'89 & '90 Achilles Heel

[bastille10]

The carb problems for these 2 years seem to be a real problem. So much so that I've notice that people specifically will only want one's '90-'93. Mine's an '88. Runs like a top, but feel maybe I've just been lucky:p. Would you say the only real long term solution to this issue is the Weber conversion? I talked to a carburator specialist here in town and said he wouldn't do it (wouldn't pass emission test). I told him the year and I didn't need another one (ever). He said since it's not a straight "bolt on and go" thing he didn't want to mess with it. Said just stick with stock and deal with the issues as they come up I'm only mentioning this because I personally would'nt tackle that octopus.

[TominMO]

Go with the Weber.

[Safety Guy]

Methinks you meant to say '88 and '89. 1990s are all FI.

Certain folks will go for carbs. Most of us probably won't want to mess with them. On the other hand, I think my problems with my '89 were due to an original fuel filter that was never changed. That was one of the first things I mentioned to one of the shops I took it in to.

When I cut Muttstiva apart, I found the fuel filter was dated "1989." I thought they had checked/replaced that, but I was wrong. Maybe it wasn't my carb that was messing up.

If I found a good deal on a nice running '88 or '89, I just might bite. I simply know a lot more than I did five or six years ago.

Karl

[bastille10]

Right, Safety - Meant to say '88 & '89.

[neanderpaul]

I have seen many carbed festys with gobs of miles getting it even today. Kartracer has one with 360K+ miles. The problems with carbs come from sitting. A lot of people who only want 90-93 are people wanting to do motor swaps. I am not the least bit afraid of a currently good running carby festiva.

[FestYboy]

Scrappy's got over 350k on his carb and i have 3 more carbies with over 230k on the clock that run just as well.... the only issues i see from the early years are oil deposits in the engine bay and rot (due to geographical location)

[kumalaba]

my 88lx that was at fm5 had over 449k miles on original carb & ran perfect. i sold it(3 months ago) to a kid who drives it 90 miles a day & he loves it. now if i can get him on here!

[Pu241]

now if i can get him on here!

He'll be on here, when he has an issue, probably not before!

[kartracer46]

Neanderpaul is right, I love my Carby's. I can sucessfully rebuild them too. I just finished rebuilding one of the stock AISAN carbs today. If you price a new one they are $400-$500 for a reman. I could see where that would tend to differ some from wanting one, especially since most of us have barely paid that for the car.

[kumalaba]

He'll be on here, when he has an issue, probably not before!

true!

[kumalaba]

my 88lx that was at fm5 had over 449k miles on original carb & ran perfect. i sold it(3 months ago) to a kid who drives it 90 miles a day & he loves it. now if i can get him on here!

ooops fm4! lol

[Festiva Time]

I loved my '88 Festiva because of the carb. Hated all them damn hoses. I would of loved to put my Holley/Weber carb in place of it, but emission testing would have rejected it. Crashed the '88 enough to total it. Now, I drive '90 and learned to accept the fuel injection [actually the programming controling the injectors] problem.

[Pu241]

Now, I drive '90 and learned to accept the fuel injection [actually the programming controling the injectors] problem.

Depends on how much you dislike it!
DO you dislike enough to pay for a Mega-Squirt unit?

[Damkid]

Only reason why I won't buy a 88-89 is because I know I'll do an engine swap to any festiva I get my hands on so I'd want to start with a EFI festy

[Basement_Modder]

I prefer carbs if its stock, as they are somewhat easy to replace and there's less to go wrong with the car electronically. That said, I would never buy a carbed festy for anything less than a great deal, as I'm not sure if any swaps lie ahead.