carb rebuild, any tips/tricks?

[htchbck]

The carb kit came in yesterday for Babystiva ('88LX auto) and I will hopefully be tearing into it by this weekend (assuming the re-ring job on Green Car goes as planned and on schedule). I've rebuilt countless small engine carbs and bike carbs, but this will be my first shot at a car carb. So is there anything in particular that I should look out for? And is there anything I should pull off or cap while I'm in there (unneeded parts, etc)? I can't imagine this will be much different from some of the larger motorcycle carbs I've worked on, but I could be wrong. The kit came with a very detailed (over 50 parts labeled) diagram of everything, so hopefully it won't be too bad... provided I can get finished with it and get it out of the house before wifey sees all the pieces of her car scattered on the dining room table haha!

[bravekozak]

Don't waste your time rebuilding a feedback carb. Switch to a Weber or Escort carb. You will not be disappointed.

[htchbck]

Too late, already bought the kit lol. I'm gathering pieces now for a B8/escort carb intake swap likely to be done in the spring, but for $16.99 I decided I'm going to go ahead and rebuild the stocker for now while I keep looking for a nice weber and other bits and pieces. Surely I'm not the only one who's ever rebuilt a stock carb? Kartracer, any thoughts on this?

[Pu241]

Drop Kartracer a PM.
Most carbie knowledgeable member I know.

[htchbck]

Tried but I'm on my phone lol, it won't let me get to the PMs. I'll do that when I get back to the office though.

[georgeb]

Get a bucket of the stuff you can dip the carb body in. Then blow out all the passages, install the new stuff and you're done. These carbs look more complicated than the VW/Porsche ones I've done.

[bravekozak]

I've taken apart many carburetors in my life...


... but I haven't successfuly put any back together again.

I just take my babies down to Carlaw Carburations . They are carb geniuses. Besides, the fact that I hate the smell of carb cleaning solution.

[FeistyFesti]

Best tip I can give is to make sure you thoroughly label all the vacuum lines and take lots of pics so you'll know where everything goes. In addition, take your time and don't rush. I rebuilt my old 88 carb back in 2005 and holy crap, what a huge difference it made. It ran like a brand new car, well compared to how it had run with the old carb. I also soaked the parts over night in the Berryman carb cleaner stuff. Its been so long I'm not sure if it came apart in two or three pieces, ie: air horn, throttle plate, like a Rochester Quadrajet. I actually have an old write up from way back when somewhere in this forum.

[Banana Bonanza]

Yep take lots of pics, use masking tape and sharpie to label stuff. You can dip it but you still need either aerosol carb cleaner with straw to blow out passages or you can use air compressor.

I like simple/robust, dont have emission inspection, so switched to Weber, but the OEM carb worked fine for lot years, if you are patient and careful, it can do so again.

[Festiva Time]

Make sure it is rebuildable. I sent my '88 carb out to be rebuilt. It came back rebuilt. Put it on and still had the same problem. Sent it back and the rebuilder found there was a broken spring in the carb main body AND it could not be replaced [Sealed].

Weber carb is the way to go, if you can.

[windy1]

I READ THE TIPS U,GOT. ALL USEFULL. I RARELY REBUILD A CARB,UNLESS ITS A WEBER. ONE LIKE YOURS,IS SMALL,THEREFORE,HAS SMALL EMULSION TUBES ETC. THE LEAST U,DO,SOAK CARB,IN CARB CLEANER, THEN FOLLOW TIPS,U,GOT. ID ADVISE U,TO GET A REBUILT ONE. AUTOZONE? GET A REBUILT ONE,THEN SELL YOUR OLD ONE .MDOYLEUFO@GMAIL.COM

[htchbck]

Hmmm... don't know when you last checked AZ, but for $299.99 I think I'll just keep mine one once I rebuilt it.

AND PLEASE STOP YELLING AT EVERYONE!!!

[Pu241]

Windy,

Grab a butter knife and put it under the "Caps Lock" key and just pop it off please!

[nitrofarm]

Escort Carb

John None Crew Chief for Festiva Racing swears by the Escort carb. Watch his vids. He's even running them on a B8ME. You can find them Reman $75.00 on eBay. Is the Weber a nicer carb? Of course,but for $265.00 new. The Escort carb on a 25yr old car with 65hp 1.3L is almost a no brainer. If you dont think that carb is up to the task of daily street driving. Watch his circle track vids.Yes you can buy me a Weber and I will install it on my car. But I personally draw the line at the "Feed Back" Carb. That one goes into the scrap barrel. Anyone who wants mine can have it. I will hook up a syringe with gas and a 6ft tube.And squeeze gas into the intake while driving before I rebuild that Over Engineered Nightmare. Yuk, there must be 100 ft total of vaccum lines on that Abortion.YUK,ok I feel better now

[zoe60]

Well said nitrofarm. Rebuilding the original is pretty easy. Like everyone said, label your vacuum lnes. Work on it in a well lit area. Personally, I would clean it well and concentrate on the accelerator pump, the needle and seat, make sure your float level is correct, and replace what gaskets you can. Like everyone says, that carb is an overengineered piece of doody. Webers are expensive and the modification takes some thought, but I don't think there is any upgrade you can do as easily to a stock B3 and get the same performance gain. Of course the only other thing I did was the performance cam. The Weber made my car a little "cold natured", but once it's warmed up it's a blast to drive. PS if you take out the mixture screw, count the turns so you can put it back the same.