Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

So I've been trying to learn as much as possible about Solexes over the last little while and here is what I know, or think I know...

The Solex 44PHH2 (Type Q) is the early Solex carb on low number 67.5 roadsters.

The Solex 44PHH (Type S4) is the late Solex carb used on later 2L cars... Considered the more readily rebuilt and more readily tuned of the two original Roadster options.

I was surfing Alvin's amazing pictures, and found a couple cars equipped with the Solex 44PHH Type S5 carbs. Were these carbs ever a Nissan option for the roadster? I believe they were a Nissan option for the 510s?

Any reason, other than originality, that these wouldn't be a good option on a roadster? Now that I have looked at all the models, the differences are quite apparent... Wolf Creek Racing has an excellent Mikuni ID Guide!

Any other pros and cons for all three 44PHH options would be great as I am looking at a pair of S5 carbs and wondering if it is an option worth pursuing...

Thanks Guys!

David.

I've got a set of type 5s on my car. No they weren't stock. I think the only carbs that were truly correct are the type 2s. As far as I know, all the others were made after production had stopped.

Will

Will, So I am guessing then, that the type 5's work just fine - I've read enough of your posts to know that your car gets driven... Does that mean you can jet them the same as the S4? Any thing else weird to worry about? Does the regular solex linkage work ok?

I know the fuel runs off the top at the opposite side, but shouldn't matter really...

The type 5s work great. The linkage is slightly different from the earlier ones, but the early linkage should work still (I think I ran an early linkage when I first got the carbs.) Jetting is the same as type 4s. Mikuni continued to develop the 40 and 44pHH till production stopped. By the time the type 5s came out, they were pretty well sorted. The only thing that Mikuni didn't address was the tendency on a highly tuned motor to pull fuel through the vents through corners. The fix is pretty simple, and the problem isn't an issue on a stock motor.

There might be a couple different tops for the type 5s. Mine look like a set of type 4s with a float adjuster added to a blank post (on the type 4) If you do some digging on here, I'm pretty sure I've posted a close up of my carbs.

Will

I've been running S5's and a B cam on my 69 for about a year now and love them:



Cheers
James

Dang that is pretty James!

Thanks Tom - looks even better now that I got my body and firewall professionally painted

jamesw wrote:Thanks Tom - looks even better now that I got my body and firewall professionally painted

Sounds like a personal issue! I've heard of spray tans, is this similar to having your body painted?
Tom

P.S. - I might like to meet the professional that does that!

Wow James -
That is totally SWEET!

My car has been over restored, but I bought it because I wanted a 67.5 that wouldn't have a bunch of gremlins in the undercarriage/body. So, it is beautiful, but I have been driving it like I stole it... Which, if you believe the previous owner, I did. Having said that, it is equipped with some nicely restored SU's that I will keep for future originality. I have an option to buy some S5's for about $700, rebuilt. Seems fair... I have a heatshield, open element air cleaner, water tube, insulators and most of the linkage I think.

So I guess, in part, I am just trying to convince myself that this won't affect value... Practically, I guess I don't care, given that, I will probably wear her out over the next 25 years anyhow...

I don't think that it will affect the value, it may even enhance it. Plus, just hang onto the original SU's so that they can always be put back to original if desired.
Besides, "value" only matters if you are selling it, not driving it!!

True dat... I've had my 74 260Z since I was 19... 20 years this year. Really, my concern about value went out the window about... ummm... 19.5 years ago... So I guess it would make sense that with this one, I just give up on the value thing now... Try explaining that to the Mrs... She wasn't here 20 years ago...

David: Did you buy the silver from John that was on sale on a few of the websites last year? That's a beautifully restored car.

As for the Solex, I say go for it - that's a good price. You will LOVE driving the car w/ those carbs - it's a totally different animal.

Cheers
James

Hi James -

Yes, I did buy John's car. It is a beautiful car, although the mechanical side of things has been a bit of a disappointment. It was billed as completely rebuilt when in fact, the motor and transmission were cleaned up, but not opened up. The transmission is coming out this winter as the 2nd gear synchro is almost non-existent, making a downshift near impossible. (Problematic for spirited driving...) The brakes work, although something is wonky with the pedal as there is way too much flex. I need to sort that too. The engine puffs blue at idle... Unfortunately, I don't have a history on the motor as Les didn't open it up, and the PO before John, I haven't been able to track down... Hoping that it was rebuilt and that the rings and valve guides will seat and eliminate this problem as the resto only has 400 miles on it...(and indications are took 10 years to complete at least.)

The SU carbs spool nicely, but I do love the GRUNT from the Solexes... Plus, if you are going to have a 67.5... Shouldn't it be solex, b-cam, 8 quart pan... if you can???

Hey James -

On your manifold, are all four of your vacuum ports tied together? Is that simply for equalization or is there a take off on there somewhere too?

Also, the gauge between the too carbs is fuel pressure obviously... I like that. Gives an indication that should suggest relative equality at both carbs... Clever.

The other cool thing that I have noticed with a couple of the sets of S5 carbs is that the fuel lines are routed to the outside, closer to the air cleaner vs. inside above the exhaust manifold... Should help keep the fuel cooler too I would think... I saw an amazing track 240z build by Reg Sumaru in Edmonton that had a huge ice bucket in front of the radiator with the air intake plumbed through it. He would literally fill it up with ice before heading out on the track to keep the air coming in nice and dense... Wonder what happens when it all turns to water?