1971 MGB GT - No longer for sale, now off to be fixed by a specialist - see page 24

[lesapandre]

11 minutes ago, Peter C said:

Right, on the basis that I don't have the right tool to correctly set the ignition timing nor the right tool to assess how much air each carburettor is sucking in and I have no way of checking what is coming out of the exhaust, I have decided to have the MGB looked at by a specialist. I have spoken with a chap called David at AutoRevive London, who is based in Ickenham, which is less than 30 minutes from where I live and he is happy to give the MGB a proper once over. I'm giving him the MGB next Friday and I will get it back, hopefully properly fixed and ready to enjoy. David is an MG specialist with decades of experience and I am sure he will do a far better job of getting the MGB running properly than I ever could.

With this cunning plan in mind, I have decided not to purchase the Roadster and persevere with my GT.

The GT's are a much cooler car than the Roadster IMHO. Quite practical and usable. 

And they do look very good. 

[Sunny Jim]

Will the specialist show you what to do in the future or is the idea that he sets it and that's that?

Glad you've decided to keep the GT, you've already done quite a bit but I don't think it's had the full Peter C treatment yet! Look forward to reading more of what you get up to with it.

[Peter C]

6 minutes ago, Sunny Jim said:

Will the specialist show you what to do in the future or is the idea that he sets it and that's that?

I leave the MGB with David, he tunes it up, I pay him £££ and drive home happy, totally unaware of what he’s done.

[Mally]

1 hour ago, Peter C said:

 

With this cunning plan in mind, I have decided not to purchase the Roadster and persevere with my GT.

I had a GT, I loved it. Obviously a Roadster  would be better, so I bought one and sold the GT.

Within a week i regretted it.

The GT was a proper car, usable in all weather.

Roadster was noisier, draughty, cold, I hardly ever bothered to take the roof. off,  A car for posing in, not driving.

Both feared me a little when passing HGV's on the motorway, I was sure they couldn't  see me and I went as fast as possible.

[SiC]

3 hours ago, Peter C said:

right tool to correctly set the ignition timing

Static timing can be done with a test lamp and sufficient. Not expensive things and useful any automotive electrical debugging. 

https://amzn.eu/d/daHn4Dk

3 hours ago, Peter C said:

nor the right tool to assess how much air each carburettor

There are tools out there (E.g. this is what I invested in: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/294818904813 ). Or a piece of hose to the ear is effective and the go to method for years. 

I just prefer numbers as an engineer and so got a tool.

[High Jetter]

6 hours ago, Peter C said:

Right, on the basis that I don't have the right tool to correctly set the ignition timing nor the right tool to assess how much air each carburettor is sucking in and I have no way of checking what is coming out of the exhaust, I have decided to have the MGB looked at by a specialist. I have spoken with a chap called David at AutoRevive London, who is based in Ickenham, which is less than 30 minutes from where I live and he is happy to give the MGB a proper once over. I'm giving him the MGB next Friday and I will get it back, hopefully properly fixed and ready to enjoy. David is an MG specialist with decades of experience and I am sure he will do a far better job of getting the MGB running properly than I ever could.

With this cunning plan in mind, I have decided not to purchase the Roadster and persevere with my GT.

I think that's a smart move. Paying a few ££ for years of experience should save you time and wasted money on wrong avenues. You should get it back the best it can be.

[SiC]

I disagree. The old give a man a set up SU carb and ignition timing fish, and you feed him for a day. Have a man learn to set up an SU carb and set ignition timing fish, and you feed him BL products for a lifetime.

I read a lot of material, watched a few videos, used advice on here + elsewhere and figured it out. Now I can pretty much take any SU HS/HIF carb and Lucas dizzy and set them up. Useful not only for any future vehicle purchases but also know how to diagnose an issue by the road side. All without having to pay and wait to get another man to do it. 

[somewhatfoolish]

You can't get ignition timing fish any more, they've been wiped out by illegal electric fishing.

[captain_70s]

If my experience of elderly SU carbs is anything to go by you'll be fettling frequently to keep it in tune.

Maybe they were a bit tighter when new but mine have always re-tuned themselves over a few hundred miles. The twin carb Dolly 1850 was a menace, I'd have it set up running perfectly and 200 miles later it'd be idling like crap due to carb inbalance.

I had one of those airflow meters as SiC posted which I've since lost (probably still in the 1850) so am back to using a bit of hose and my ear on the Acclaim's twin Keihins!

[Noel Tidybeard]

if you watch Iain Tyrell he tunes lambos, ferraris, astons etc with his trusted "bit of pipe"

[Dj_efk]

I was gonna suggest the old ear wax removal treatment for balancing carbs too - it’s surprisingly accurate!

 

See also silencing worn out Ford OHV tappets 

[Westbay]

15 hours ago, Peter C said:

Right, on the basis that I don't have the right tool to correctly set the ignition timing nor the right tool to assess how much air each carburettor is sucking in and I have no way of checking what is coming out of the exhaust, I have decided to have the MGB looked at by a specialist. I have spoken with a chap called David at AutoRevive London, who is based in Ickenham, which is less than 30 minutes from where I live and he is happy to give the MGB a proper once over. I'm giving him the MGB next Friday and I will get it back, hopefully properly fixed and ready to enjoy. David is an MG specialist with decades of experience and I am sure he will do a far better job of getting the MGB running properly than I ever could.

With this cunning plan in mind, I have decided not to purchase the Roadster and persevere with my GT.

'tis a wise man that knows his limits ...

[N Dentressangle]

10 hours ago, SiC said:

I disagree. The old give a man a set up SU carb and ignition timing fish, and you feed him for a day. Have a man learn to set up an SU carb and set ignition timing fish, and you feed him BL products for a lifetime.

I read a lot of material, watched a few videos, used advice on here + elsewhere and figured it out. Now I can pretty much take any SU HS/HIF carb and Lucas dizzy and set them up. Useful not only for any future vehicle purchases but also know how to diagnose an issue by the road side. All without having to pay and wait to get another man to do it. 

Agreed - it's not hard, but requires some patience and going back and forth until you're happy. This video is a good explanation:

The mixture just needs to be there or thereabouts. The lift pin method is good enough.

Mostly it's a question of going back and forth until you're happy, and bear in mind that some engines never idled brilliantly smoothly anyway.

[Peter C]

@SiC and @N Dentressangle

I don't disagree with your comments but you must appreciate that I tinker with my cars because it gives me pleasure, not because I have to. I have already spent considerable time and money messing around with the carburettors and distributor and the results are not satisfactory, so I'd rather enjoy doing something else and leave it up to an expert to get the MGB running properly. I have no issue with paying a professional money in exchange for a smooth running engine. In fact, I have spoken with David again and I have arranged for him to remove the engine and gearbox, replace the clutch and fix  whatever else he finds along the way. I have no facilities to undertake such repairs in my workshop, which leaves me no choice but to pay him to do the work. All being well, I will get back a much better car, ready to be enjoyed, until the next thing goes wrong. 

[smellypoo]

I haven't been on the forum for a while, lots of life stuff going on over the past 3 years or so. 

That said, I came back and read this entire thread from the start - what an awesome journey, and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little envious! 

That little MGB GT looks like a lot of fun Peter, and for the money it's cost you so far, it looks like you've really scored - enjoy it! 

[Peter C]

1 hour ago, smellypoo said:

I haven't been on the forum for a while, lots of life stuff going on over the past 3 years or so. 

That said, I came back and read this entire thread from the start - what an awesome journey, and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little envious! 

That little MGB GT looks like a lot of fun Peter, and for the money it's cost you so far, it looks like you've really scored - enjoy it! 

Very kind words @smellypoo, thank you.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates soon.

[High Jetter]

5 hours ago, smellypoo said:

I haven't been on the forum for a while, lots of life stuff going on over the past 3 years or so. 

That said, I came back and read this entire thread from the start - what an awesome journey, and I'd be lying if I wasn't a little envious! 

That little MGB GT looks like a lot of fun Peter, and for the money it's cost you so far, it looks like you've really scored - enjoy it! 

My missus sometimes addresses me with your AS name 🤣