My Weber carb is pretty hard to start in the mornings, I've heard from a couple of different sources that this is due to all the gas evaporating in the fuel bowl after a few hours(?). It takes me about four times to get the Heep started sometimes, it's a minor annoyance but something I'd like to fix since it looks like I will be keeping my Jeep after all.

I've tried cold-starting without touching the gas pedal, or hitting it twice before starting, or a few times, or hell even a few times and then all the way to the floor (as if flooded) and it makes no difference. The fuel pump is new, gas tank can be full or empty, and I don't see any kinks or cracks in my lines.

What can I do to the carb (mods) to get it going faster? Otherwise I have no probs with it at all. TIA

gas doesnt evap. that fast-w/o a serious source of fresh air-- how old is it? might just need a rebuild... more info

This is perfectly normal and typical behavior for a Weber. WE've been discussing this for several years on the ORC bbs, no one has a good explanation, some think it may have something to do with the return line. I've learned to live with it for the 3+ years I've been running one.

I don't buy the fuel evap theory either. Doesn't make a whole lotta sense.

I've replaced almost the entire ignition system , save for the distributor itself (though the cap and rotor are new), so I know that's not the problem.

The carb is less than a year old, otherwise no problems. Like landuse says, it's just something I might have to learn to deal with. A small tradeoff considering all the benefits I've gotten from the carb.

I'll try checking out the float and the choke, plus I may be putting in a new electric fuel pump before my mechanical Schlep Boys crap gives it out yet again (I've realized they have a life span of about 5-6 months, so I have some time still).

the weber is just as much a POS as the carter in my opinion. They have too many problems that are considered "normal" like the hard starting and the lack of power. I had the 32/36 and the 258 didn't have any power compared to the BBD it replaced. The typical response I got was "thats normal, upgrade to HEI and you won't notice it." well I already had HEI so that wasn't a good answer. If you can, get rid of that whole engine, the 258 is a pile of crap and AMC V8 swaps are too easy to not do.

Nah... Webers rock! I had this same exact problem with the Weber I put in my YJ and I easily cured it by adding a little ten-dollar in-line electric fuel pump just upstream from the mechanical fuel pump and hooking it up to an ignition-switched circuit. Then when you start the Jeep, you just leave the key in the "on" position for a few seconds before turning it the rest of the way to the "crank" position to let the bowls fill up. Works great. Fires right up.

Incidentally, I think the problem is caused by the fuel draining out of the return line like someone said, not evaporation.

HTH,
Jake Harsha

Thanks or the tip, Jake. Electric pump seems more and more attractive.

CJ5, I agree with you on the V8 swap but that's not something I can do right now ($$ and time). I can't agree on the BBD/Carter comparo though, it's like night and day. Maybe because my BBD was shot to hell when I replaced it, but the power difference is definitely noticeable, so is the mileage increase, and reliablity can't even be compared. Other than the hard-starting, I love my Weber. But then, I'm comparing it to a BBD that, even after the Nutter Bypass, wouldn't start right, wouldn't idle for squat, was badly underpowered (always stuttering), and wasted a lot of gas - my miles to the tank went up 25 miles or so when I put in the Carter.

Even several rebuilds didn't help that POS.

I'm gonna agree with Bandit on that one, I also love my Weber carb, that carter was a bad idea from the word go. There is no comparison between the two, its night and fawking day. Mostly because the Weber actually RUNS.

Also, I can't see where you're coming from saying the 258 is a "pile of crap", its not the finest motor ever produced by an American car company, but its pretty damn good. If its such a lousy motor, makes me wonder why Jeep still produces it to this day, and has for over 40 years, and why so many people run them in their rigs...hmmmm....

Originally posted by BootsntheJeep
I'm gonna agree with Bandit on that one, I also love my Weber carb, that carter was a bad idea from the word go. There is no comparison between the two, its night and fawking day. Mostly because the Weber actually RUNS.

Also, I can't see where you're coming from saying the 258 is a "pile of crap", its not the finest motor ever produced by an American car company, but its pretty damn good. If its such a lousy motor, makes me wonder why Jeep still produces it to this day, and has for over 40 years, and why so many people run them in their rigs...hmmmm....

While they don't still make the 258 today (the 4.0 is a complete re-design that has more in common with the 2.5 liter 4 banger than the old 258), I agree that this much-maligned engine is not as bad as many people think.

With a Weber and HEI My Jeep started, idled, and ran pretty much flawlessly for 155,000 miles of (mostly) torturous abuse until it finally succombed to blowby and just wouldn't hold it's oil any more (nothing a re-build wouldn't fix...) Lot's of torque, but it was no powerhouse...

My $.02 USD
Jake

I have a fresh 258 in my CJ-7 (with the 32/36 Weber I had on the old motor), put it in Dec. 2000, but only have a couple thousand miles on it at the most, its driven mostly trail. Recently I had to go to Tucson, so I drove the Jeep from Aztec, NM to Tucson, did 75-80 on the Interstate with no problem. The 258 is a fine motor, its no dragrace mill, but it works great for wheeling (tons of low end) and like I mentioned, runs fine for the highway.

well the 4.0 is a lot better, all the 258's I've seen have non stop exhaust leaks, valve covers that leak (even with cliffords and stamped steel covers) oil blow by, and the whole carb thing.

Best thing I ever did to my CJ was getting rid of the I6, and I've done a lot of mods

I ditched my carter for the Howell fuel injection:D Best thing I ever did to my engine. I can start it by just turning the key;) And as far as the whole 6cyl vs 8cyl debate....the 6 is better in my opinion for rock crawling. It has more torque at idle than my dads 304 and when your crawling your idling most of the time, not pushing 3000 rpms. NO I don't have a lot of horsepower...but horsepower breaks parts:rasta: