V grove in Carb base

[Jim Clement]

Has anyone seen this before ?
my mechanic could not get the carbs running correctly.. and when taken the carbs apart finds the v grove in the base..
any help would be greatly appreciated ?

[David Jones]

That should not be there. Someone thought it would be a good idea to balance the manifolds with that groove. You need another throttle base. Try Bruce Smith, I am sure he will have a spare you can buy.
http://www.sparkingplugs.com/5.html

[Jim Clement]

any chance this is repairable ?
I am not sure if it is cast or just a regular steel base..
possible to weld and grind ?

[Vic Skirmants]

Cast iron; no welding. Get another base.

[Wes Bender]

As Vic says, no welding. And don't be tempted to braze it. If the braze fell out there's nothing to stop it from getting past a valve and into a cylinder. Don't turn a small $$ problem into a big $$$$ problem.

[Jim Clement]

oh.. small problem to big problem.. almost my specialty by now !!
the advice will be followed..
Thanks..!!!

[Jim Clement]

would this cause poor running in only one cylinder ?

[Ron LaDow]

would this cause poor running in only one cylinder ?

Jim,
That is a homemade solution to using the carb on a single-carb application, like a VW. The factory, (as you might imagine) cast a groove between the two barrels for those fittings.
Typically, you cannot get the idle speed correct with a vented throttle body. Yes, it is fixable, but it's also possible to R&R the fan shroud with the engine in the car. You got good advice.

[Dick Weiss]

HMM; Threads in the 4-mounting holes? I've never seen before; Another 1st?

[Jim Clement]

i wonder if this base was originally for a VW ?

[John Brooks]

Are you sure that not off a UNIMOG or something else?

[Ron LaDow]

Are you sure that not off a UNIMOG or something else?

Dunno what the Unimog used, but the Pinzgauer used a 36mm carb with a cast port between the bores; single carb application. That one is not difficult to block off, with the space the factory gave you to add 'reinforcing rods'. Regardless of what went on the Unimog, it's pretty certain that Hans or Fritz wasn't handed a throttle body and told to 'grind das groove!'
Like the single-barrel Solexes and the balance tube, you could really help the idle if you ground that groove when you fitted it to a hot-rod VW engine; I'm guessing that Tom in the LA basin decided he'd like the engine in his Manx to idle better and did some real research.
Added by edit: Not images of the 36mm groove. If I remember tomorrow, I still have some and I'll get a shot.

[Jim Clement]

I suspect you could be correct, the repair shop that installed in specializes in VW.. and also has about 3 or 4 Unimog's in / around the shop...

[Tim Berardelli]

Who used to say, "Beware the Ides of VW"

[Mike Smith]

Who used to say, "Beware the Ides of VW"

No Idea but +1 on that