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If I end up having to replace my carb, which is better? I know the Carter is more correct for an early M38A1, but some people say they are the worst carburetors ever made, and they are about twice the price.

Deadguy wrote: they are the worst carburetors ever made.

A well built, maintained and adjusted Carter YS950 is decidedly
NOT the worst carb ever made, however a wornout, poorly maintained
and maladjusted YS950 could rank right up there

You are asking one of the oldest and most often asked question out there. A properly overhauled and adjusted Crater is the perfect all around carb for the M38A1 period. Solex and Pinto motorcraft carbs are band aids applied by folks without the where withal, money, time or aptitude to fix the problems.

Just search this and all the other pre 1972 jeep web sites and make your own informed decision.

I've run Solex, Carter YF and Carter YS950 S carbs on my Jeep. Of the three, the YS seems to be the simplest design and in my limited experience works really well with the Hurricane engine in my M38A1. The YF (from a 62 CJ5) also worked really well but is a bit more complex . I found the Solex to work well although it tended to be cold blooded. In the cooler weather I found it to be a little harder to start and then needed to let it idle for a few minutes before driving. Once warmed up it was fine although I believe the Carter's give the Jeep a little more performance.

Any carb that is worn out is going to give you trouble. You can pay to get it rebuilt or buy a new Solex for about the same price. I decided to go with the YS and after a little repair, the one I have seems to be working well. Time will tell whether I made the right choice.

Tim

I got a rebuilt Carter from John at Midwest Military, and am sending him my old one for core value.

Speaking as one of those "without the wherewithal, money, time or aptitude" , I installed a Solex on my M38 because I had one NIB I bought off of e-bay for half price. It was intended for another project but was sitting there unused. The military carb awaits rebuilding, I also have a basket case Carter for rebuilding as well. But the Solex has worked very well, NO adjustments right out of the box, easy to hook up - throttle, choke and hand throttle, no problems. Others may not have had the luck I have had but its worked for me. I'm not recommending a Solex, just reporting what I have found.

I've ran a Solex, YS and YF and they all work great.

In virtually every testimonial you read on this topic the performance of the Solex was compared to that of a tired and/or poorly maintained/adjusted Carter.

I have played with all these carbs since the 70's and the Solex has no performance advantage over the properly rebuilt & adjusted Carter at all. And contrary to many claims it is not a "Bolt on" job. It is not difficult to modify linkage, plumbing and induction tubing but it certainly is not a bolt on.

I rebuilt my Carter - still had problems and then when to a new Solex, which is still on the jeep, but in the end it was the fuel pump that caused the problem.

I had an idea, since jeeps are notorious for poor fuel mileage, to someday try to graft a throttle body and fuel injection. I have and old CJ2A to play with and I was looking at my Ford Escort's fuel system ...... just dreaming.