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Newbie SU Carb Rebuild & Restoration Question

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My experience with Grose jets, also has me recommending stay with proper needle and seats. The Grose seem to be more susceptible to minute contaminants..

As afar as rebuilders. Probably Joe Curto, on the east coast knows more about the SU's than anyone else on the North American Continent. Hap in the MG/Sprite forum has an extensive history of SU work also. Jeff at Advanced Distributors, from what I have read is building a history of repair, polish and setup.. So there are several good options. Oh, almost forgot Ted Schumacher at TSI imports in Ohio. This man is a wealth of information on just about all Brit mobiles from the 50's through the 80's...
 
poolboy said:
The only part of the carb rebuild that I would farm out would be if the throttle shaft passages were worn out of round where even new throttle shafts left too much annular space.
Click to expand...
OTOH, if you would like to do those yourself, check out Tony's article at https://home.comcast.net/~rhodes/Tech_Carb_Bushing_Reaming.pdf
LOTS easier than the way I did it! And a 3/8" reamer is only about $10 at ENCO
 
I've heard Grose Jets in later years haven't been made to the same quality level as the originals, which did help to cut down fuel smells when they were first introduced. Those were the days when needles and seats were both brass, but nowadays the needles come with a neoprene tip, which is a huge improvement in fully shutting off the fuel supply once the bowls are full.

Regarding self rebuilding SU's, perhaps the trickiest part is centering the fuel metering needle in the jet, as the very last turn on the large jet fitting nut usually pulls the jet off center. If that part of the job is not perfect so the piston drops freely with a metallic clunk, then the performance of the rebuilt carbie will be disappointing.

Any jolt of the fuel needle can result in bending it, and thus rendering it useless.

Care needs to be taken assembling parts comprising the sequence of spring, seals and cups surrounding the jet, or fuel will leak from the bottom of the jet.

It's certainly most satisfying getting your first set of SU's rebuilt right, but a novice is best served getting a good book on the subject. Leaky carbies on a TR can drip onto the generator or exhaust, which is hardly desirable given the fire risk.

Regards,

Viv.
 
You can try John Twist at University Motors. He specializes in MGs but he'll rebuild SU's for any car. A friend of mine has used them to rebuid his SU's a few years back and has never had to touch them since. He did a great job.

Here's a Link to his site:

University Motors Ltd.
 
For SUs?

Joe Curto
Jeff Palya
Hap Waldrop
John Twist

Take your pick; they're all pros and do great work.
Or DIY; they're not hard to rebuild.
 
Thanks to all for the good information, and for recommendations of carb rebuilders. What a great group on this forum!
 
Scott_Hower said:
For SUs?

Joe Curto
Jeff Palya
Hap Waldrop
John Twist

Take your pick; they're all pros and do great work.
Or DIY; they're not hard to rebuild.
Click to expand...


Any chance we could get company names, contact info, etc., for any of these guys?
 
Well, decided to rebuild them myself as I wanted to learn a bit more about them. Glad I went that route. Spent the weekend getting them disassembled and cleaned up. Man were they ever nasty!

Quickly came to the realization that there was too much play in the throttle shafts so they will need to be re-bushed. At what point does a carb body need to be fitted with an oversized throttle shaft? How many times can the body be re-bushed? The new std. shafts came as part of the rebuild kit but I would like to get oversized versions on order (if needed) to prevent 7-10 days of delay waiting for parts after the bodies are back.

Guess the shop will be able to tell me if oversized are needed once they complete the work?
 
If you are re-bushing the carburettor body then I can't imagine that you would require oversized throttle shafts. I would have thought that even if they have been re-bushed in the past a machine shop would just drill out the old bushes and replace them.
 
NickMorgan said:
I would have thought that even if they have been re-bushed in the past a machine shop would just drill out the old bushes and replace them.
Click to expand...

Cool. That is what I was hoping would be the case. Thanks Nick!
 
Just a quick note to say "thanks" to all who offered up help and advice on the carb. rebuild. Got them put back on, tuned up, and took a 30 mile test drive about a week ago. Man what a difference! Definitely a blast to drive again!
 
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