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California Emissions + 1980 MKIV 1500
- Thread starter Gafirema
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Scott_Hower
Luke Skywalker
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See that contrivance on the left side with two nozzles sticking out of it? That's your water choke. You need a rebuild kit for a water/auto choke carb. About half of the time the "heat mass" thing inside is broken, which makes cold starts alot of fun. Don't be surprised if you find a worn throttle shaft either. Did the PO level with you on why he replaced the Stromberg? Many times owners install a Weber DGV/DGAV kit rather than rebuild the stock/leaking carb - it's about the same price to have it profesionally rebuilt.
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If it helps at all, there is a fairly stock-looking 1979 Spitfire on eBay; there are some decent engine bay shots.
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Stromberg carburetors, over the years, have earned a mostly undeserved reputation for problems. And I'll concede that some of the later "emissions" versions could be tricky at times, but that was true of many other carburetors and other bits on every car at the time, what with the struggle by manufacturers to meet ever-tightening emissions standards!
In my experience, Strombergs are like most other carburetors in that, so long as they're set up and adjusted properly, are clean and various bits are not worn, they're fine. Oh, Strombergs do have the additional "wear point" of the rubber diaphragms that can tear or perforate, and they can lose the damping oil that helps them to function properly. Either of those fixes is relatively easy and cheap, too!
In my experience, Strombergs are like most other carburetors in that, so long as they're set up and adjusted properly, are clean and various bits are not worn, they're fine. Oh, Strombergs do have the additional "wear point" of the rubber diaphragms that can tear or perforate, and they can lose the damping oil that helps them to function properly. Either of those fixes is relatively easy and cheap, too!
Scott_Hower
Luke Skywalker
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Gafirema said:
Nope, not at all. Properly rebuilt and tuned, it will run well for years. But it's nice to know what you are starting with. Did the carb run poorly to begin with? Owner just itching to "upgrade"?
A little history is a good thing.
My Spit included pages and pages of service history - pretty much everything since new (still only has 55k miles on it). It was hit once in the rear - new trim piece and a decal. The diff was rebuilt under warranty, etc.
Scott_Hower
Luke Skywalker
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Good luck with the sale my friend. Hope she finds a good home.
D
Deleted member 8987
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So, he decided to sell it?
Scott_Hower
Luke Skywalker
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TOC said:
It would appear that way.
D
Deleted member 8987
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Guest
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Last I saw he was trying to determine which carb kit to buy.
Hmmmm.
Hmmmm.
OP
Gafirema
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I put it up for sale to see if anyone would buy it. I want to keep it but I'm not sure if I can. My plan was to see if I could sell it for a reasonable amount but if not, fix it up to be California Legal. So far haven't gotten anyone with legitimate interest in it. I want to keep it but I'm just trying to think realistically because things are so tight at the moment.
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Gafirema
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I've decided to give an update about what's going on.
A few weeks back I was trying to get a hold of all the money I would need to make my car smog legal and it was looking like it was going to be a bit too tight. I decided I would put the car up for sale on several websites including ebay to see if anyone would buy it at a fair price, although I never really wanted to sell it. I have to have daily transportation which this would be for me.
I didn't really get any contacts on it and the person who won the auction on Ebay backed out of the sale and ended up a non paying bidder. At this very time I actually came across what would have been enough money to fix up my car to make it smog legal, so I took down the ads. I also found a guy in my area, really friendly who said he would help me with the repairs and installing the parts.
Unfortunately, it looks like Scott has gotten rid of his parts or something..? I'm not sure, but if so I'm trying to price how much the parts I need will be and if they're even available. I guess I would need the cat-converter and the original exhaust and intake manifolds as the biggest parts at least.
It's very frustrating, I still don't want to sell the car, but if I'm unable to find the parts I need I will end up having to put it back on auction to try and sell it, which I don't want to do at all. But again, money is tight for me right now and I have to have transportation. I don't mind a car I have to work on at all, I've had them before, but if I'm unable to acquire what parts I need I don't have much of a choice.
Does anyone know where I could come across these parts for not much? I would be very grateful. I finally got to the point where I could move forward with all this but seem to hit a dead end and am just trying to find a way through.
Thanks again for all the help everyone has given me.
A few weeks back I was trying to get a hold of all the money I would need to make my car smog legal and it was looking like it was going to be a bit too tight. I decided I would put the car up for sale on several websites including ebay to see if anyone would buy it at a fair price, although I never really wanted to sell it. I have to have daily transportation which this would be for me.
I didn't really get any contacts on it and the person who won the auction on Ebay backed out of the sale and ended up a non paying bidder. At this very time I actually came across what would have been enough money to fix up my car to make it smog legal, so I took down the ads. I also found a guy in my area, really friendly who said he would help me with the repairs and installing the parts.
Unfortunately, it looks like Scott has gotten rid of his parts or something..? I'm not sure, but if so I'm trying to price how much the parts I need will be and if they're even available. I guess I would need the cat-converter and the original exhaust and intake manifolds as the biggest parts at least.
It's very frustrating, I still don't want to sell the car, but if I'm unable to find the parts I need I will end up having to put it back on auction to try and sell it, which I don't want to do at all. But again, money is tight for me right now and I have to have transportation. I don't mind a car I have to work on at all, I've had them before, but if I'm unable to acquire what parts I need I don't have much of a choice.
Does anyone know where I could come across these parts for not much? I would be very grateful. I finally got to the point where I could move forward with all this but seem to hit a dead end and am just trying to find a way through.
Thanks again for all the help everyone has given me.
I think this got overlooked or ignored when I pointed this out back when this situation started. Why is this your problem? It is the sellers responsibility to obtain a smog certificate for the car. Read this here. I would deposit the car back with the seller and demand a smog certificate. If they can't provide one, they are obligated to provide you with your money back. Let me repeat, this is NOT your problem to fix.
apbos
Jedi Knight
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craigslist sf I do not know if the 1978 spit came with the correct smog equip. But if it did this car might be on option for parts. A long drive but if complete it could be option.
Paul
Paul
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Gafirema
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@ Cheseroo
Well, it was a trade. I was looking for something a little more sporty than what I had. I had a 86 528e and saw the guy's add on craigslist saying he might be willing to trade. Long story short, we did, he took my BMW and I took his spitfire. I wanted a sporty little car to fiddle with anyways which I wouldn't mind. I made sure the engine was good, the transmission was good, which they were. I just didn't know about all this smog [censored] till I was told the night of the purchase. I'm not sure if I would want my BMW back at this point because goodness knows what has been done to it by now, besides he said he was going to put on a brand new set of tires. He's really hard to get a hold of to so.
The thing is, I don't like being a jerk to people. I didn't want to tell him "Look, you pay for all this or else I'm taking you to court" etc. I just don't want to be THAT guy and I'm not even sure if technically I could get him to pay for it. I mean, I've found some people who've said "Look, we can get the car smog legal, all the parts installed, everything you need but it'll be over $1000". Do I really want to try to force him to pay that? To take him to court and what not? He'd probably try to trade me the BMW back or something, I don't know, but again I don't feel safe getting a car back some one random has had for awhile.
I don't even know how I'd go about all that.
@ Paul
It's quite a ways north of me. No idea what's on it or what parts may be missing either. Thank you for the idea though
Well, it was a trade. I was looking for something a little more sporty than what I had. I had a 86 528e and saw the guy's add on craigslist saying he might be willing to trade. Long story short, we did, he took my BMW and I took his spitfire. I wanted a sporty little car to fiddle with anyways which I wouldn't mind. I made sure the engine was good, the transmission was good, which they were. I just didn't know about all this smog [censored] till I was told the night of the purchase. I'm not sure if I would want my BMW back at this point because goodness knows what has been done to it by now, besides he said he was going to put on a brand new set of tires. He's really hard to get a hold of to so.
The thing is, I don't like being a jerk to people. I didn't want to tell him "Look, you pay for all this or else I'm taking you to court" etc. I just don't want to be THAT guy and I'm not even sure if technically I could get him to pay for it. I mean, I've found some people who've said "Look, we can get the car smog legal, all the parts installed, everything you need but it'll be over $1000". Do I really want to try to force him to pay that? To take him to court and what not? He'd probably try to trade me the BMW back or something, I don't know, but again I don't feel safe getting a car back some one random has had for awhile.
I don't even know how I'd go about all that.
@ Paul
It's quite a ways north of me. No idea what's on it or what parts may be missing either. Thank you for the idea though
A trade functionally is a sale and the law still applies. Goods were traded for goods. Unfortunately, only one side received goods that had value. Since this car cannot be registered without substantial work, I don't see how you received any value for your BMW. If you went to a dealership and came to an agreement to trade your BMW for a cute Yugo but they took your BMW and disappeared, wouldn't you complain to someone?
I can understand being the nice guy and not wanting to be "that guy". I find it very hard to believe that the guy you got the car from was completely unaware that the car could not be registered in California as is and had no idea what would be involved in getting it CA legal. The guy moved here from Texas, registered all his other cars and never bothered to try to register this car in California? I'm guessing the car was advertised for sale somewhere. At no point did anyone else who looked at this car notice the smog issues and failed to tell the seller?
Due to the seller certainly being aware of the smog issues, it sounds like he found a sucker to unload this thing. Cars (Triumph or otherwise) that won't pass smog are parts vehicles and priced as such. If your BMW wasn't worth more than $2-300, then you probably got a fair deal in this trade. Otherwise, you were taken advantage of and probably should seek redress.
There is an active British car community in San Diego and you might try seeing if any of those guys can help. British car day is a good sized event that happens later in the summer. San Diego British Car Day Another alternative is the So Cal Triumph Owners Assn Classifieds where you can buy yourself a 71 Spit for $500, drop your drivetrain and other parts into it and never worry about smog again. There's another guy with an essentially worthless later Spit on there with a Toyota motor in it. Another fun smog problem. Maybe he has the parts you need. At worst, the guy who made his problem your problem should help shoulder the load of this problem he foisted upon you.
I can understand being the nice guy and not wanting to be "that guy". I find it very hard to believe that the guy you got the car from was completely unaware that the car could not be registered in California as is and had no idea what would be involved in getting it CA legal. The guy moved here from Texas, registered all his other cars and never bothered to try to register this car in California? I'm guessing the car was advertised for sale somewhere. At no point did anyone else who looked at this car notice the smog issues and failed to tell the seller?
Due to the seller certainly being aware of the smog issues, it sounds like he found a sucker to unload this thing. Cars (Triumph or otherwise) that won't pass smog are parts vehicles and priced as such. If your BMW wasn't worth more than $2-300, then you probably got a fair deal in this trade. Otherwise, you were taken advantage of and probably should seek redress.
There is an active British car community in San Diego and you might try seeing if any of those guys can help. British car day is a good sized event that happens later in the summer. San Diego British Car Day Another alternative is the So Cal Triumph Owners Assn Classifieds where you can buy yourself a 71 Spit for $500, drop your drivetrain and other parts into it and never worry about smog again. There's another guy with an essentially worthless later Spit on there with a Toyota motor in it. Another fun smog problem. Maybe he has the parts you need. At worst, the guy who made his problem your problem should help shoulder the load of this problem he foisted upon you.
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Gafirema
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@ Cheseroo
You're right. He may have full well known, who knows. I'm just not sure how I would go about the situation. I don't want to start getting harassed by people either. I don't really have the money for lawyer fees either. I know if I contacted him about it he'd probably get pretty upset. Seemed like a good ol' guy from Texas but was a bit impatient acting.
And yeah, my BMW was worth at LEAST $3500 or so, I almost sold it a few nights before for that price. It had a current certificate of smog as well which I provided. It ran perfect and was in absolutely pristine condition.
The 71 spit you showed me looks a bit rough and it says the interior is shot. The interior in my car is so nice, I'd miss it. Even at that, the labor to put the engine and drive-train into another would probably cost a good bit. I do very much appreciate the help there though.
You're right. He may have full well known, who knows. I'm just not sure how I would go about the situation. I don't want to start getting harassed by people either. I don't really have the money for lawyer fees either. I know if I contacted him about it he'd probably get pretty upset. Seemed like a good ol' guy from Texas but was a bit impatient acting.
And yeah, my BMW was worth at LEAST $3500 or so, I almost sold it a few nights before for that price. It had a current certificate of smog as well which I provided. It ran perfect and was in absolutely pristine condition.
The 71 spit you showed me looks a bit rough and it says the interior is shot. The interior in my car is so nice, I'd miss it. Even at that, the labor to put the engine and drive-train into another would probably cost a good bit. I do very much appreciate the help there though.
The seller's attitude is irrelevant. You got screwed, it's about time your attitude got more relevant. Who cares if he's annoyed, you're out $3500 due to him dumping his problem onto you. I don't know about you but I get annoyed when someone else's problem is made my problem. Call him, tell him he sold you an unregisterable car. Listen to what he has to say. If he blows you off, Don't need a lawyer, $181 filing fee.