Anyone heard of EMPI HPMX carbs?

[Reverend]

Local (finnish) importer has introduced this new chinese made Weber clone, it supposed to be as good as the original and all the jets etc can be swapped from Weber.

At first they made carbs mainly for volkswagen but they have started to make sidedrafts also. Anyone got any experience with these?

[conedodger]

From what I hear from the 4 cylinder 914 guys they are junk... Sorry, if that seems like a strong condemnation but I had to tone down what they actually said.

[John Coffey]

.... chinese made Weber clone, it supposed to be as good as the original

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha... That's pretty funny.

[Reverend]

Well i do not base my argument on nothing, several automotive people who work on racing engines have told me that these chink-webers are worth every penny.. BUT they have only knowledge of updraft webers, used on VW engines. Thats why i asked if anyone has experience on sidedrafts. :disappoin

Edited November 7, 2012 by Reverend

[conedodger]

Actually, they're downdraft carbs. I have a Raby engine in my Porsche and he is one of the world experts on VW and Porsche engines. He used them when they were first produced and has said pretty emphatically and repeatedly "they're junk" and "I wouldn't use anything but the box they come in." He says that he could see light through the throttle shaft bushings on some of them. NEW!

[John Coffey]

I walked across the alley and asked John Benton of this place: http://bentonperformance.com/ His reply was what I posted above.

[conedodger]

The 'gold standard' of downdraft carbs is the PMO. A set of dual triples will cost $4000.00 so it is only for serious people. Sidedrafts have interesting and more complicated physics. Let's take nothing away from the Chinese. If an importer asked them to make them right, they could and would. But they're being bombarded with WalMart manufacturing mentality. Importers come in and say 'can you make this' and they respond 'of course.' So then the importer says 'ok, do it. I'll give you $3.00 USD each for them. The reason they're cheap is they're made by people who have no clue what a carburetor is. They just make their little piece without knowing that bushings require airtight clearances and such.

It sounds like you have made up your mind. You don't have to defend your decision. You asked. I wouldn't do it. John, who I respect a great deal in the Z car world wouldn't do it. Good luck.

[Reverend]

Correction to my second post: chinese, not chink. Did not mean to offense anyone. Im just looking a Z user opinion (who has these carbs, if there is such a person), i might made my mind but i can always ask. It seems i will be the first one to try these