Carbs unlimited inc.

If there is no response when you're looking to buy, you can imagine what it will be like when you need support. I'd pass on them.

I’ve never bought from these guys http://www.carbjunkys.com/ but they did help me on phone with a Holley 650 problem. If I ever need a carb I plan on buying it from them.

Mike

quote:

Originally posted by 4NFORD:
If there is no response when you're looking to buy, you can imagine what it will be like when you need support. I'd pass on them.

Indeed. Just wondering whether any of you folks ever dealt with them, and how that go...

quote:

Originally posted by Pantera 1887:
I’ve never bought from these guys http://www.carbjunkys.com/ but they did help me on phone with a Holley 650 problem. If I ever need a carb I plan on buying it from them.

Mike

I'm going for a Weber IDA set-up

I think that I'd go with Inglese (now owned by comp cams) I was contemplating a Weber sidedraft setup and they were helpful in answering all questions

http://www.inglese.com/

I know about Inglese, but unfortunately, I wonder why a basic set-up (thus without any fancy extra's) is about a $750 to $1200 more expencive than at other vendors. Keep in mind, I still need to pay quite some extra taxes too (customs). I don't question their service - Inglese has a strong reputation - but whether that to me is worth an extra $1000 or so, a $1000 I still need to pay extra taxes over...hmmm...

The manifold only for instance - Hall asks $650 for, Inglese $950... I don't mind spending money, but throwing it out of the window, nah

Inglese > assembled kit $4650.
Carbs unlimited assembled kit $3199 but without fuel lines.
Pierce manifolds $2895 but still unsure about some tech details > should be an assembled kit though.
Still waiting on a Redline quote...

Ow, and if there would be anybody with some feedback on Pierce manifolds... I'm one and all ears

Kid:

Pony Carbs Unlimited is a great source for rebuilding any carb. They can show plate to your spec. I used them for my 73 Z28 and 87 GT5-S with great results . Turn around is fast, even included with your carb is a detailed video for installation. Out of the box install for the most part.
My .02

Wayne

Here's my take, (flame suit on)...

People rely way too much on e-mail and 'anonymous' methods of contact and expect too much out of them. Online purchasing is usually set up as a 'one click' method if youy know what you want or are willing to take the chance that's fine. If you need to ask questions though it often takes longer to type the e-mail than to dial a number. Vendors will receive a bunch of e-mails from similar 'anonymous' people to wade through with many of those people having no to little intent of a purchase, that's why those people like to remain anonymous.

IMO seroius buyers pick up the phone and call and receive immediate service. If a vendor doesn't answer the phone (or have a message service and then call you back), then move on.

Also bare in mind that with many of the lower cost options you get what you pay for... a bare bones kit with generic jets, emulsion tubes, cheap linkages (side pull vs. center pull?) and rubber fuel lines for any Ford V8 application. Tuning parts for Weber carbs are not cheap, so that's another reason to talk with a vendor (or someone konwledgeable) prior to purchase and see if the vendor is tailoring a setup to your application, so it will at least run out of the box.

Up front savings often do not work out cheaper in the long run and with the nature of Webers I'd say this is one purchase where technical knowledge outweighs cost. If done corectly Webers are great and you'll love them, if not they'll be the biggest PITA you've ever had.

Another option is Redline Weber, but their pricing isn't online, you have to call to get a deal! They are non responsive on e-mails too.

Alternatively Webcon UK are Weber distributors if buying inside the EU saves on taxes? After all Weber carbs are made in Spain now (not Italy), why pay US import duty (in the US price) and then shipping & cost to import back to EU.

Good luck,
Julian

Weber carbs will buy you a fair amount of trouble and expense even if set up properly. As Julian says, service and tuning are key with these obsolete carbs. There are 5 jets, two air bleeds and a venturi plus an aux venturi, for each barrel, all changeable. The last time I got involved, the cheapest Weber part was a $5 jet; most tuners have drawerfuls of jets and other parts that didn't work for some application. Finally, the woods are full of NOS Webers that have never been used, and will leak like a screen door in a rainstorm once gas hits them; the gaskets & o-rings shrink up on the shelf, requiring a complete rebuilt on most new units. In my experience, its easy to set up Webers to make power and give 8 mpg, OR no power and 18 mpg. Getting both ends of the spectrum tuned acceptibly is the trick. A set of used Webers that run fine in L.A won't at different altitudes and weather conditions, so be prepared. I've known amateurs that are familiar with Holleys spend over a year dialing in a set of Webers on a slightly modified 351-C. Be patient and keep your checkbook close at hand... Webers, once set up for an engine and locality, will work wonderfully well and look impressive to the masses. But getting there is not much fun. Oh, yeah- they're quite sensitive to fuel pressures and fuel cleanliness, too. Good luck-

Well, I don’t like to make calls. Some companies might have someone doing nothing else than answering the phone, but I have friends who sometimes have a hard time running their business because they are constantly called… I don’t expect immediate answer on an e-mail, have no trouble to wait for a week or more, and an e-mail gives imo one the opportunity to answer when it suits them best. and oh yes, even Redline responds my mails ;-) Besides that, I travel all over the world, and seen time differences it is not always that convenient to reach people within business hours, that, and the fact where I tend to work, there is often no range.

As for the Webers… Oh where is the time, I still drove Italian motorcycles (of course with Italian carbs) that had to be readjust all the time, you had to insulate the carbs when temperatures became lower, and despite being still way above zero, otherwise would freeze if you did not. Days it was sometimes hard to keep engines running on rainy days, days we took all sorts of carbs apart, and play with them for not always successful attempts to get the bikes running harder… The time I still drove carburetted cars, manual choke, constantly playing with the rightmost pedal to keep things running when the air was too humid and/or cold…

Was that FUN? No, not at all, I sometimes really hated those carbs, but especially the open throated Webers, or Dellorto’s, little that can beat that when they are doing well. Summary, I know what I’m facing, and have not a single objection ;-) And no, of course I don’t expect things to run smoothly from the start, I know a vacuum line(s) might be tricky (Inglese offers a very nice solution btw), and that I’ll need an other decklid (don’t plan to cut in the original)…

Btw, getting the girl you really want might not be easy, but well worth the effort(s).

I’ve been considering EFI too though, but would like at least the looks less or more period correct, and I always loved the Webers. What would be nice - Weber housings, with build in injectors – EFI, but Weber looks…just one of my wild idea’s.