just returned from "MG's on the Rocks"

My wife and I got home a couple hours ago from the show. What a beautiful day for a drive north. (Since our MG is in pieces, we took our Sebring Convertible). The show was better than I had expected. Met many very nice and helpfull people. Got some great pictures for ideas, and lots of helpfull tips. Some owners have put alot into making their cars the best they can be.

I do have a question;
We decided to try to start the MG before we pull the engine later this week. It fired up fine, but the fuel pump is not working. The pump doesnt seem to make any noise (If it should). I dont see in the manual that it has its own fuse, so maybee it needs priming? The car has been sitting for 5 years. Any other suggestions before I replace the fuel pump?

Also, I want to remove all the smog junk, but I want to leave the stock single barrel
carb for the time being. Where can I find details on what lines and hoses can be plugged or rerouted when keeping the stock carb?

Turn the key on and lightly bash the pump several times with a screw driver handle. it should start ticking away. It would be a good idea though to disconnect the line just before the carb and catch all of the ejected fuel in a clear glass so you can have a look at it. If it is rusty or has clots in it you should figure on yanking the tank and having it thoroughly cleaned before putting the car on the road. Dirty fuel can be a REAL headache.

In other news NOW is the time to do a change over to twin SUs. I cannot tell you how much better the car will run if you do just that. Of course you can get caught up in a dozen other things too but this single improvement is worth it's weight in Snicker bars.

There are lots of threads about doing this in the archives but if you wish you can make another inquiry here and get all kinds of suggestions as to which carbs to use and how to go about doing it. Removing the smog stuff is pretty simple. Just remove the air injection rail and plug the holes in the head, then remove the air pump and associated plumbing and follow up by closing off any newly opened holes. That deals with the stuff that deals with stuff after the combustion process has occurred. The other smog stuff, over on the carb side that deals with the stuff BEFORE the cylinders ever see it is rather interdependent with the carb itself and should not be messed with unless you know what you are doing.

Jack

Thanks for the response. I may have been hasty on the fuel pump question before searching this site better. I found in the library, ways to check the pump. I will do that tomarrow. (beating the pump that is)
I have the tank out of the car for cleaning, and was trying to pump the fuel from a glass sitting on the ground with the line laying in it. I also installed a clear filter at the carbs so I could see if the pump was getting the fuel up front.
Everyone I spoke to today said to dump the Zenith carb. I will do that when I put the engine back in the car. That will give me time to find the best price on it.

Are you saying that for now, I can plug just about every line that goes to the existing carbs ? (except the fuel and water choke lines of course).

my1stMGB Wrote:

Jim, you're making me jealous. We were going to drive up there today, but my wife was sick all last night and into this morning - food poisoning, we think. :( We ended up taking a little evening drive instead, but it was a beautiful day around here today. It's good to know you enjoyed the show up there. Sigh....

R.

Thanks Mac, I just sent Jimmy a pm for the carbs.

Rick, I am sorry to hear about your wife. Sounds like she is feeling better? though, if she was willing to take a drive. My wife is suffering with a horrible cold, but went with me anyway knowing how much I was looking forward to the show (and spending the day with her). Clocked about 280 miles round trip today. You know how it is, once you get away from 495 any trip becomes a pleasure.
Nice boat. You sail it to Georgetown?

If yours is one of those stock pod (lucas) types, the pump needs a new home. If necessary, make room for it in the trash can. I'm surprised yours failed at home. Usually the sensors in the Lucas pumps only let them fail when you're far from home and have few tools...

I spent a fair number of moments tapping and swearing on the "kapuck-kapuck" pumps before I bought one of the smallish square type 3-5 psi replacement pumps about 20 yrs ago. It's still working perfectly and quietly. It was the second replacement pump I tried.

The first replacement pump had too high a pressure, so it would overrun the float valves and paint the road with petrol. Initially I put a regulator on it, and that fixed the problem.

Jim, thanks - the Missus is feeling so much better today, we spent the afternoon tooling around the Hunt Country - Marshall thru Middleburg/Upperville (including being passed by 8 or 10 horse-drawn huntsman's carriages out for a little parade) then up through Charlestown and back down. Not as good as a good British car show, but not too shabby.

Regarding the boat - we've got her at the Washington Sailing Marina right now. I'm thinking of finding a slip over on the Bay next year. She's too tall to go all the way up to G'Town because of the 14th St. and rail bridges above the airport. Fun day sail down a ways to Alexandria, though. :)

R.