What Would You Pay for a NOS Solex Air Cleaner

[BBF Roadster]

Not mine but on ebay.
Located in Japan.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Datsun-Roadste ... Sw6eZaji82

[bakerjf]

I saw that too and was a bit surprised. I’m glad I got into the Solex club a few years ago when it was just expensive. The fact is if you want the top-tier Roadster performance setup without going off the reservation (non-original), you’re going to have to pay for it.

[bakerjf]

I should amend my “Hell no” vote to specify I wouldn’t pay that for a late-model cleaner. I just happily bought a reproduction early cleaner from Jim for $900.

No, I don’t plan on selling my late-model cleaner.

[Red Baron]

Why are solex carbs such a big deal? Are they that much superior to SU's in performance, tuning etc.? If it is performance, is the difference noticeable? I would be amenable to buying a solex setup, if I knew that the money would be justified by a hefty performance increase. Or is it just that their rarity and cool looks makes them so appealing?

[dynaguy]

Why are solex carbs such a big deal? Are they that much superior to SU's in performance, tuning etc.? If it is performance, is the difference noticeable? I would be amenable to buying a solex setup, if I knew that the money would be justified by a hefty performance increase. Or is it just that their rarity and cool looks makes them so appealing?

Jewelry is expensive. You do get is added horsepower and some awesome aural stimulation for the $$$$. I was just fine with my SU 2000. Went the sr20 route for my "keeper". FWIW Pat

[notoptoy]

Is that the late style, or the early one? I bought one a few years back new in the Nissan box that looks like that, I think I paid half that luckily. Sitting on the shelf waiting for my Mikuni 40"s on my H20. Maybe I should "flip it" for a quick buck! (Nahhhh)
Lots of pieces ready to go on the roady, no action on my part!

[spl310]

Late style

[notoptoy]

I thought so, thanks Sid.

[BBF Roadster]

No bids at $900.

[rwmann]

Yikes! I sold a used cover only to a guy in Alice Springs, Australia ten years ago for around $500.

Meanwhile, CBs velocity stack 'socks' are $3 each!

[rwmann]

Why are solex carbs such a big deal? Are they that much superior to SU's in performance, tuning etc.? If it is performance, is the difference noticeable? I would be amenable to buying a solex setup, if I knew that the money would be justified by a hefty performance increase. Or is it just that their rarity and cool looks makes them so appealing?

Solexes are very tunable, arguably way too many venturi and jetting choices, and balancing them the first time is a chore. Once accomplished, the noticeably better power and torque come on above 3500 rpm with the B cam. But beyond the utility and functionality, the Solex induction sounds at partial to wide open throttle are just symphonic. The OEM cover damps some of that out, while simple but effective filter screens allow the Solexes to sing.

[Pjackb]

Funny I look at this post which is only 2 years old and I’m thinking that it doesn’t look that expensive anymore for NOS Solex AF

[rwmann]

How much is that in Bitcoin?

[avidtest]

Just a quick post advertising my set of Solex / Mikuni 44PHH A11 carbs for sale on BAT. The auction has two days to go.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/carburetors-17/

[david premo]

So I frequently see people saying that the Mikuni Solex carburetors add horsepower. That is actually not the case, a cam adds horsepower and little if anything is added by the carburetors. It has to do with what a carburetors function is vs a camshaft. The carburetors simply mix fuel and air to a desired ratio. A camshaft is the true basis for horsepower as it has the task of determining how much volume the engine can intake and exhaust. If you think about it, the engine is a pump and if you can hold a valve open wider and longer more volume will go through the engine. You can also add a supercharger or turbocharger and that will increase the volume that much more.
So what is it that people are experiencing when they bolt on a set of Mikuni’s? It’s simply that they offer an accelerator pump that once you get the volume and duration right, it’s a rocket off the line through the gears and coming off corners. The rest of the system breaks up the work into portions of throttle positions. The pilot circuit controls the first 20-25% of throttle position, then the main fuel jet covers the mid range from 20-25% to 70-75% throttle. The icing on the cake is the main air jet that controls full throttle enrichment to cool combustion temperatures and let the engine hit full power and when done right feels like an afterburner just kicked in.
So it’s not really enough to bolt on a set of Mikuni’s, without tuning they just decorative bling. When BRE was racing the roadster’s in the late 60’s and switching to the Z car, they were experiencing crankshaft problems with the Z. So the U20 at the time had a 210 observed horsepower on the dyno with the SU carburetors. When they bolted on the Mikuni’s the horsepower was about the same, however the throttle response was significantly improved, ie the drivability went up to the point that they bumped the BRE roadster into “C” production and they were now racing against the 911 Porsche and beating the Porsche a good part of the time until Nissan could provide crankshaft that would not break at high RPM.
Dave