Fuel filter causing van to pull?

[CovKid]

Always worth checking condition of fuel lines but I agree, work through the more obvious stuff first. Theres a good chance the pump isn't the full ticket but you won't really be able to evaluate the problem without replacing advance unit (VERY important for smooth ignition curve) and removing extra filter in engine bay. Get the spark curve right, clean out the hidden cone filter and see if it still bogs down over 50. Theres a very high chance it won't.

Without seeing it, if cone filter slightly clogged, you'll get fuel starvation at wide throttle openings (ie 50mph and above, and sometimes randomly) and smooth acceleration will be lacking anyway with no advance curve beyond the spring weights in bottom of dizzy. That vac unit makes a LOT of difference.

[cubensis]

Thanks for the advice CovKid, still waiting for my fuel hose to turn up so not removed the filter in the engine bay yet.

So, I've always known it wasn't a great solution to remove the advance but i took it to two different garages with rolling roads and they couldnt seem to set it up. The engine is a 1.9 petrol dg (or maybe dh?) it originally had a solex carb on it but we replaced it with a weber convertion kit from justkampers (i now know this was a mistake) do you have any recommendations of how to set this carb up or maybe a garage with a rolling road with a good reputation that could do this? Im in Manchester and don't mind travelling if it'd get done.

[kevtherev]

The weber is not suitable for the DH engine IMHO.
It will never be right.
I'd be getting the solex back on.
Why was it taken off?

[itchyfeet]

DH 1,9l 4-cyl. Flat4 water-cooled with injection and cat from 84 to 85 61kw / 83bhp.

I think DG or DF, need to find out which it is.

[cubensis]

Hiya, my van is a T25 1986 1.9 Petrol Watercooled. I initially thought the engine was DG but someone told me it wasn't, this was a while ago though so I can't remember what they said it actually was. The other thing i can remember is there were two types of carbs on this 1986 model one being a Solex and the other being a Pierburg as i write this I am just remembering it was the Pierburg 2E3, doesthis sound correct?

When we first got the van it ran awful, the mechanic told us the carbwas beyond repair because some small tubes were clogged. I now realise people refurb these. The van does run okay and will do 65 / 70 mph but i've only ever heard bad things about this weber conversion, it's a Weber 34 DAT from just kampers.

E D I T: just looked at a wiki and it appears if it had the 2E3 fitted it was indeed the DG:

1.9 L (1,913 cc) (59 bhp) (Serial # DF) 8.6:1 compression ratio, 34-PICT carburetor
1.9 L (1,913 cc) (76 bhp) (Serial # DG) 8.6:1 compression ratio, 2E3 or 2E4 carburetor

Is the weber conversion ever going to run right on a DG engine?

[kevtherev]

The engine number suffix will end any argument.
which is located on the breather tower.
the suffix will say DF or DG

[cubensis]

Hiya, thanks for that, yea it's a "DG"

[kevtherev]

Do you still have the Pierburg?

[cubensis]

No afraid not, that's long gone, this carb has been on about 8 years

[kevtherev]

Do you want to put the Pierburg back in or persevere with this tat from JK

[cubensis]

Well, ultimately what i'd like is to choose the most reliable option that delivers the best speed and MPG return. If either the weber or piereburg is a clear winner then i'd be happy to go with the one that puts the ticks in the boxes.

[cubensis]

Thinking about it, i suppose the most cost effective thing to do would be to look at getting this advance working on the carb and getting it running as good as it can.

You mentioned earlier that the weber just wouldnt run right on the DH. Do you think there is the scope for it to run correctly on my DG?

[kevtherev]

Well a Pierburg was chosen by VW to run the DG engine in a way to be economical and have a broad spread of power.
The Pierburg delivers 22-25 mpg and more if driven with care.
New spares, kits and used carbs are plentiful.
Advice and repair/refurbishment is also abundant.

Perhaps somebody who has a weber fitted to a DG can add it's facts to this

[cubensis]

Yes, good point, I suppose they matched up the best carb they could, why wouldn't they. I suppose the question is has Weber don't a better job with the benefit of time.

Like you say it'd be very interesting to here any stats on the Weber from anyone who has it running properly, I may ask that question separate to this post.

Thanks you for your time and knowledge kev. I'm going to try to get the van into a garage with a ruling road and let someone have a tinker with it as this seems the most logical route. However I now have fresh information to keep on the back burner. The carbs are available have an mpg of 20 - 25 and that may be the route to go if this Weber never gets sorted.

Thanks again, I'll post an update if the Weber ends up running right.

[kevtherev]

I have several Pierburgs in various states of repair.
If you were a member I'm sure I could put one together for a small cost.