MGB needs help.

Well, I have to admit it. The smog requirements of CA may finally have gotten me......

My MG won't pass smog. After 100 hrs in the shop, a replaced (everything), it turns out that my Carb is dead.

So, I'm looking for suggestions, help, or a buyer.

Suggestions: what can I do to get this thing to pass?

Help: I need to find a new, or used, or somthing that will replace a Stromberg 175 CD 2 carb.

Buyer: This the last resort. If I can't fix the MG, I have to sell her. The sad thing is this: the car is cherry. Great body, great paint, great tires, good interior, all original.

Don't want to sell, but may have to.

Thoughts?

Buy an old title.

Yeah, I hear that a lot, but....

I really can't do that.

Hot rod guys are doing it quit a lot. I almost bought a Cobra, I saw the title and it was registered as a Austin Healey, I passed. I have a 69 GT parts car with a clear title I'm keeping in case someday when I add a GT to my stable I may need it.

You can often find used ZS carbs on ebay. There's a NOS one there now that is priced pretty high:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Zenith-Stromberg-CD-175-2-Carb-Carburetor-TR8-MGB-MG_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33550QQihZ016QQitemZ260165564470QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

How close is it to passing smog? Which smog components are too high?
Unless the carb has been really messed up, a rebuild kit and a bit of cleaning will do wonders. The CAT and air pump need to be in good shape, too.

Joe Curto rebuilds ZS -- check his site (or call him!) -- I think he charges $375. I think that would be a better deal than almost that much (or more!) for a "new" one.

So long as the rest of the stuff is working, that would be the way to go.

The car that won't pass smog in California is worthless. In California.You can't sell it in state. In some cases the air pollution districts might buy it for $6-700 and crush it.

So then it becomes a case of taking almost nothing for it to someone outside Calif who doesn't have to smog it.

Jim Brown's become an "expert" at getting his car thru the biannual smog inspections (soon to becme annual, as I understand it).

What about that neat EFI unit from moss?

http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=51460

davidsauer1 Wrote:

Some mechanics have "friends" in the smog check business who can work magic in getting older cars approved. I had an old Volvo once that we managed to squeeze through every year. Not sure what they did to it, but lots of fiddling did the trick and the guy my mechanic took it to seemed to be able to get just about any car in just under the wire. Ask around and maybe there's someone who can get it to pass through "smog magic". A local MGB shop might know -- or try some other old car mechanic. They must deal with this all the time.

There are a number of things that may help. Make sure the car is really warmed up before the smog test. Drive for half an hour before you get there and keep it running. You might try adding some of the special "magic formulas" (probably jet fuel or something) you can buy in auto parts stores to get you through smog checks. And, of course, you need a good working catalytic converter, adjusted carb,no leaks anywhere . . . but you know that already. Barring that, there's always moving out of state. What's so great about California, anyway? :)

What about putting a single HS6 on it? It's easy to rebuild and it should pass the visual. I think it'll mate to the same intake flange (help me here guys - will it?) Maybe an HIF6 would work too. Anybody tried that? Basil

Coastal1 Wrote:

I just pulled of the entire carb system from a 76 or 77 MGB. The carb had a fresh rebuild on it and was working real good. I know cause the guy was teed off that after finally getting the carb to work just right the #3 piston lost compression. So I took it off his hands for parts. Let me know if you if you need it. Its the whole unit, I just cut the exhuast pipe about a foot down and unbolted so it should be easy to go back on.

The current carb is dumping to much gas. The older air intake and *some other tech stuff i dont understand* were just not working correctly.

We replaced and tested everything. The spark plugs were solid black, and they've been replaced.

The MG had been sitting for five to six years and after cleaning, flushing, and replacing parts, correcting vaccum leaks, and so on it still wont smog.

Finding a replacement part for this MG isn't very easy.

aerosol carb cleaner and seafoam...

These carbs go rich when they go south. I'm an SU guy so I don't know a lot about the Strombergs, but I know the water choke can be one of the problems and there are some hard to get o-rings that are other problems. Mac's idea of sending the carb out to Joe Curto is probably the way to go. Another guy you might try is John Twist at University Motors in Ada, Michigan 616-682-0800. Call between 1 and 2pm eastern. This is his lunch hour and the time he sets aside to answer questions. No one knows more about these carbs than these two.

Well, after months, and I mean since July, I've been working on getting my MG running..... and sadly, I think that I've lost the battle.

We never could get the vehicle to pass smog, and now, I hate to say, I'm going to have to sell the car.

So, If anyone is intersted in a great car, that can get it to smog, please send me a note.

The car is cherry. Great body, great paint, great tires, good interior, all original. New top, and tires. New roll cage, new brakes, engine work, and so on. (I can provide a full detailed list of all new work done.*about $2K.*)

Price: 4500.00.

Thanks,
S.