I'm an Idiot with a Stupid Car

"RaymondStantz" (RaymondStantz)
10/09/2013 at 15:59 • Filed to: Talbot, Solara, Talbot Solara, Wrenching

Most people... Well, let me rephrase that... Most normal people take their car to their dealer/mechanic, scream about it being broken and how it needs to be fixed now . Us Jalops, on the other hand, don't really believe in letting other people work on our cars. That's all fine and dandy, especially if NAPA or the local junkyard have a steady stream of parts. Unfortunately, I'm an idiot. Yes, an idiot. Of course I would own something that has very few parts on the market in general, let alone new or refurbished. Assuming you all have read my intro post, you'd know I own a stupid car. That 86 Talbot Solara. It sits across the pond and teeters on death. Constantly. I recommend digging up my last post for back-story.

How do I do it? The internet. Never before have I been connected to so many French farmers and English grandmothers that still own the damn things. And yes, that is an accurate cross section of Talbot Solara owners. Anyway, I have a problem. A severe problem. The carburetor is slowly going out. You might say, why not dig up a new one? The issue is, there are no new ones. At all. Luckily I've been able to make it work, slightly, largely because this car has the all the design complexity of a mid century tractor. Look another file photo of a Talbot engine. You have no idea how hard it was to find a photo on GIS of a Talbot 1.6.

Needless to say, my bay looks a bit cleaner, but that doesn't matter, you all don't believe me. That's whats wrong with our pics or it didn't happen society. Anywho, the issue is not finding a carburetor for a Talbot, that's easy. It's finding the elusive automatic choke Weber only found on the high end SX with Automatic transmission. Needless to say, I'm screwed, and to be honest, I wouldn't have it any other way.

Photo credit to: drive2.ru

DISCUSSION (16)

duurtlang > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 16:07

I thought you'd be able to get one from a Peugeot of the era. Wrong. Then I saw the acceleration figures of the Solara with the automatic . That's nasty for a top spec large car. With the exact same engine but the stock manual transmission you'd shave off 4 seconds 0-100 km/h (62 mph). Anyway, good luck finding your parts. I can't remember the last time I saw one of those in any condition.

RaymondStantz > duurtlang
10/09/2013 at 16:10

Heh. The car is absolutely glacial. It makes overtaking absolutely frightening, if at all possible. Maybe I'll be an idiot and swap in a 1.9 from the 205 GTI and a manual transmission. Proper sleeper if there ever was one.

505Turbeaux > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 16:10

carbs are easy. I couldnt find a rebuild kit, but unless you have metal wear in there, you should be able to find one and tear it down yourself. Failing that, find a common carb in the correct CFM range, and maybe it will adapt, maybe you will have to get creative. The best description of a carb is a controlled leak of gasoline into your intake. Find something that leaks better...:)

hollanddjw 1 > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 16:12

Welp, time for an LS swap.

RaymondStantz > 505Turbeaux
10/09/2013 at 16:13

I'm going to personally tear it down and have a good look. Something does tell me a carb repair kit would do the trick here.

RaymondStantz > hollanddjw 1
10/09/2013 at 16:14

And RWD conversion. Naturally.

505Turbeaux > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 16:16

paper gaskets you can make, if it is an accel pump or something you might be able to souce a new diaphragm. I saw somewhere something about a Weber 34 ASDSA being adaptable

duurtlang > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 16:16

It would take away the originality and some of the charm, although it'd become much more drivable and it would make your life much easier. 0-100 km/h was 16.5 seconds when factory fresh. 12.7 with the manual. With the 1.9 from the 205 GTI I bet it'd be closer to 9 seconds, given the higher weight of the Talbot versus the 205.

hollanddjw 1 > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 16:21

Well, that comes with the territory.

RaymondStantz > duurtlang
10/09/2013 at 16:22

Which is why I'd like to save this car as much as possible. Keep it as original as possible.

RaymondStantz > 505Turbeaux
10/09/2013 at 16:22

Thanks for the help! I'll certainly look into it!

magman007 > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 17:30

May I ask what the alure of the car is? It seems to be a french version of an old chrysler k car? Or do you own it out of necessity? How about a nice morris marina?

RaymondStantz > magman007
10/09/2013 at 17:34

Heh. It's an old family car. It's just there and free. Why not? It keeps me busy on occasion. I've got a Golf GTI for my every day.

magman007 > RaymondStantz
10/09/2013 at 17:36

No problems, makes perfect sense, I was just wondering once I google searched the car.

Ce he sin > RaymondStantz
10/12/2013 at 14:30

I haven't seen a Solara in decades. A long time anyway.

However my Solara memory is that the first car I ever hired was a Solara. It was an automatic and it was crap. More to the point it had an automatic choke and that was really crap. It had power steering - a novelty at the time - and that was crap too.

Ce he sin > duurtlang
10/12/2013 at 14:32

Charm? Not quite the word for a Solara I'm afraid. Eccentric yes.