I have a stock 88 1.3 carborated motor.  I cannot get it to stay ideling properly.  No matter how i adjust it.  It either idels too high or it wont start, or it will start and idel fine for a while, and then it will start dieing every time you come to a stop.  It is driving me crazy.  I have never seen a carborator with so many vacuum lines, and obviously i cant adjust this one.  My shade tree friends wont touch it.  The carb has all sorts of vaccum opeareated things that i dont understand look like some sort of choke system.  Any one of them could be bad.  Bought a Chilton book and can't make heads or tails out of it either. I have looked into a weber carb, but hear that the Harley although more expensive are better performers.  I have a Harley mechanic at my disposal, so i may go that route.  What do i need to buy to make the swap, and will it be less complicted then? what happens to all the vaccum lines?  I may have something simple wrong with mine any suggestions?

The most common issue with the stock Hitachi carbs is due to a vacuum line issue.  If you want to try and get the stock one running correctly I would go pick up some new vacuum tubing and replace all the lines, if they look like they need it or not. 

For running the Harley Side-Draft carb ZOR offers a great kit in the MySide.  You can also make up your own conversion if you have the time.

I agree with replacing all the vacuum hoses. This link will help make sure all the hoses are going to and coming from the right places.

http://www.acksfaq.com/Samvacuumlines.htm

Thanks guys.  I will start with the vacuum lines if that doesn't do the trick, then its off to buy a Harley side draft kit

I am experiencing similar issues, but my carb is a Aisan - see pic - also has lots of vacuum pipes, water hoses running through it and vacuum devices.

I found that replacing all the vacuum pipes, and the water hoses certainly did improve my performace and fuel consumption, but ultimately a carb rebuild will resolve the issue.

I also replaced my spark plugs, cleaned out the distributor / rotor, set the timing, did and engine coolant flush as well.

Take a look at my posting on the forum...
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/technical-discussion-beginner-repair/high-rev-when-normal-operating-temperature/

if you start the truck up and take a can of carb cleaner and spray it on 1 vaccum line at a time u can pinpoint ur problem line