instructions for carb rebuild?

[erikandelman]

Hi all,
I've got an 88 Festiva (with 2bbl asian carb I believe). Had the bucking problems and tried various fixes. Finally died, looked down into the carb and there was some corn down in there... damn mice. Assuming there are pieces of corn not visible, and considering problems before the corn (the bucking was happening before), I figure I should rebuild the carb. I can get a kit from Advance but am a little afraid.
Any instructions out there?
Thanks!
Erik

[nonamekid]

Almost all carb rebuild kits come with instructions on how to rebuild. If the store you go to doesn't include instructions with their kits, go somewhere else that does.

[erikandelman]

Thanks you guys. I rebuilt the carb on my chainsaw a few years ago!

[MAVRICK513]

I got a carb rebuild kit from NAPA on line about 6 months ago. It was around $40.

[batstiva]

Don't think he's having a problem finding the rebuild kit, it's the instructions he needs to make sure he has.

A good kit should come with those.

[miami man]

yep and i invested in one of those gallon paint size cans with carburator cleaner and basket included for about $20.00

[zoe60]

The cleaner in a can is great stuff. Just be careful to put it back together the same as it came apart. Do it in a well lit clean area. Be sure to set the float level correctly. There are directions with the kit but I think they assume you already know how to work on carbs. Not the most helpful.

[Banana Bonanza]

Sure you lucky folks in strict emissions inspection states are screwed out of the shoot. This is a complicated carb with lots of various gizmoes and vacuum thingamabobs attached, take lots of pictures as you remove vacuum hoses and little gizmos. Other than that just normal carb to put kit into. But getting everything hooked up again, well its a royal pain. And if it still doesnt work right, lots smiles and grins to diagnose. You will be glad if you took lots of pictures as you disassembled it.

If you dont have emission inspection or they dont disqualify on basis of looks, then remove original carb and put it in trash can along with all the gizmos and tubing or better yet give it to somebody trying to keep original carb setup working. I kept mine on off chance the Feds decide to force all states to go heavy handed with emissions. Go find a small weber like they used to use aftermarket on VW or other smaller engines. Have to probably make your own adapter like I did as Mazda in all their wisdom used very screwy opening and bolt pattern that doesnt match anything but the OEM carb. I posted couple weeks ago about weber kit I found in Australia ebay, but it was way high dollar with included rebuilt weber, the adapter plate was spot on though.

Somebody on this forum had manifold modified to weber bolt pattern and apparently had good luck with pre computer Carter-Weber carb off early Escort 1.6L from like 1981. They are cheap, there is even some guy on web that bought up a large stock of them and sells them to people wanting to put triple carb setup on old American straight sixes. Brand new (not rebuilt) carb for like $85. Lets see, here is the link: http://www.stoveboltengineco.com/acartpro/ Not lot demand for these for original application as Ford computerized the Escort after first couple years I think. And Escort engines werent that long lasting. Figure 150k at very most. Hmm, now that would be interesting putting a B6 and Mazda tranny in an early Escort wagon. But suppose by now most of those have been crushed. Friend had one that I helped swap out engine for used one. Thing got somewhere around 42 or 43 mpg on highway, not far off from what Festiva gets. If Ford had put some more work into making engine last like the Japanese engines then it would have been a keeper. Loved the practical little stationwagon body style from seventies and eighties, but nobody much offers such anymore.

[odiekokee]

What does this excort weber carb do to efficiency in a festi? I like the idea, especially if it's easier to maintain, I looked at mine (had the car 2 whole weeks now) while considering removing and rebuilding it....passed cause it looks like it was designed by a pasta chef. It needs something, but d'helifino what. At least there's a muffler now, after yesterday. and an air horn!!

[Banana Bonanza]

I dont remember name of person posting that used the Escort carb, but do remember getting impression from his posts that it gave simular gas mileage to Festiva carb. Do a search for Weber carb or for Escort and you should find the threads. I had a friend with an actual early Escort with that uncomputerized carb and it got in 40+ mpg range and he never had problem with the carb, dont think he ever even rebuilt it.

On my Festiva I am using an old genuine Weber carb I had bought aftermarket brand new in early 80s to replace expensive fuel injection that went bad on my '77 VW Rabbit (saved the carb when I junked it). It was sold as direct replacement pre-tuned for unmodified Rabbit 1.5L/l.6L engine. Back then I was amazed it got couple or three mpg better gas mileage than the Bosch CIS fuel injection ever did and caused me lot fewer headaches. Want to run couple tanks through it on my Festiva before saying but it seems pretty simular to what the Festie carb was getting by way gas gauge is going down.

Suggest if you do decide to change over, might take lots of pics as you go so you can put OEM carb and all the spaghetti back if you dont like the change. Remember you will have to make/buy an adapter or modify the manifold, nothing but original OEM carb will bolt to manifold as is. I just left all the tubes and gizmos attached and tried to remove whole mess in one piece best I could, but unless Feds force my state to get tough on emissions inspection doubt I will ever use it again. Its nice to have things clean and simple.

[Banana Bonanza]

It is Festy46 that did it. Here is one of the threads: http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=17594

And here is a pic of his Festiva engine with a Escort carb:

[erikandelman]

vaccum diagram?

Hi all,

I have searched for a post with a vaccum hose diagram, but only found one with missing links.

Does anybody have a diagram so I can get all the hoses back on?

Thanks,
Erik

[Banana Bonanza]

Sorry, no, but suspect somebody here does. I do have a picture but doubt it would do you any good. Just looks like a plate of black spaghetti.

[batstiva]

Here's a link with some vac. line diagrams. Hope this helps.

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14073&highlight=vacuum+diagram