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ok so we finally found my girlfriend a 76 Luv Mikado. $250 kinda runs and drives with a 3 speed auto, I know its in dire need of a tune up but I figured to start things off with the carb, I read in one of the posts that the stock carbs are a pain in the ass. So you guys have any tips on tuning it other than buying a book, which I plan on anyways

I have a 76 LUV mikado with the automatic. The first thing i did was my carb. I picked new carb kit and went to it, paying close attention to the places everything came out of. There are a few parts that can be mixed keep all the jets strait. I followed the directions from the kit and is started right up and ran great. My biggest problem was the sugar that was put in the tank from someone that didn't like the last owner, so i got to do the carb 3 times. (i did clean the tank, It stuck in the lines also) FUN FUN

well I got her started yesterday was kind of a pain to keep it running till it warmed up, guess it hasnt been started a allowed to warm up or really driven since August or so. foot on the brake and put in drive it tryes to die and sputters, runs VERY sluggish but runs but as soon as I step on the brakes it sputters. Only drove it down the block and back, but stepping on the gas almost didnt do anything till it shifts then it was a bit better

If it won't idle after the engine warms up, you're probably suffering from the curse of the (S)HITachi carburator. Like dUbbA said, rebuild it. If you have a digital camera, take pictures of the linkage and each stage of disassembly so you can put it back together correctly. I used to make a drawing of thing as I disassembled. When you get it rebuilt and the engine still doesn't run worth a damn, start looking for a vacuum leak. Replace all suspect vacuum hoses. Check tightness of carb and intake manifold mounting bolts. Be sure to replace the points and condensor. Check the plugs and ignition wiring. If all this doesn't help and you're frustrated as all Hell, chuck the Hitachi and buy a Weber. Once installed, it'll put a grin on your face.

aint that the truth, webber made a big difference on my toyota, we have a webber from a friend, but not sure if it needs rebuilt, we do need the adapter plates for it though, I was hoping a good tune will work for now, really hoping that we can get it to the point where she can drive it from Ontario Oregon to Boise so I can have a better chance to work on the damn thing. She told me she started it the other day and took somewhat of an effort to get it running and stay that way, another thing I noticed is it seems like pulling the choke out diddnt really help at all. but thanks for the replys so far, keep any tips coming

Ontario to Boise ain't far at all. Know the road good. Retired from the Air Force at Mountain Home. Now here's what I'd do for a short trip like that. Take off all the small vacuum hoses except spark advance to the distributor. I'd cap the ports for those disconnected vacuum lines. Make sure the carb mounting nuts on the 4 studs in the intake manifold were tight. Next make sure the intake manifold nuts were tight on the mounting studs. Change the points, condensor, plugs, and high tension wires. Then blow out the carb with some cleaner. Make sure the vacuum line to the power brake booster isn't leaking. Then fire the engine up and see how it runs. A lot of guys have had crap from the fuel tank get into the line, fuel pump, and clog the filter. That enough to keep you busy?

true not that far, from my door to hers is just over 60 miles, but the way it runs right now I wouldnt drive it more than a couple blocks I'll have to try blocking most of the vac lines when I get a chance and see

Reading your reply made me think of something else. The EGR valve port on my 80 LUV was carboned up and the shuttle wouldn't close all the way. This created a vacuum leak into the intake manifold even at an idle, which gave me a rough idle. No more EGR valve now. 'Course the Weber helps a little.

I came thru Boise the Wednesday after Labor Day about 8:00AM. I couldn't believe the traffic coming into town. Luckily I was on the other side heading out of town. Traffic was at a crawl. I can just imagine what it's like in town. I used to call them A plates "Ada county assholes" because of the way they drove. I guess if I lived down there now I'd have to drive the same way just to get from point a to point b. It's getting bad enough now up here in the panhandle.

now see we say the same thing about 2C plates, people from Caldwell drive like assholes in town but I swear its like they are scared on the freeway