Hi,

Does anyone have any experiences with the injection system factory-fitted to late classic Beetles?

Was this a USA only thing?

Is it mechanical or a proper multi-point EFi with an ECU?

What are the advantages and disadvantages? Fuel Economy, Power, Emissions?

It is reliable and easy to service and get spares for?

Is it worthwhile collecting the parts and converting a normal Beetle?

Cheers,
Brett.

Hi I recall Joel threw a fact up about them

i think those mexi bugs run lower CR to handle the shitty fuels they have there

Brett theres abug around here thats a jap import that has the old L-jet setup like US bugs had
its electronic multipoint
was mainly an emmissions thing in the US, powers no better
most of them have been converted to carb now cos the parts are getting hard to find and most mechanics just dont understand the system, so my yank mates tell me anyway

Thanks.

Sounds similar to the last classic Minis - injected, but done more for emissions and smoothness. Carb Minis have more power.

I figured it was the same for Beetles, but I couldn't find any info.

I didn't know Mexican Beetles had injection or Japanese spec. I thought maybe it was just a North American thing.

Cheers,
Brett.

I think they later efi engines are down in power because they were chasing emissions and had very small exhaust valves. I used a factory setup with aftermarket ecu (haltech), on a warm 1776 engle 100 cam and mild heads 40 x 35.5, set of merged headers, hideaway muffler. Was a real nice combo.

i think it was only the last few years of jap bugs that were EFI,

mexi bugs had the digifant setup but pretty sure thats only on the 90s onwards ones

i've always wanted to do like matt said, a mild engine like a 1776 with stock efi and build a megasquirt setup for it
a compromise of driveability, power and economy without being hidiously expensive

fuel injecting vw engines just too much work and costly, the main reason i went subaru

Ther are 2 type of EFI on the later beetles, the was the "german" system followed by the "mexican" system

the old system at the top is Bosch L-jetronic and the newer system is bosch Digifant, which is just a rehash of L-jet
love to get my hands on some

Thanks for the pics and very useful info.

L-Jetronic was used on Golfs and other German cars too. Does that mean that the only rare parts are the beetle-specific ones?

For example are replacement injectors, sensors and throttle bodies commonly available?

I'm only tossing around idead at the moment, no Beetle to try it on yet. A mild engine with factory EFI and an aftermarket ECU is roughly what I had in mind.

I can understand the Subaru approach, but I'd prefer to keep it air-cooled and mostly VW parts. I'm a bit traditional like that.

I've heard some people have used Camira ECU's on their pollution control engines when the original packs it in.

My FI 1600 in the Cabriolet ran great. Had heaps of torque and a really different exhaust note because of the emissions canister. It apparently runs even better after VWCOOL bought it. Where are ya mate to comment on this post?

You might want to have a look at this thread

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=80501&page=1#pid750161 

Hi

A friend has a 1978/9 microbus, he fitted all the stock injection runners and plenum from an earlier Kombi but used a Autronic SMC after market ecu.

This way he can use after market sensors, pumps etc and tune the ecu to suit.

There is guy selling Mexican EFI stuff on shoptalkforums.com, by the time you buy all the bits you will be up around $3000, then you need to build a motor as well.

Steve

Interesting links.

But $3000 - ouch!

I don't suppose there is anyone importing new or low km used Mexican/Brazillian EFI engines with all the hardware attached?

I rememeber we could get new Brazillian 1600 long motors in the early 90.

when i built my injection system the hard ware nearly cost $2000.00
then you have to purchase a ECU which can be up to $2500.00

it aint cheap but a good excerise

Brett, you can still buy the mexican factory crate motors
they're alot more than $3000 these days, and there only long blocks