Helping my son tune his 258 ?

I am going to try and help my son tune his 258 in his CJ5? before deer season starts in November. This will be the blind leading the blind so I'll be posting questions here for several weeks I suspect. First of all, is this the correct thread to post these kinds of questions in????

It is hard to start and won't idle very well but we managed to turn enuff carb scews that we got it idling but it is still running very ruff so we think that maybe a carberator kit should possibly be the first order of business and we would rrally like to do away with some of the many vacum lines at that time. He also wants to drop the smog pump in the process but we will be asking advise on those items later.

I am going to try and post some pics of the carb that I took and maybe one of Y'all is experienced enuff to identify it from the sorry photos. I can pull the air cleaner and take more later if necessary.

Please excuse the novice questions but I have never worked on one of these.

Wratch

BUMP EDIT:

 

What are the specs? Year, estimated miles, carb, timing setting? Spray some carb cleaner around the vacuum lines while its running to see if the idle changes then go from there.

 

Thanks Dave, we live about 90 miles from each other so I will pass this info via email to him and see what he can profice. I hadn't thought about a possible vacum leak and that needs to be checked out first. I have been away from this several years and have recently had a TIA so I am slowly getting some of it back so bear with me.

 

I have a terrible time with the intake manifold coming loose on mine. I suggest retorquing the manifold bolts to rule out a huge vacuum leak

 

It's 80-ish, with a 2V Carter BBD carburetor. Looks like a steel valve cover. I think that somebody tanked the valve cover, giving it that aluminum look.

We really need the year to say anything intelligent about this. If it's not a 79 or 80, get the engine build date code stamped into the side of the block, so we have a better idea what year engine it is.

The BBD is likely the most widely hated carburetor that Jeep every used. They have a reputation for being very troublesome, and refusing to idle down properly. http://www.jeeptech.com/engine/carter.html Replacing the BBD with a different carburetor is a popular option.

Manifold leaks are common on 258s. It would not be surprising if you needed to replace the manifold gaskets to get it to run right.

Depending on the year, purchasing the factory service manual (FSM, aka TSM) would be a wise investment.

 

I have a new BBD carb sitting on the shelf, it was only used for smog testing when the PO had the Jeep in California.

Just start with the basics before you get into other complicated matters. Check the usual suspects, such as your tune up items, plugs rotor ect, vacuum leaks, timing. When that is sorted out then move to rebuild items. Sometimes the simplest cheapest fix will cause the most headaches. Don't let the make or style of the engine intimidate you they all work the same.

 

Good Morn' Gents, s'me again.

One quick Monday morn' question, if I may.

Will it hurt anything performance or mechanically wise to remove the smog pump and useless vacum lines on my son's CJ5 when we start the tune up and trouble shooting this weekend?

He has checked and he does NOT have to pass emission tests in order to get it inspected because of the vintage of the jeep.

Thanks and have a great week Y'all.

God Bless America,

WR