Re: [T3] FI for Carbs

["Steven Ayres" <comwest@att.net>]

RichS=> I feel like I was just beat up by the FI coalition of America :-)

Yeah, I can see it feeling like that. But what you're seeing is that a very
strong consensus has developed here through years of shared experience,
discussion and testing. I'm sure I can speak for all in saying that nobody
thinks badly of you for taking what you rightly identify as common advice,
and we're looking forward to seeing that car doing well for you. Many before
you have come with the same questions, and many more have come dealing with
the problems created by these ideas, many of them much deeper into it
dollar-wise than you are now.

=> Stock dist is better than the 009 dist?

The 009 was evidently designed for a stationary engine, and was picked up by
the racing crowd in the '60s as a performance mod. It didn't last long in
that context, but the aftermarket kept selling it on the basis of legend.
Its advance curve is inappropriate to a street car, and its lack of vacuum
advance causes an acceleration hesitation famously known as the 'flat spot.'
Current build quality on these distributors is also poor and inconsistent.

=> Stock coil better than Blue coil?

OEM coils don't fail. Blue coils do, sometimes. Again, build quality and
consistency is an issue.

=> The stock FI is the best performing set up?

If you want to build up an engine beyond 1776 or so, the FI will be left
behind, but for stock applications it's dependable and easier to maintain
than carbs. If your car was carbed to start with, I'd advise you to keep the
carbs, as your system would be already integrated. The cost and hassle of
changing systems is considerable either way, and not worth it.

=> is the 20% re-stocking charge worth returning everything?

Yup, or you can consider selling it on Ebay, you might make a little profit!

Bear in mind also that you're in Type 3 land now, and most VW people are
only familiar with Type 1/2 engineering. Type 3s are different in more
respects than meet the eye.

Steven Ayres, Prescott AZ
'66 Big Ghia

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