The Cal-look Lounge

Any opinions on them???

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I would avoid EMPI/Mr. Bug not only because of the general shittiness of their parts quality, but also to the whorization of the VW industry that they are chiefly responsible for.  I can't believe it took them as long as it did to copycat the carbs being done by the Bergs and Jaycee in the early '90s.

I have a real hard time supporting a company whose directive in answering quality complaints is "go tell it to the dealer you bought it from."   ::)

I'll have to agree with Ryan 100%

My favorite description of endearment for modern Empi parts is they suck chocolate hot dogs.

EMPI=Erroneously Made Poop Ingredients

Bugnut said it all.  I had a set of 44's from Empi and the brass seat for the air mixture screw was missing.  Empi is only a few blocks from me.  I took it to them and showed them clearly what was wrong and they said I needed to take it back to where I bought it from.  There was no reason they could not exchange it there.  I had to get hold of my cust. and have him come down from Los Angeles and pick it up and take it back to where he bought it from.  Finially a few days later I recieved it back and was able to complete his motor.  Because of those JERKS at Empi almost a week was wasted. It wasn't liike I dumping some other brand carb on them.  Clearly see it was Empi and clearly see the problem.   NEVER BUY EMPI!!!!!!!  ALL THERE PARTS ARE JUNK!!!!!!!
                            Dave Rhoads

Gee guys... don't sugar coat it.... tell us what you really think!!!  ;D ;D ;D

thanx for all advices...

but putting avay all politicks likes and dislikes ... did any one tested them???

I would rather stop driving my car than give 1 US cent to EMPI. Everything I have bought from them in the past is complete and utter garbage, and their customer service is non existant just like Dave said above. Your money is much better spent on quality parts and outstanding customer service like that of Bugpack. Rick Sadler and Dominic Luppino take care of their customers and it doesn't matter if you bought it from Joe Blow, they stand behind their products.

What  I find hiliarious is how people bitch about how much more expensive the better quality Webers are (the Spanish ones currently available), when you can go onto a site like the Samba, look up carbs in the classifieds and find them USED for often less than what new turd casting EMPI junk is going for!  There's always going to be that crybaby crowd that will say, "Whaah whahh, I can't afford the good stuff, so at least EMPI provides something for those of us that aren't rich."
Well, I'd say if you have to buy things more than once to get something decent that works, you're NOT saving anything in the process.  In fact, I'd say it makes a person mighty foolish.

I've seen some hilarious slogans for EMPI over the years:

EMPI is Chinese for Crap.

EMPI= Every Mistake Passes Inspection

EMPI= It's what comes out of your fanny after dinner.

EMPI=Exclusively Monster Piles (of shit, you understand) Incorporated

EMPI=Emitators Mass Produce Ixcrement (Okay, this was a stretch, but we have to assume the morons at EMPI can't spell, let alone make quality parts)

EMPI=Exhausts Mostly Poop Itstrue (another stretch, but I thought it was funny)

EMPI=Extremely Moody Post Installation (this could apply to any EMPI part purchase)

EMPI=Earlier Made Parts (with) Integrity (ah, the good old days)

EMPI= Swaheley for "the automotive component equivalent to eating a three-day old burrito or fajita laced with ultrapotent laxatives and then spending three days on the porcelain thrones with eater's remorse;" the extreme diarrhea represents the buyer's turmoil in trying to get the said shitty (pun intended) part to fit the car or engine or whatever, and the eater's remorse is a simile or pun for "why did I trust that damn little blue and white globe?  They're screwing people worldwide with this shittiness!"

EMPI= also Taiwanese for suckysucky buggybuggy...parts. (similar to Chinese definition, slightly different dialect, think its Mandarin, or something)

EMPI=Employees Masturbate (to) Profit Increase (don't believe me?  I think Dave's post pretty much backs it up).

EMPI=Extra Maird-ey Parts Incorporated (I've heard that Maird is French for 'poop,' 'shit,' or whatever synonym you may care to insert here)

Okay, I've only heard like the first one of those actually used on the web, the rest I pretty much made up.  I've got half a mind to email the masterminds at EMPI/Mr. Bug the link to this thread. ;D

I have done that very thing Ryan. I think they don't respond to emails, they never did to any of mine anyways.  ::)

When some idiot named Eddie Anderson used to work there, he wrote back and told me my grasp of English was astounding.  Lol.  I heard he later got fired, but the next guy posted up on the Samba in some guy's thread about an exhaust and he was equally worthless.

Maybe even farther back , Dave Bonbright 1980's, . He is a master innovator. First to put a bus box in a bug, first to bore a set of ida's out, first to make a vertigate style shift  linkage....

A couple of street cars in Sweden that runs low 11´s report that they work great.

I have read that they need a good check over (as you would with any part before putting it on your car) but they worked fine.

Never experienced the customer service etc. as never bought a part off them.

If you're after IDA's Tom I have a set that I'll be putting up for sale soon, come fitted with standard 37mm vents but I have a set of custome machined 41mm vents to go with them. I forget the jetting now.... they run a Berg linkage and Scat Trak manifolds which have only had a little porting to suit a set of CB oval ports. PM me if you're interested.

Cheers
Jamie

Hi Jamie,

how is youre car doing afther drag day on SP?

I just asked totally toretycally about only the casting :) cuz I can get them cheep as sheet :D (don't ask how :D) and the parts are interchangable with IDA's :D so I really need the casting :)
I'm looking for italian IDA's for sure :) (spoted few on the samba)
what are yours Jamie? the jests aren't a problem :).
If I will be buing IDA I will need only the carbs... cuz I have briliant and neet VWSPEEDSHOP llinkage :D for them :D (don't ask Paul if they fit IDA's :D there will be only one answer...).

As always people speak about politicks asked about techincal things  = no arguments :D thats my opinion.

JS posted that they work... I just don't give a shit who this days EMPI people are and how they treat customers... cuz I won't get those things from them :P

Hi Tom, I'm displaying it at a local show this weekend, so I guess I should get it going again! I'll fit up my Hyfire setup this week I think...

Re: my IDA's, they're Spanish not Italian, but as I got them for a good price off a fellow club member last year I'm selling them on at a good price too. I think there's a picture of them on our club blog, you need to scroll back through to June last year and its a pair of carbs on a shelf.

Don't tell Paul you're planning on using his linkage on IDA's, he'll be foaming at the mouth!  :D

I can't help wodering though Tom, if buying the EPC's for the bodies and then fitting them out with weber parts may be as expensive as just getting a set of Webers to start with. Those parts can be pretty pricey! I think if you can get the whole EPC carbs for a good price just try using them!

Good luck. btw, are you in the UK still?

hehe just wondering about those EPC... really I would love to have itlatians on the back...

Paul knows what I'm going to do.. he's not happy thouhg :D but EFI will apear one day in my cars so... :D there is hope that I'll get "normal" ;)

Will you be on EBI?

PS. I'm back in Poland at the moment byt I'm going to visit UK soon (after EBI)

A couple of weeks ago I ran a Berg 52 IDA motor on the dyno.
I took off the Bergs, fitted a pair of EMPI EPC 51s and picked up 7bhp.

The reason I removed the Bergs was due to rough running at idle and part throttle opening.
I wanted to confirm the running issues were carb related so bolted on the Chinese carbs to check my theory.
I checked float levels, synched the linkage and fired it up. They ran smooth with good snappy throttle response.
Two WOT acceleration testes was all I did but was pleased how well they worked.
Spending time rectifying the Berg carbs would no doubt claim back the lost power so this is far from conclusive evidence the EMPIs actually make more power.
All I can say is they ran pretty good during that brief test.
To date that's my only experience with EPC carbs.

Don't want to get into a pro/anti EMPI argument.
Bear in mind many of the big VW suppliers are now sourcing a number of their parts from China.
Sometimes the only difference in parts from the big vendors is the logo on the packaging.

Here's just one example of what's going on...
One of the 'quality' parts suppliers practically everyone on here holds in high regard, buys certain parts from EMPI and repackages them as their own product!
Who's ripping who?   ;)

I must say thank You Mr.Maher.

Witch parts from china is like that:
You can cut the costs really low but you can't expect eaven a poor quality. But... if you'll pay and talk to them You can get really good parts with really good quality stil with really good price.
A lot of people buys parts from china, my friend gets a mopeds from china and big industrial machines (in really big numbers)... afther few trips to China and putting them on a propper tracks he ended with very good quality machines in resonable price. They will do everything you wont but you have to know how to talk with them :D.

Nice to hear actual experience rather than just the same argument trotted out everytime! Hows things John?

I honestly don't care if the carbs are good... it's not about politics, it's about supporting businesses who support our hobby/industry.  I wouldn't say EMPI necessarily supports our industry by churning out a huge pile of crappy parts and having one set of carburetors that are quality; I don't care if they do sponsor the Pro Mod class, Dave Rhoad's post says it all.  He walked in to their building with their carbs and they wouldn't service him, they sent him back to the dealer.  That's crap, I'm sorry.

I don´t either want to get in an argument about EMPI in general, as the quality of most of their parts I´ve tried have NOT been good enough...
But, the only people I know who have them have reported that their EPC carbs has worked very well. The HPMX is a COMPLETELY different story!!
Same goes for their single Dellorto/Solex copy...
Please bear in mind that the cars I´m talking about have not done many miles, so don´t know how they are for longevity...
 
The problem that John has with the Berg 58´s are the same as a friend here in Norway has experienced...

Thanks ;D

I don`t about these carbs but have heard bad things about their Solex copies. However, I think I`ve been doing the VW thing long enough to know just by looking at it if something is junk. I would think that the store that the parts are bought from should honer the parts and warranty them for you. Thats no excuse for EMPI`s poor customer service however. AS far as other companies repackaging products.... I doubt they are fooling anyone in the know and besides, does anyone really expect every company out there to make their own parts entirely? No way. I don`t like the fact that they sell poor quality parts but I still buy a few things from EMPI. Would you rather they just went away completly?

ok lets talk in this way....


I can have the carb like IDA or EMPI EPC... cheep ;) no logo no nothing :D but the same casting as EMPI EPC...
I need an oinion on the casthing...
I don't bother who is runing EMPI... I buy parts from Bug Pack CB Bergs and scat... I have never bought anything from EMPI so please don't write abut how EMPI shity parts are.... cuz every one knows what the quality is...

I just asked a question about the THIS CARB...
there is so manny posts and only 2 talks about things that interests me...

Yeah I know all that. But nothing is the same as it used to be. I think its companies like that who keep the VW scene alive amongst a sea of FWD imports and airbagged trucks. Have you actually taken the time to look through the latest EMPI catalouge? There is some pretty cool new products in there.

Bottom line is as long as people are attracted by the cheaper price, EMPI will continue to thrive.  I just can't support a company that obviously doesn't give two shits about its customers.  I'd rather do without than have a sub-par outfit around making crap because the market supports affordable garbage rather than quality stuff that may cost more.  The VW world brought it on itself, because people are cheap.  I don't know why it's so hard to wait, save up and get the good stuff, even if it means putting a project on hold for awhile versus buying cheaper parts and having it "right now."  I think that says something about our society as a whole.

Yeah, but....

General opinion on the CARBS we're talking about here, is that they're pretty good, whether or not they're cheaper and you have to save up for months or break your kiddies piggy bank ;)

Hey tom, if they have no logo's at all on, does that mean they're a rip off of a rip off ???   :o hahaha

no :) the logo will be grinded off :D

as always I got lots of "foam" and no technical tips. but I just got used to that.
maybe someone should put a topic: "Tell how bug shit is EMPI" for those who have to say something in this topic... and maybe that will stop putting OT :D

ok maybe the topic need to be closed...

My problem with EMPI is that no matter how good the parts LOOK, they just don't last. Some of the MR Bug stuff was rusting before it came out of the packets!

I see them like the fake Rolex you buy on holiday, and for that fortnight the watch works great, but then it starts losing time, before one of the hands falls off. ;)

Or better still, stop producing quite so much crap and concentrate on a few good quality, worthwhile items. Empi needs to look at what the competition produces and what they produce. Instead of trying to make everything (but cheap), they should just continue to make the pieces that no-one else makes, but better!

I don't really consider all the details on EMPI's poor record of quality and customer service to be off topic.  Okay, so, hypothetically, what IF the carbs function well initially.  That's a mighty big IF, in my opinion, but whatever.  As soon as you have issues, it's been established that EMPI won't stand behind their product.  There are some here and elsewhere that will back this up.

So, even if the carbs work initially, what good does it do you to buy them if there's no customer support to back up the product?  I guess if a person is a carb guru and can figure it out or do it all themselves, that's a different story, but for the great share of us out there our first instinct is to get the thing serviced by the people that made it. I don't think one should have to implement a third outside party to fix the problems (if they are present and whatever they may be) of the manufacturer.

Ask the carb guy Art Threan on the other forum,he is an expert on carbs he should give you an honest answer on this topic 8)

have you tried contacting Weber with problems?! ::)

I don't have any EMPI parts on my car.

YES, well Rick Sadler did for me. He was just taking care of a customer(me) like any decent company would.

Rick Sadler ain't Weber  ;)

No, but Bugpack does indeed sell and carry Weber carburetors...;D

Which is the EXACT same thing that EMPI have done - referred a buyer to a dealer!!!! Rick Sadler = dealer.  ;)

I'm not sticking up for EMPI, cos I know they do a lot of shit parts, but lets compare apples with apples here, OK?
 
We're talking about carbs, and we're talking about manufacturers. Not chrome fanshrouds, or local service.

CARBS.

Keep smilin'

;) ;D ;D ;D

Actually, Bugpack isn't a dealer, I believe they're a  distributor of Weber carburetors.  They don't manufacture Weber carburetors and they don't sell direct to the public, but they do sell to their dealers.  Vee Dub Parts Unlimited or any other number of business that carry Bugpack products are dealers.

EMPI manufactures and distributes their EPC carbs to their dealers.  I'm not saying that customers should contact EMPI's Chinese, Indonesian, Taiwanese or other third-world factories and expect to get service; EMPI's Orangethorpe Avenue people should reasonably provide backing on their products and I don't see how anyone could expect otherwise.  I'd want the company's input on whatever issues I'd have rather than somebody working behind a counter that may not be as familiar with the product.

 ::) ;) :D

Fair enough Bugnut... hehehe.... I suppose I just wanted the thread to concentrate on the query put forward by the OP, but I'm guilty of sidetracking it too now!

Keep smiling!
Jamie

I am guilty as charged, as Dewey Cox sang! ;D 

Hahaha... Dewey Cox has a line on us all mate...

 ;D ;D