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Category: Drive Train
Date: 7/31/2001
Time: 1:59:32 PM
Remote Name: 64.94.209.30
Remote User:
I had asked Sports Leicht Restorations about re-carburation a while back and this was thier response. Might answer a couple of questions. Bill Ainsworth - member - 1961 190SL
Question:
I am considering changing over my extremely tired solex carbs for a set of Makuni's or Webers. Do you have any thoughts on this conversion? Which might be better? I know this is a real "no-no" from a purist point of view but this car is a definite driver and I'm going more for dependability and performance than originality (cost is also a concern). I will keep the solex's, and possibly restore them at a later date.
Answer:
Thanks for the email - my position on Solex's is not coming from my overwhelming desire to be a "purist". I realize that on most of the car I fall on that side of the fence, however with regards to the carbs - rebuild the Solex's. This can be done for the approximate cost of a set of Mikuni's - $800 to $1200 and you will achieve much better performance. If the Solex's are rebuilt correctly, your 190SL will perform as intended by the Germans. If you install Webers or Mikuni's - you will have to deal with: bogging at 2200RMP - no mid-range - this is because both Webers & Mikuni's are smaller in the throat you will have to re-engineer the linkage & control shaft (big issue to consider) - to do this correctly you really need a machine your 190SL will be more noisy and you will de-value your investment.