I have tried and tried to get the car going but to no success. I removed both solex carburators, cleaned them, but still no luck. Should I just switch over to a one carb setup or does anyone have a set of good solex for sale? I have followed Anders blog on the two setup carbs and it seems very dificult so I think that the best solution for someone that has very limited mechanical knowledge is the one carb setup. I hate to give up on the two carbs.
Hello Juan,
Can you give us the VIN (full 17 digit chassis number) please. It starts VF853C... This will tell us exactly what version Murena you have, since if it is a genuine 'S' there is a little more to the carburettor and vacuum system than other models.
Second, have you contacted the NAMR (North American Matra Register)? There are guys with various cars all over the States, and I know there are some in Texas, and with a problem like yours, it would be much easier with someone who knows about European cars with carbs. to have a look at it directly than expecting accurate 'long range' remote diagnosis!
From what you have said so far, I can't even say whether your fault is actually with the carbs. or not. So spending lots of money getting them shipped about to be checked and possibly rectified when you don't know for certain that it is the carbs. seem pointless to me. When you say you can't accelerate, I think you mean you can't rev the engine with the car stationary in neutral, is that right? Because to me saying 'you can't accelerate' means you are driving the car at a steady speed but it won't pick up and accelerate, which is a different thing entirely.
Also if you did change the twin side-draught carbs. for a single, twin-venturi down-draught carb. is not that simple and yes the inlet manifold is water heated for the down-draught carb. where it is not on the twin side-draught set up, so you need not only the correct manifold but a different water pipe under the manifold and two hoses...
However, going back to the problem, if you try to rev the engine and it dies, it could be a number of things, like ignition coil, amplifier, fuel feed, float levels, restricted inlet, etc. and it would be unlikely that both carbs. would be faulty or even in the same way, so if one was right and the other had a problem, you would not get the engine dying so easily. The fact that yours does suggests the problem is not with the carbs. at least not entirely.
Contact me directly (
roy@matraclub.org.uk) if you want more info. on NAMR or check my website.
Roy