32/36 or 38? It Is Not About Which Is Bigger

Almost everyone arriving on this page is choosing between two Weber carburetors, and the honest difference is how they open, not how big they are.

The 32/36 is progressive — the primary barrel does the work and the secondary comes in when you ask for it. That is why it is the better carburetor for low-end power, drivability and fuel economy, and why it is the right answer for a stock or mildly built 22R and for anything that gets driven every day.

The 38 is synchronous — both barrels open together and feed the engine at once. That suits a modified motor that can actually use the airflow. On a stock engine it is not an upgrade over the 32/36; it is a different carburetor aimed at a different build.

Put plainly: if the engine is stock or mild, take the 32/36. If you have cam, head and exhaust work, take the 38.

Electric choke or manual choke?

Electric is set-and-forget and is what most people want. Manual gives you control on a cold-start-heavy truck and one less wire to fail. Neither affects performance.

Two Things to Check Before You Order

These catch people out often enough that they belong above the fold, not in the small print.

1. Fuel pressure. These carburetors want 2.5 to 3 lbs. A stock mechanical pump on a healthy engine will usually oversupply that, so plan on the low pressure regulator and gauge kit as part of the job rather than as a fix after it runs badly.

2. Automatic kick-down cable. The Weber does not come with provisions for one. If your kick-down cable attaches to the bell crank, you are unaffected. If it attaches to the carburetor, it will need modification. Check which you have before the old carb comes off.

Carburetor Only, Kit, or Complete Package?

The same carburetor is sold three ways, and the difference is how much of the install comes in the box.

Carburetor only — the bare carb, for someone who already has the adapter and linkage: 32/36 electric, 32/36 manual, 38 electric, 38 manual.

Conversion kit — carburetor, manifold adapter, filter adapter, linkage and installation kit. This is what most people should buy; it is the whole job in one box.

Carb and intake performance package — the carburetor with a performance intake manifold rather than an adapter on the stock one. This is the version that actually changes how the engine breathes: 32/36 electric, 32/36 manual, 38 electric, 38 manual.

Which air cleaner?

Several packages come with the air cleaner already chosen, which saves buying an adapter afterwards. A K&N filter flows well and washes out; the LCE Pro billet cleaner is the one people buy when the engine bay is going to be looked at.

Emissions Testing?

If your state tests, you are not shut out. The smog-legal kits use a genuine Weber 32/36 DGAV and include the carb, manifold adapter, filter adapter, linkage and installation kit: 1981-1984 4WD Pickup and 1981-1983 2WD Pickup and Celica.

Sidedrafts

For a built engine where the goal is airflow rather than convenience, we carry Weber sidedrafts in 40mm, 45mm and 48mm, and complete kits in 40mm and 45mm. They run on the 22R sidedraft manifold with linkage, which takes the 40mm and 45mm carbs.

Sidedrafts are not a daily-driver upgrade. They reward a built motor and someone willing to tune.

Intake Manifolds

The Offenhauser downdraft manifold with the Weber flange has a large open plenum and runners that outflow the stock Toyota casting, and the single plane design gives mid-range and upper-rpm power without giving up low-end torque. Because it is cast with a Weber flange, the carburetor bolts straight on — no adapter.

Install kits are available for both single plane and dual plane versions.

Adapters and Gaskets

Running a Weber on the stock manifold needs an adapter: the Weber 32/36/38 to 20R/22R adapter or the spiral adapter. For Holley carburetors, the 500 smooth bore and 350/500 spiral bore adapter kits, with the matching gasket. Running the factory Aisin carb on a 20R manifold takes the Aisin 22R to 20R adapter kit.

Gaskets: Weber adapter gasket set, 32/36 base gasket, Red Line 32/36 base gasket pair, Aisin race carb base gasket and the intake manifold gasket set. Studs: 20R and 22R intake manifold stud kit.

Keeping the Factory Carb

Nothing wrong with that. The rebuild kit for the 22R Aisin carburetor will bring a tired original back, and it is a great deal cheaper than a conversion.

Fuel Supply

Carbureted 22Rs run a mechanical pump. The Delphi mechanical fuel pump for 1980-1995 carbureted engines is the replacement, with the mechanical pump spacer, the fuel pump eccentric that drives it, and the Weber internal fuel filter. Also here: the OEM carb water bypass hose, and the carbureted intake manifold plug kit for blanking off what you no longer need.

Going Further

If you want the carburetor, intake, cam and head chosen to work together rather than assembled one at a time, the Pro carbureted top end kit for the 1985-1995 Pickup and 4Runner does that in one part number. Our power packages page covers the same idea across the range.

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