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Bret
Yoda
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Warning minor rant. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cryin.gif
Well, Sunday Oct 2nd, my daughter Julia (5yrs) & I drove our 78B to the 25th Annual San Diego British Car Day up north at Fairbrook Farm in Bonsall.
We had a great time – lots of cars there. Many I’d never seen before (other than photos) and a few old favorites made appearances too. Talking to some of the event volunteers from the SDMGC they estimated that about 500+ cars made it. I’ll try’n post some pictures on my web page later this week.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Adding to the fun was that the MG was running great that morning - although the choke (enrichment device) still isn’t working quite as good as I’d like it to – once she was warmed up she ran like a top. Other than that nothing went wrong – except that I did note that I had a slight exhaust leak under the bonnet.
I had to take the freeway up and back and when you have a 4 speed to keep up with traffic in Southern California you need to run about 4,000 RPMs to maintain 70MPH to help avoid getting run over by your fellow motorists! On the way home is when things kind a got a little more uncomfortable – when I noticed that the car’s exhaust leak was starting to get progressively louder & louder. After getting home I noticed that I’d completely blown out the gasket between the manifold & catalytic converter. Additionally the hardware was loose that holds the doughnut between the cat & the down pipe.
To those of you that might remember I replaced the cat about 3 years ago in preparation for an up-coming smog test. It required the removal of the exhaust/intake manifold to properly seat the cat. I also noted about the same time the quality of the gaskets sold by both Moss and Victoria British don’t have a heat ring like the gasket does that came with the new Cat. However heat ring gasket is the one that blew out this time. I think I seated it correctly when I replaced the cat, so tend to I think I damaged the gasket the last time I was struggling to set up & tune my B. I say this as the cat turned cherry red a few times until I got the air/fuel mixture adjustment just right.
Anyway after evaluating what needed to be fixed – I also looking over the entire exhaust system and noted a couple of more minor leaks as well as some rust & cracks. I figure it is time to completely change my exhaust system out before it falls off. So I ordered an whole new stock system (~$130) along with all new gaskets & hardware from Moss and will install it either this coming weekend or the following. While I am pulling things apart – time permitting, I will try to re-build my carburetor & choke as it needs to be removed to pull the manifold. I’m also thinking about having the manifold cleaned up & powder coated – but we’ll wait & see what happens. The only unknown at this point is the catalytic converter itself – it may need replacement too. But I won’t know until I get it out. If it is bad I will put one on order and take care of some of the other items I mentioned.
That said: While at the show I got the chance to talk to the Moss representative about a few things – and one of the topics was the quality of the gaskets in question above. He informed me that this has been a nagging complaint from many customers – so much so that they recently replaced the old gaskets with newer ones that incorporate the aforementioned heat ring.
That brings me to the next comment; Smog testing (always a crowd pleaser). While picking the Moss rep’s brain at the show I queried him about the new Moss EFI system that is a smog legal replacement for the single ZS carb setup. He said that they’d been having some difficulties commitment-wise with the manufacture. But the good/bad news about this is, now that our Governor Arnold signed a new smog testing bill (don’t get me started! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif ) into law that requires all vehicles made after 1974 to be tested “forever” there is a better chance that the new EFI kit will sell like hotcakes and might be the added incentive to the manufactured to get off his rear-end and start production. Otherwise a lot of late model (Rubber Bumper) B’s like mine are going to start disappearing from the streets of California.
Well, Sunday Oct 2nd, my daughter Julia (5yrs) & I drove our 78B to the 25th Annual San Diego British Car Day up north at Fairbrook Farm in Bonsall.
We had a great time – lots of cars there. Many I’d never seen before (other than photos) and a few old favorites made appearances too. Talking to some of the event volunteers from the SDMGC they estimated that about 500+ cars made it. I’ll try’n post some pictures on my web page later this week.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Adding to the fun was that the MG was running great that morning - although the choke (enrichment device) still isn’t working quite as good as I’d like it to – once she was warmed up she ran like a top. Other than that nothing went wrong – except that I did note that I had a slight exhaust leak under the bonnet.
I had to take the freeway up and back and when you have a 4 speed to keep up with traffic in Southern California you need to run about 4,000 RPMs to maintain 70MPH to help avoid getting run over by your fellow motorists! On the way home is when things kind a got a little more uncomfortable – when I noticed that the car’s exhaust leak was starting to get progressively louder & louder. After getting home I noticed that I’d completely blown out the gasket between the manifold & catalytic converter. Additionally the hardware was loose that holds the doughnut between the cat & the down pipe.
To those of you that might remember I replaced the cat about 3 years ago in preparation for an up-coming smog test. It required the removal of the exhaust/intake manifold to properly seat the cat. I also noted about the same time the quality of the gaskets sold by both Moss and Victoria British don’t have a heat ring like the gasket does that came with the new Cat. However heat ring gasket is the one that blew out this time. I think I seated it correctly when I replaced the cat, so tend to I think I damaged the gasket the last time I was struggling to set up & tune my B. I say this as the cat turned cherry red a few times until I got the air/fuel mixture adjustment just right.
Anyway after evaluating what needed to be fixed – I also looking over the entire exhaust system and noted a couple of more minor leaks as well as some rust & cracks. I figure it is time to completely change my exhaust system out before it falls off. So I ordered an whole new stock system (~$130) along with all new gaskets & hardware from Moss and will install it either this coming weekend or the following. While I am pulling things apart – time permitting, I will try to re-build my carburetor & choke as it needs to be removed to pull the manifold. I’m also thinking about having the manifold cleaned up & powder coated – but we’ll wait & see what happens. The only unknown at this point is the catalytic converter itself – it may need replacement too. But I won’t know until I get it out. If it is bad I will put one on order and take care of some of the other items I mentioned.
That said: While at the show I got the chance to talk to the Moss representative about a few things – and one of the topics was the quality of the gaskets in question above. He informed me that this has been a nagging complaint from many customers – so much so that they recently replaced the old gaskets with newer ones that incorporate the aforementioned heat ring.
That brings me to the next comment; Smog testing (always a crowd pleaser). While picking the Moss rep’s brain at the show I queried him about the new Moss EFI system that is a smog legal replacement for the single ZS carb setup. He said that they’d been having some difficulties commitment-wise with the manufacture. But the good/bad news about this is, now that our Governor Arnold signed a new smog testing bill (don’t get me started! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif ) into law that requires all vehicles made after 1974 to be tested “forever” there is a better chance that the new EFI kit will sell like hotcakes and might be the added incentive to the manufactured to get off his rear-end and start production. Otherwise a lot of late model (Rubber Bumper) B’s like mine are going to start disappearing from the streets of California.
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