SOLEX

Solex carbs were the first choice for the early Porsche cars, utilizing the single
barrel 32 PBJ, PBIC, and PICB carbs on normal engines, and the 40 PICB/PBIC
on Super cars.  From 1957, the dual barrel Zenith 32 NDIX were used, with few
exceptions, until the introduction of the SC and 912 models.  The Solex carb is
designed for the 6,000 rpm and power curve of these later engines.  The Zeniths
were designed to only go to 5500 rpm.  Which is also why putting Solex carbs on
your earlier engines, without modifications, is not going to give you better
performance or power.

In 1952, Porsche introduced the Solex 40 PII  sandcast carburetor to their cars
with the first 550 Spyder. They continued using them on the 356 Carreras and 904
Race Cars. In 1959, Porsche turned to the high performance Solex 40 PII-4 with
the introduction of the 356B Super 90 engine, which continued through the 356SC
and the 912 series.   This carburetor offers greater flow at higher rpms which the
super 90 and later SC’s require.  The VW Type 4 motor (as in the 914) also used
this carburetor for better performance than the fuel injection systems of that era.

The Solex 40 PII-4’s are a great carburetor, and when new, they were considered
THE carburetor to have.  It is also a complex device, the split shaft more so than
the solid shaft unit. Note our split shaft conversion, best of both worlds! What
makes it a great high performance carb is also what makes it much more difficult
for the home mechanic. Solexes require specific tools and a lot more time to
restore correctly. They also developed problems that a rebuild could not correct.  
For one, they tend to suffer from throttle shaft and butterfly wear. The additional air
leakage manifests itself with poor idle which no amount of jet adjustment can
correct. As a result, they ended up with a bad reputation.

Run your finger along the body throat edge, close to the shaft, by the butterfly.  Do
you feel a ridge?  The brass butterflies actually gouge the body and create that
ridge! As the butterflies close and hit the gouged part of the body, a large gulp of
air, that creates an improper fuel mixture, goes into the engine, thus causing the
dreaded Solex hesitation.  Often, this is made worse by the wear of the brass
shaft bushings that have allowed the shafts to rotate improperly, thus compounding
the problem.  This is what gives you stalling, uneven idle, flat spots in acceleration,
and total lack of good performance. When you feel ridges, you know you need to
have your carburetors “rescued”. Check out your carbs!  

To offer the best fully restored Solex 40 PII-4 carburetors possible, we  had to find
sources for a lot of the hardware; Items that are no longer available.
Many parts, like the Shafts and bronze bushings, are custom made for us. Some
of these hardware items are only available from overseas sources.  
The brass we use for our butterflies is imported, as we need a metric measure to
insure the proper thickness of the material.  Then we cut each set in our own
machine shop to insure accurate fit with the newly machined carburetor throats. To
keep these carburetors as close to original as possible, we gold cad plate the
hardware for both the split shaft and the "crossbreed" carburetors, vs the white
cad plating on solid shaft   hardware.

On receipt, all carburetors are fully evaluated and a quotation is given. Any
additional charges for repair or replacement of hardware is discussed. This
refers to items such as throttle lever repair, pump link replacement, helicoil
or other thread repair, etc..  Then carbs are totally dismantled, with all parts
separated for full inspection of tolerances, proper cleaning, and preparation for the
restoration process, which includes:

Throttle Rod
Pump arm
Chrome-Moly custom made shafts
Custom made butterflies
Shaft Spring
Pivot Pin
pump Link
Throttle springs
Bushings
Shaft Screws
Shims
Wave, flat, and fiber washers
Needle Valves
Top cover gasket
Diaphragm
idle volume screw
nozzle gaskets.

And, since the throats are slightly larger, you may feel more kick when you  put the
“pedal to the metal”.  

Due to high demand for Solex carbs and their complexity, turn around time on a
remanufacture is currently 4 -6 weeks.  Please check with us for our current
schedule.

If your carbs are complete, and only need the throats rebored,  bushings and
butterflies, check out our thottle body service.

Just ask us how we can make your car run better by e-mailing us at
info@356carburetorrescue.com. or call 928 204-0507

Call Jim or Candace at 928 204-0507 for pricing information on our products and services

Call John at 619 224-3566 for technical information or installation instructions

If you have problems with this website, contact Candace at  cdelaney@356carburetorrescue.com or call 928 204-0507

Thank you for your interest in our products
Well tuned and well adjusted
carburetors will give you better
gas mileage as well as cut fuel
emissions.

Modern ethanol fuels may change
the way your carburetors
function.   please see the
installation page for more
information.
Original Split
shaft design
Our conversion
design - the rest of
the carburetor
remains as a fully
functional split shaft