Carbs or FI?

W

Wayne

True Classic
Interested in my first X1/9. My preference is FI. I've read a little about the carbs on the X1/9 but still a little weary dealing with the fuel and reliability. 1980 is the last year but they only had 67hp when new. What is the best carburetor setup to extract a little more hp. What exhaust to get also without it deafening the neighbors? I am not a mechanic but don't mind getting my hands dirty since I can do a little work on my Honda.
 
These are short answers and assume you are a good handy person comfortable with tuning carbs. The OE US market carbs and exhaust system basically suck as does the OE US market cam. The rest of the discussion will revolve around the reality that US market cars were detuned in all respects and you can do much to improve it.

Short answer carbs

DCNFs with a EU cam

Short answer exhaust

EU manifold and EU exhaust

Longer (much longer) to come by others with many possible answers. The DCNFs would benefit from higher compression, a cleaned up head with larger valves, a true header exhaust (MWB and Mark Allision have complete setups) and so on down into the rabbit hole of performance upgrades.


My shortest answer is buy one with fuel injection if you are not good with carbs. The FI cars can be upgraded to get more power in all the same ways as a carb car. Eventually you will get beyond what the OE injection system can do and you have to upgrade that to a modern system. The reality is you would have to spend a lot of money on those engine upgrades to get beyond what the OE injection system can deal with.

It really comes down to what kind of mechanic you are and how deep your pockets are.

For most owners (most, not all) an injected car will be easier to live with in all respects.
 
As Karl indicated, it sort of depends on your skill level. I'm a carb guy but I'm totally comfortable in a Fiat engine bay and love to tinker. Hard to beat FI if you just want a nice driver and don't want to tinker. A 1500 X has a lot more torque than a 1300 so that means any carbed 1500 will have a terrible emissions compromised carb and you would want to throw those things into the trash. I like a carb since there are only two active components, a carb and a pump.

When you get an X, plan on replacing the timing belt unless the seller can provide evidence of recent replacement.
 
Okay, now for the people who like to drive their cars and not fiddle with them, FI. My old 72 Fiat Spider was a carb. Worked fine, but was hard to start after sitting for a couple of weeks and each spring I had to clean the carb. I was finally talking into dual carbs. Loved the sound and power the 3 days a year they worked right.

All my X1/9s are fuel injected. Turn the key and the car starts. Plenty of power and nothing to fiddle with. I think the fact that FI works great everyday annoys Carl.
 
Wayne said:
Interested in my first X1/9. My preference is FI. I've read a little about the carbs on the X1/9 but still a little weary dealing with the fuel and reliability. 1980 is the last year but they only had 67hp when new. What is the best carburetor setup to extract a little more hp. What exhaust to get also without it deafening the neighbors? I am not a mechanic but don't mind getting my hands dirty since I can do a little work on my Honda.
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Have you driven an X yet? Depending upon availability of course, I would think you would want to drive each of the three choices (carbed early, carbed late, FI) to see what you like, if any.

Don't know what your experience level is, but there is a WORLD of difference between tending to a Honda and tending to an X1/9:
Honda=millions X1/9=hundreds
Honda parts=everywhere X1/9 parts=2-3 USA vendors 2 European vendors, and this forum
Honda performance parts=in every nook and cranny of the internet & cheap X1/9 performance parts=hardly any, and expensive in relation to the value of the car
 
To counter my buddy Todd:
FI= cell phone, works good when everything is wonderful but don't leave it in the washing machine.
Carb(s)= the rotary phone on your mom's kitchen wall, works all the time, every time, can't lose it or leave it in the washing machine.

Dan sounds like he is trying to talk you out of buying an X! They are like high maintenance girl friends, not necessarily for every day use but worth the effort to maintain for fun. I can't believe I just said that.
 
I guess I'll have to be patient even though I have placed a WTB ad on the forum. I like SIMPLICITY and I see mostly carb cars for sale. Again I don't mind getting my hands dirty. I just need to know the proper procedures when taking off a carb and adjusting. If I can't handle a tune-up the nearest Fiat specialist would be DiFatta brothers in Baltimore.
 
Wayne said:
I guess I'll have to be patient even though I have placed a WTB ad on the forum. I like SIMPLICITY and I see mostly carb cars for sale. Again I don't mind getting my hands dirty. I just need to know the proper procedures when taking off a carb and adjusting. If I can't handle a tune-up the nearest Fiat specialist would be DiFatta brothers in Baltimore.
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Where in the DC area are you? I am in Hagerstown if you want to drive an 86 FI. DCFiats has X1/9s all over the area from a 74 near Millerville, MD to Bertones in Northern VA and Carl's in pieces as usual. Most of us do our own work, but DiFattas in good and so is London Auto in Northern VA.
 
Silver Spring. I used to see some of these cars as a kid in the 80's living in DC. Since then I've seen maybe 3 over the last 30 yrs. I always thought they looked better than the Porsche 914, more modern. I'm sure people admire these X1/9s and think "is that a Ferrari". London Auto I'll check out it's definitely closer.
 
Wayne, there is a very large and active Fiat club in the DC area...DCfiats.org. We all help each other to get our Fiats running right. There are basically two adjustments on the carbs, one is mixture adjustment via a single screw and the other is idle speed adjustment via another screw....pretty simple. If you get a 79 or 80 X you can toss the emissions choked carb and bolt on one from a 74-78 X. And there are plenty of us who could help you with this.

Carl...in Fairfax
 
So close to going off topic but it didn't. Good job guys!!!

I am in the carbed boat but I dislike technology (as a millennial). Also I have only driven my car a handful of miles in the last 7 years due to other reasons so don't base your answer off of me.
 
carbs more power. i take out at 1500x19 ijection and before is 78hp. with only dcnf 36 carbs go 89hp. and 1,5 torgue more.
 
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