The Carb Revolution, A shortage of capable 914 mechanics? Options

[JawjaPorsche]

I have noticed a lot of 914's for sale lately on Ebay, Craiglist, and here on 914World that have carbs. I was wondering what prompted these owners to scrap their FI for carbs? As a original owner of a 914 I know you have to stay on top of the FI system with maintenance and tender care. Was it because some teeners exchanged owners so much that it was easier to switch to carbs than to chase the FI problem? Or was it because there is a shortage of capable 914 FI mechanics that understand the D-Jet system or L-Jet system? This is not a knock on teener owners that have carbs. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

[stugray]

Another reason is that diagnostic equipment for FI did not exist in the 70's.

Even the oscilloscopes they had then were analog and could not even store a waveform.
Now they have digital logic FI monitors that give you all the information over the equivalent of a USB port. Any computer becomes the diag. equipment.

Troubleshooting a FI system in the 70s-90s required trial and error and often 'known good components' to swap out with the suspect ones to eliminate the culprit. Owners usually do not have extra parts laying around to test that.

When I converted my first 914 to carbs it was because I got it non-running with the FI in a box and I had more experience with carbs. Had it running for ~$700 with Dellortos.

Now I converted my latest because it is a race car and

You can't make radical changes to the motor with the stock F.I.

Stu