Hello from Arizona

Hi my name is Scott. I bought a 87 Wrangler with the 4.2L motor in it. I got it to keep the miles off my pick up and for fun cruising around the desert here in Arizona. But before I can have fun with it I need to get it running right! It has a terrible intermittent stalling problem. I've been told by a mechanic that used to work at a Jeep dealer that the carb is the problem coupled with all the California smog crap that's on it. It's currently at his shop getting a Weber Carb installed and getting all the smog crap removed.
It also has a intermittent problem with the starter grinding when starting. I bought the rig from my Father in Law and he told me about these problems before I bought it. I just never dreamed it would be this hard to fix this stuff. My mechanic states that some of the early YJ's had starter and flywheel issues?
Does any of this make any sense to anyone?