Vacuum tubes

Here are the vacuum tubes that I to work on. They are left over from the Weber conversion

1. On the EGR valve - this one needs to be blocked.

2. Coming out of the front of engine block - this one should be routed to the air filter or just left open - perhaps with a make shift filter on it.

3. From the vacuum recovery tank at the back of the engine bay - this one is the de-smogger and should not be blocked - I think I can leave it open.

2 & 3 were connected to the old ZS carb.

Thanks to folks on mgexperience.net for help - here is the post that helped me.

http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?1,577859

Carb Conversion to Weber 45 MCHH

Today I replaced the stock ZS carb with a Weber 45 MCHH side draft. The new carb should run better, be easier to tune and give a little more power.

Here is a pic of the ZS carb with the tubes labeled and the filter off.





















Another view...
















Choke...




















Top view.




















Removing the choke















Stock manifold after ZS removal...
















Yours truly putting on the new air filter...




















New carb installed....
















Top view...
















I still need to deal with the vacuum hoses and tune the carb a little, but it seems to run great.

Here is a link to where you can get a carb like this..

http://www.racetep.com/mgbmcch.html

Ignition problems

Sometimes when I turn the key the starter doesn't turn. But I get a click from the solenoid. I did a bunch of diagnostics and checks.
1. Check all the battery cables and ground strips.
2. Check the connection to the solenoid.
3. Take the brown and white wire on the alternator and ground it then see if the ignition light comes on (this makes sure the ignition light works).
- The light is good but I think I could work on the alternator connections a little - I didn't really clean them that well and I should go back and do it properly.
4. Took it to advance auto parts and had them run a check on the system. Here is the result.














Fascinating stuff. Well it turns out that the starter isn't looking too good. So I took it off and had a look. This is what I found.
































So I think I will replace the starter and solenoid. I should be able to get the pair for under $150. The rubber seal is really messed up and the starter is the original lucas one, so it has seen some good service. I'll run by the auto part store and order one this week.

Roof

The roof has a bar at the back that is glued into the fabric. I guess the glue has dried up and this bar now freely moves. I re-glued it using a hot glue gun and now it stays in place and the soft top folds up really easily.

Carburettor

The Carb is the stock Zenith Stromberg. Its not that great, it runs rich and needs rebuilding. Rather than do that I decided to order the Weber 45 MCHH that bolts on to the existing manifold. From what I have read this is a pretty simple mod, although it is possible that the air filter will run into the brake cylinder. Apparently there is an adapter that can take of that. We'll just have to wait and see.
Heres a pic of the kit and a link to it.
http://www.racetep.com/mgbmcch.html
It should be in tomorrow, although in the meantime we have another project.

Pictures

New (old) car

I thought I would like to keep track of what I do to my new MGB. So here goes. First of all lets have some pics.