1971 VW Autostick Vacuum Line Routing

vwjohn · 02 September 2008, 00:57

Hi. I am new to this website and found a post on the correct vacuium line positioning for the auto stick but was a little confused with the pictures. I just want to make sure I have it correct. On the back of the carbureator, there are two vacuum ports. I have my servo hooked to the one on the right. If I understood correctly this is the one I should use. The other one on the rear is hooked to the rear of the vacuum advance and the vacuum port on the left side is hooked to the front of the vacuum advance. That being said, I can adjust the servo screw on the top and the transmission does not "jump" into gear. However, when I adjust the screw to the point that it feels correct, the rear raises up slightly. Is this correct? I feel like I am driving Herbie. I also saw your post on the servo adjuster with the locknut, and have yet to find that, but did not want to touch it without talking to you first. I really feel the sluggishness is due to the remaining two vacuum lines that go to the distributor being backward. I would appreciate any help you could give.

volkenstein · 02 September 2008, 01:51

vwjohn,
Welcome aboard! From your description your carby hoses appear to be correct. What distributor have you got? The vacuum can is a Dual Vacuum type and *may* be blown, leading to "sluggishness". The same can be said for any timing issues you may have. The 34 Pict 3 is a notoriously fiddly & sensitive beast when new, a horror to adjust when worn.

The adjuster screw on top of the CV affects the speed of the shift, not whether it will thump or not. The correct vac signal from the carb stops the thump. Because it is much like an auto you will feel it when selecting a gear from neutral at standstill. With the VW engine/Gb config, yes it will "lift" the rear when engaged. If you had a "thump" you'd know it, believe me it's not subtle.

If your selection of gears doen't cause grinding, best leave the servo adjustment alone, unless you are a new owner and are now in the throes of finding out what the PO has done.

So....what carby is actually on your car, and can you read off the numbers on your dissy? Plenty of shots of a 205AH down in my little spiel in the DIY section.

HTH
Volkenstein

vwjohn · 02 September 2008, 03:41

WOW! that was a fast response. I am getting ready for bed but wanted to reply. I have a SOLEX 130-31 PICT 1 carby. I just looked at the points and thankfully I ordered a couple of extra sets right after I bought this baby. Kinda hard to find an autostick these days.

I am going to do a tune-up hopefully this week. I am waiting for a dwell / tach meter to come in from Harbor Freight. I will let you know if the tune-up solved the problem with the sluggishness.

I was unaware that the "lift" in the rear was normal. The PO said that it was but the PO also had the vacuum line for the servo completely disconnected as well. I had a 63 Beetle and a 64 Kharman Ghia many years ago but the autostick is very new to me.

Let me say that this is an excellent site and I very much appreciate the assistance. I will let you know how I make out after the tune-up. Have a good evening and thanks again.

Bookwus · 02 September 2008, 03:57

Hiya John,

Allow me also to welcome you to the site!

You are in good hands following Sean's advice.

One item I'd offer.............try to take pictures of your set-up. They are literally worth a thousand words and may allow us to see potential problems. Useful pictures will include the vacuum connections at the carburetor and control valve. An overall engine shot that is reasonably close can also be very good.

volkenstein · 02 September 2008, 04:11

vwjohn,
I can have butterfingers

. Well, nitty gritty..the H30/31 doesn't play ball with ANY distributor other than a specifically curved one. AC.Net sell them and Mike (Bookwus) will vouch for their quality. Assuming you have a 113905205AH distributor you can score a manual car's 34 Pict 3 and modify it to suit. New or Reco or whatever. The H30/31 is an OK economy carb but has all the adjustment foibles of a 34Pict3 while delivering an incorrect vacuum signal.

HTH
Volkenstein

vwjohn · 02 September 2008, 23:06

I tried to attach a photo of the engine but was unable to accomplish. I tried the help screen but no luck. I probably won't receive my dwell meter until this weekend so will wait for the tume up til that comes in. After I have ruled out the tune up issue, timing, etc, I will let you know where we stand. Also, I tried to find AC.Net but could not locate it. Thanks again and I will keep in touch.

Bookwus · 02 September 2008, 23:20

Hiya John,

Pictures............you first need to place your picture in a picture hosting website. I use Photobucket at http://photobucket.com but there are quite a few of these photo hosting sites.

Once you have yourself registered and logged into that site, you can fetch a digital image from your computer. The picture will be given four addresses. One of those addresses is a "direct link". All you need to do is to highlight that direct link and copy it under Edit in your toolbar. Then come on back to VWAR. At the top of the "Post Reply" window are two rows of icons. The second icon in the second row allows you to post pictures. Just select that icon and your cursor will be "framed" with the picture commands. Then all you do is hit paste under Edit in your toolbar and your posted reply will have the picture you selected.

aircooled.net can be accessed at http://www.aircooled.net

vwjohn · 03 September 2008, 00:02

Here is the engine pic. If you would like to see more please let me know.http://i532.photobucket.com/albums/ee325/vwjohn_photo/P9010026.jpg

vwjohn · 03 September 2008, 02:05

Me again. I just checked a 1972 VW Super Beetle that someone gave to me (4 speed) and it has a 34PICT-3 carby on it. If I understand you correctly I need to use the PICT-3 on my autostick and drill out the third port. Could you tell me please where the procedure is for this? I read in one of your posts there is a procedure but could not find it. Thanks.

Bookwus · 03 September 2008, 02:32

Hiya John,

The carburetor in your picture is hooked correctly to the control valve.

However, if I understand the rest of your post, you are interested in drilling another carburetor (a 34PICT3) for use on an AutoStick. Correct?

For starters...............you actually want to use two different sized drill bits for this job. One.....drill partway thru the carb body with the larger drill bit. Then finish out with the smaller bit. This will leave a "shoulder" inside the hole. This shoulder will act as a stop when you tap in the brass vacuum nipple. And.......the smaller portion of the hole acts as a vacuum restrictor which is very desireable in this case.

Remove the carburetor from the intake manifold. Drilling while the carb is mounted is asking for trouble.

Get a piece of tape and wrap it around a 9/64 drill bit 1/2 inch from the tip of the bit. Drill into the boss hole no further than your stop tape. You'll find that you won't go very far into the carb body, but the 9/64 does two important things for you. It cleans out the boss hole and it will leave a convex cut at the base of the hole which will make it very easy to center your next drill bit - a 3/32. This one you drill all the way through to the carburetor throat. Be sure to file off any drill tailings in the carb throat. Drilling through the carb body is very easy.

Secure a vacuum port nipple (auto parts store item) and a plastic cap to fit a nipple.

Tap the brass vacuum port nipple into place and hook up your small CV vacuum hose.

That should do it for you. Questions?

vwjohn · 03 September 2008, 02:53

Yes just one to make sure. I really should have a PICT 3 carby instead of a PICT 1, correct? Just want to make sure before I go through replacing the PICT 1. It still goes into gear hard with the PICT 1 and it sounds like the PICT 3 will correct that. Sorry to be a pest. Thanks.

Bookwus · 03 September 2008, 03:16

Hiya John,

Hmmmmm.........well actually it's not so much the choice of carburetor as it is using the correct vacuum port. You could get a 30PICT1, a 30 PICT2, a 30PICT3, an aftermarket 30/31, or a 34PICT3 to work in this application.

However since you have a dual port engine (as witnessed in your picture) the 34PICT3 is going to be the correct carburetor to use. But it will have to have that all-important AS vacuum port (even if you have to drill it) for the carburetor to work ("play nicely") correctly in conjunction with the control valve.

vwjohn · 03 September 2008, 20:52

Well, I tuned it up and I appear to have a flooding carbureator, per one of your posts. Here is what I have done.

1. I replaced all of the ignition parts, coil, plugs, points, condenser, cap, rotor and wires.
2. I had to replace the vacuum advance with a single port one that I have as the dual port one was frozen. The new one does work. I used the left hand side of the rear facing vacuum ports on the carb for this and plugged the side vacuum port. If this is incorrect please let me know.

I am now going to check the carb bowl to see what the level of gas is as I am blowing smoke and it smells like extra fuel. When I attempt to throttle up I also get back firing. I am unable to set the timing to 5 dbtdc as it will stall. If you have any other suggestions please let me know. I have not gotten to the point of checking going into gear yet as I need the engine to run properly first.

vwjohn

vwjohn · 03 September 2008, 22:34

I changed the carb with the PICT 3 I had extra and the accelleration sitting still is great. no misses and no smoke. Looks like the accelerator pump was bad on the PICT 1. I did have a hard time setting the timing, but that will be easier when I get the dwell meter this weekend. Also, when I changed to the PICT 3 ( per your suggestion earlier) The car now shifts into gear very smoothly. I will road test it and let you know how I make out.

Thank you for all of your help! THis is a great forum and I am sure I will be asking for more assistance later on.

volkenstein · 04 September 2008, 01:43

vwjohn,

QuoteI had to replace the vacuum advance with a single port one

That will cause you some grief. You have to set timing according to distributor type. A stock DVDA will be set at 5Deg ATDC with both hoses connected @ idle, an 043C (later SVDA) must be set at 7.5Deg BTDC with vacuum hose off & plugged at the carb.

Also, I think you have the wrong port for vac advance.

So....knit & macrame, find the distributor numbers (facing the fuel pump on distributor body) and tell us what they are. You would actually be better off pinching the DVDA off the '72 manual provided it isn't stuffed...

HTH
Volkenstein