a quadrajet clone made by one of the large intake manifold manufacturers eidelbrodk, i beleive. i would go for one with all mechanical linkages and such and go for simplicity. with a good running carb and non emission distributor that motor will certainly scream and you will love it.

my bmw did. that 2.8 110 motor is as good or better than the 72 bavaria motor. i would think.

pm me if you like, i will share more detail.

tom w

[chandlerGTi]

Originally Posted by Iva Biggen

.....and get rid of the hesitation you are obviously experiencing .

I think I have driven it MAYBE 50 miles in the time I have had it. It has beend sitting for two years. I just start it every week and pull it out to sweep out the garage