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Now I Have an MG Question

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tony barnhill

tony barnhill

Great Pumpkin - R.I.P
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First, lemme lay it all out for ya'll:

I bought a '79 MGB with a Weber downdraft that has a water choke...there were 2 apparent problems when I got it:

1) when you push the accelerator down quickly from stop, the engine bogs down but when you slowly increase speed, it appears to be okay.

2) The brakes stop the car real good but the pedal's real hard.

..So, I rebuilt the brake booster - still hard pedal; then, I replaced the booster with another off my shelf- pedal still hard....then, I finally pulled vacuum to see if I was getting 15inches to the booster...wasn't...

So, I started looking for vacuum leaks..everything external is fine so I pulled a compression check...#4 cylinder only has 60psi...so, I did a leak down test & also squirted carb cleaner up in the #4 spark plug hole...it appears I've got a burned exhaust valve as the carb cleaner ends up out the tailpipe (& a bit shows up in the carb)...that's no big deal, I'll just pull the head & do a valve job..

Now, stay with me, please...here's where it gets tricky (& is the root of my problem, I think)

I cleaned the accelerator pump on that weird downdraft Weber carb with water choke because it wasn't pumping properly (probably cause for bogging down on take off). After soaking in carb cleaner overnight, it started pumping but appears to be putting too much gas into the carb (good reason the #4 exhaust valve is burned!)

Now, here are my questions (because I don't know anything about Webers & actually hate them!):

1. Does anybody know anything about that Weber downdraft carb with water choke?

a) Where can I get a rebuild kit?

b) Where can I get an accelerator pump rebuild kit or pump replacement?

c) Which jets are correct for the MGB engine?

I think once I do a valve job & rebuild/rejet the carb, my problems will go away but I need some input on the carb before I throw it in the trash & go to dual HIF-4's! And it appears to be a relatively new carb that's just been sitting for a spell.
 
I don't know much about webers either, but my LE had one and I was able to get a rebuild kit from "pegasus racing"(not sure of exact spelling). They were recommended to me by someone on the forum.
 
Tony you can get most of your weber parts from Moss, including the jets. duh. and talk to John Dandy about your weber. I believe he wrote an article about the weber bogging problem that appears somewhere on the internet. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angel.gif
 
Solution:

1. Take the webber off, along with the intake manifold.

2. Throw, grenade-style, into the nearest trash bin.

3. Clean up one of the ZS carbs you're hoarding

4. Install the ZS along with the ZS intake.

5. Enjoy a nice late summer drive in the excellent weather we're having! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Heck, I'm even taking the sailboat out again this weekend now that it's cool enough not to melt.
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif hehehehe...I've got a rebuild kit on order...talked to the PO & he said it was bought new from Moss, set up for an MGB but that it sat for a year right after it was installed.
 
What's all this about destructively discarding webers!
If the manifold would fit mine, I'd pay $$$'s.
 
Ah shucks,
Kennypinkerton beat me to it, was going to suggest same thing.Serious though hope you fix the carb (not many doubts in my mind that you will)
Cheers Ric
 
Tony, I have a Weber DGV downdraft manual choke on my 73B. I had read somewhere that you require a fuel regulator (which I have on mine) when using a Weber DGV . Hope this helps
 
[ QUOTE ]
and talk to John Dandy about your weber. I believe he wrote an article about the weber bogging problem that appears somewhere on the internet.

[/ QUOTE ]

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif Right under my nose, Kenny - on my own web site! https://www.theautoist.com/weber_carb.htm
 
Any one that thinks a the original Stromberg is better for any reason other than keeping a RB MGB original is badly misinformed. Set up correctly the Weber DGV 32/36 will seriously out preform a OEM MGB Stromberg. It will start better, give better gas milage, and produce more HP. Now I would do the convertion to a pre 75 MGB, but it is a huge improvement over the STUPID set up on the 75 up MGB's. I have seen MG's with DGV Webers driven for YEARS and not have to be touched. The MGB Strombergs were a problem right out of the factory.
 
My problem, Tom, might be that the car sat for a year with gas it in....that, plus I think I've got a #4 exhaust valve burnt that's keeping it from building enough vacuum to work the brake booster....does that make sense?
 
Sorry, Baz, and Tom... But I think Tony may be with me on this one. When was the last time you substituted Ford parts for you british sportscar? (Oh, wait I have a motorcraft oil filter on mine) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif

But, tony does have the largest collection of ZS carbs on the planet (somebody should get him into guinness), and.... he loves the inexpensive way out - most of the time.
 
I would think a $40 rebuild kit is pretty cheap. Trust me, the chance that Tony has a Stromberg set up that is a bolt on and go situation is slim to none. I venture to guess I have 40-50 Stromberg carbs on the shelf in my WH, and not a one of the is much good for anything but a paper weight. Of coarse as far as I'm concerned that's all they were good for. Now don't get me wrong Stromberg makes some good carburators. Most of the aircraft I worked on in the Navy had Stromberg carbs. The whole set up on the late B's was a huge joke.

Tony good chance all you need is an accelerator pump. Take the lid off the Weber and remove the jets and imultion tubes. Spray carb cleaner through them, and the hole they came out of. Put it back together with a new accel pump and the carb will work fine. As for your BRK Booster problem. Get the head worked as it needs to done be anyway and maybe that will solve your problem.
 
Tom, one of these months I am going to come and visit. I have a brother-in-law in Memphis that wife says I must see from time to time. Good excuse to get away for a bit and talk cars.
 
Tom... You should sell Tony all your ZS carbs.... I'll bet he'd come and get them personally.

Not downing your assessment of the situation, Tom. I'm sure a good carb cleaning would be in order, as well as the headwork. But, knowing Tony collects any ZS carb he can get his hand on had me going on that tangent. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif
 
Thanks, Tom...I though that might work so last night I left it full of carb cleaner - this morning it appeared to work a bit better....carb rebuild kit is in UPS to me....

I'm redoing this car for resale &, as the Weber is new (except for the year it sat), I'm leaving it on the car...heck, car has new tires, battery, heater valve, alternator, water pump, beauty rings on newly painted Rostyles with new little center caps &, now, rebuilt brake booster...soon, it'll have a rebuilt head & the Weber will have been gone through.

...& you guys know me: might-as-well's...I'll send the radiator to the shop for cleaning/pressurizing while its out...I also ordered a new thermostat &, have a couple of electric fans I'l take them to shop for rebushing to replace the huge aftermarket electric fan on the rad. One thing I'm not looking forward to is replacing the cracked windshield...PO put new weatherstripping &, apparently, cracked the windshield reinstalling it - I've got an uncracked one sitting in shop waiting for me to install it.

This is going to make one NICE car when I'm finished - she's a rust-free '79! But, she'll be a crank & drive anywhere car.
 
Is there a picture of her yet Tony? I'm mildly interested at this point. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbsup.gif

That, and I think I'm coming off more idiotic than I actually am, for various unknown reasons.
 
No photos yet - & I'm not ready to let her go until I've gone through all her systems.
 
Pierce Manifolds in Gilroy Ca. has everything you'll ever need for Weber Carbs and are very helpful with questions.
Both my B's have Weber DVGs with manual chokes, one using a Pierce Maniford and the other a Canon manifold and have been trouble free for years.
 
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