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new member, 1977 MGB smog issues

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htchevyii

htchevyii

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Hi guys, I joined this forum to try and help my Dad with his "new" 1977 MGB. It is in really good shape, but the emissions testing is killing us. It had a bad egr valve, bad dizzy and bad cat. It also had a Volvo carb and was running super lean. We replaced all the bad parts and put on the correct carb, so I've got my fingers crossed. Any tips on getting this puppy to pass? thanks, Trey
 
Welcome, Trey...drive it long enough to get the engine up to operating temp before pulling into an examination place that does not have a waiting line.

But, drop over to the MG Forum to ask the question.
 
Hi There htchevyii,

Personally; I`ve been there and done it; As they say!

Bring your car into the Inspection station when there is virtually no one around & the "Inspectors" start asking questions like: What yr is it? Is that an Orig? How long have you owned her? Etc Etc.

Get their minds off the inspection & let them drool over the car.

"Passed with Flying Colors"!

Russ
 
Hi, and welcome to the Forum. Good luck with the emissions testing!
 
Bring it to NC. Over 25 years old (the car, not you), no inspection required.
 
Hi, and welcome to the Forum!
 
Hi Trey, and Welcome !!

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]Any tips on getting this puppy to pass? [/QUOTE]

1st, you said you got the correct carb. WHAT carb?? Z/S?? With or without 'water choke'??

2nd, as I have to work on cars like you have and ILL has 'sniffer' inspection I can tell you what WORKS around here !! :wall:

As has been said, car MUST be at operating temp.

However, in my experience of couple decades:

1] Change oil/oil filter, Air Filter & Spark Plugs JUST prior to going.

2] Fill up with Shell Hi-test. NOTHING else has ever worked for me nor my Customers?!?!? :hammer:
3] Go for a drive of a 100+ miles or so ONE-WAY. :driving:

4] Re-fill with Shell Hi-test.

5] Drive from point X :driving: DIRECTLY to test station.

6] Do NOT sit 'idling' whilst waiting!! :nonod:

If you don't pass the first time, lean the carb
out to point of barely running and try again. :banana:

Any further questions, please write me DIRECT. :angel:

:cheers:

Ed
 
You could move to cave junction or brookings?
 
Ed Kaler said:
Any further questions, please write me DIRECT. :angel:

:cheers:

Ed
Click to expand...


I have a better idea - ask (and answer) questions in our forums so that everyone can benefit :hammer:
 
If it flunks again, post the numbers over in the MG forum.

As a very general rule, high HC means ignition/misfire problems. High CO means the mixture is too rich. Of course, wrong mixture can lead to misfire (high HC), and misfires can also make the mixture appear wrong, so no hard and fast rules; but a place to start.

While you are changing plugs, use an ohmmeter to check the resistance of the plug wires, from the terminal inside the dizzy cap to the plug terminal. If one or two are much higher than the rest, replace the wires. Check the coil wire too.

Might also be worth servicing the carbon canister, if it can be. I don't know what the service interval is for a MGB, but if the filter in the bottom gets clogged, it can cause mixture problems.

And I would want to do the basic checks on your 'new' carb : examine the diaphragm for pinholes, make sure the piston moves easily, no fuel leaks, etc.
 
bgbassplyr said:
Bring it to NC. Over 25 years old (the car, not you), no inspection required.
Click to expand...

Bring it to South Carolina and no inspection at all!
remoteImage-2.gif
 
Hi Paul,

I will be moving to the Greenville, SC area hopefully in the very near future (May - July `09). "THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD"!!

Where in SC do you live?

Regards, Russ
 
Ah, you'll be moving to Haps neighborhood. We live a little South of Loris Russ. About 25 miles West of Myrtle Beach in the farm country. Horse farms all around us. We also own a horse farm in Eastern Oklahoma that our son takes care of for us at the present time. We'll probably move out there in the future. Not sure when. The wife wants to be closer to our son, his wife and grand sons.
 
HOORAY!! It passed this time. It actually passed really easy after leaning the carb a bit.
 
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