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1980 MGB on test drive suddenly loses electrics and dies - what to look at?

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I still have Spridgets, so...

"I'll be back"

:cool-new:
 
Hey Tom, I talked with a guy this weekend who has two of the 215 V8's and he offered me one.
I'm more interested in just making this a reliable car we can take out touring with (or without) the MG club.
(for now...) :devilgrin:
 
I think the hot set up for a B now is a Camaro V6 and trans swap. Several in the local Brit car club. If you have the ali V8 you still need to couple it to the rear end!

Kurt.
 
A guy in our local club did a V6 swap on his MGBGT. He even added AC, which is a must for a GT car in this area. He didn't buy any kits and sourced all his parts from pull a parts. Of course, this is not his first swap. He also had a nice TVR with a chevy small block, and a MGB with a ford 4 cylinder and 5-speed, and probably others before I met him.
 
I'm pretty much set to leave this alone except the Stromberg has to go.
Even if I could put a single SU in it's place I'd be happier, ultimately a pair of HIF4's would be awesome.
I know the exhaust manifold and intake has to be changed for that to happen.
For now I'm concentrating on just making it a reliably running B, so we can go out with the club on weekend runs and that kind of stuff.
 
Rick
You are in luck- a common HS4 will bolt right on the ZS manifold with no modifications required. I just did that for a friend down here and his car is a pleasure to drive, not a rocket but very nice. He even made the ZS air cleaner fit the SU so he is good to go (until he needs to put the ZS back on for the inspection which is just an easy bolt-on operation).
BillM
 
That's really good news, thanks Bill.
Now to find a decent HIF4 carb...

I capped the pipes in the trunk that cause gas smell in there when the hoses are all cracked and broken.
Hopefully that doesn't cause a problem, I don't know if the gas cap is vented or not.
I suppose I'm going to find out soon.
 
Would an HS6 fit?
Looking on Ebay for single SU carbs, looks like either dirty and needing a rebuild or show quality ($$$) are available.
 
Billm said:
I don't know- haven't tried it yet
Bill
Click to expand...

What???
Can't believe my eyes Bill.
I suppose there are a few things in the MG world you haven't tried yet, I am always surprised when it happens!
:D

BTW driving to work this morning top down, gas smell all gone, OD working like a dream.
I've missed top down driving, I should get back to work on the engine for the green Midget.
 
Hey Rick,

Nice buy on the B.

The HS6 should be plug and play. Both have 1.75" throats and the same 4 bolt mounting plate. I say should as I have heard about it but not done it myself, and I'm sure there will be some linkage issue to work out.

Most of the time the problems people have with ZS is due to the auto (water) choke. After rebuilding mine I noticed quite an improvement. Don't get me wrong, I would love to someday have an HS6 on my 1500, but intil then My ZS is working fine.

Take a look at this if you think about rebuilding the ZS.

https://www.sterlingbritishmotoringsociety.org/files/choke.pdf

There is a series of three YouTube videos by John Twist on rebuilding the ZS. Take note of the part on resurfacing the water choke's mounting surface. It may not look like much, but it does help.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5GveCj3Hck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTFbwcxc5eI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ1nr1WroRs


Rich
 
Rich, they're talking a 4 versus a 6 or 44mm. I don't believe I have a 4 around right now but I believe the PCD is quite a bit bigger for the 1 3/4 carb. The ZS manifold is a throw away for lots of folks so it wouldn't be hard to modify one to fit though. I'll have to dig through my carb piles and see what I come up with.

Kurt.
 
HIF44 seems to have the correct mounting and should fit right on the ZS intake manifold.
It's also 1.75" while the HIF4 is only 1.5".
Finding a usable HIF44 seems like it's going to take a while (for those of us who just can't justify spending $$$$ on one carb)

Or... a Weber 45 side draft might do the trick...
 
Got any datsun carbs that will work?
 
Actually the only ones I have are the old Hitachi downdraft, I don't even know why I'm hanging onto them.
I have a pair of HIF4's on my green Midget/Bugeye but I'm not raiding it for parts.
Not even the right carbs for this anyway.
HS6 or HIF44 is what I'm currently looking for.
 
I'd ask on the spridgets autox list.
 
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