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Weber Carburetor Modifications

This series is long over due! Samurai owners for years have been fighting the dreaded Weber uphill, off camber stall.  I personally have made numerous changes to my 32/36 DGAV. While much improved I still occasionally suffer from this problem.  Some of the areas  that we have control over that will make huge improvements in drivability :

• Install a fuel pressure regulator. This is a must for all new Webber installations. Set it for 2.5 to 3 pounds.
• Reset the float height.
• Turn the carburetor 180 degrees. Not pretty but it works. This is the position I have mine in for now.
• Have the carburetor properly jetted.
• Adjust the fuel mixture.
• Modify the air correction jets.

Never been under the top of the Weber? Don't worry I have asked Kevin Lafferty to guide us all through this process.  While at ZookiMelt 2K2 I ran into Kevin, I have known him through the Suzuki mailing list for years. I have asked him for advice many times on Webers as they relate to Suzuki. While at the Melt we pop the hood on my Samurai, after a short pause Kevin exclaims, you have a supercharger no wonder you are having fuel related problems. Seems for a very long time I have been running a carburetor that is a bit undersized for my application. Bummer! "So Kevin how are we (you) gonna fix this thing for the weekend"?

Without hesitation he heads off to his truck. I figure damn scared him away? Nope he returns with a very large ballpeen hammer, just kidding. He has in his hands a full kit of Weber jets, screws and calipers for measuring the float. I felt like I was watching a surgeon in action. There are pieces and parts all over the place. Jets, tubes and floats, oh my? As he is making all the changes to my carburetor he explains every step. Your jets are too small, float is lower but we can do better. I thought I knew Webers? Now I feel like a rookie, need me to wipe the sweat off your brow?

After about an hour the new carburetor is born, Kevin pulls his head out from under the hood. Takes a long pull on a barley pop and tells me, it's done! Wow that was amazing. New jets, new float setting, new fuel pressure setting and a complete tuning of the fuel air mixture. The next morning will tell how successful the changes are?

Next morning on the way from Steam Corners to the Badlands the trip is all highway travel. Oh! What a difference in the 32/36. The lean fuel mixture that has been causing spark knock is all but gone. Acceleration is great. So how about off road? I am helping Terrina and Kim at registration table, the test is going to have wait. Troy Graham is looking for a ride to the Rally I see a test drive in this trucks future. "Hey TD take mine and test out the carburetor modifications Kevin made last night" I told him to stand it on the nose. Little did I know how he would! Troy comes back with a grin, yep it works great had it on the nose and it never stalled!

So what is all this leading up to? Kevin writes, "Larry buy that 38 Outlaw yet?" After the changes he made with the 32/36 I jumped on the chance to bolt in this new bigger carburetor. I am a little concerned about getting the bugs out and making sure it is going to work off road. Why worry? I box it up and send it to Kevin letting him work his magic. This series will cover the build up of a 38 Outlaw for my supercharged engine. You will be able to use many of these modifications on your own Weber, or be like me and send it off to an expert.

Over the next few issues we will follow the steps as the new 38 Outlaw is set up and sent back to me. Once in my hands Kevin is going to guide us in the setup, jetting and adjustments.