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MG MGA - SU to Weber automatic choke

I am restoring a 1956 MGA 1500. The SU's were trashed and missing parts (like much of the rest of the car) I am going to use weber carbs but the one I purchased has an automatic choke. The question is, where does the electrical connection come from to fit on the automatic choke? What about the manual choke cable? Just remove it, but then you have a dorky hole in the dash? Any advice would be appreciated.
MWH Huffman

I am assuming that you are planning to use a Weber DGV series carb rather than the DCOE series. If so, the electric choke is connected to switched power--a circuit that is only energized when the ignition switch is on. I am not found of the electric choke feature and replaced the DGEV, electric choke model, with a DGV having a manual choke--far less problems than with the electric choke.

The SU intake manifold heats quickly, allowing the choke to come off shortly after starting. The Weber DGV intake manifold sits out considerably further and the carb does not come up to operating temperature as quickly as the SUs do. The TWM intake manifolds had a chamber under the carb with a hot water line running through it making for faster warm up of the manifold and carb. The Pierce manifolds did not have this feature and many people added it. I think Rivergate offered the conversion, but I have not checked in quite a while since I have TWM intakes on the three cars running the DGV.

As compared to the twin SU carbs, the Weber DGV will run well, but never quite as well as the twin SUs. Nor, as has been claimed, is the DGV easier to set up. "Weber Carburetors" by Pat Braden is a good book to have when installing and setting up the various Weber models and it has installation instructions on how to install the DGV on the B series engines.

I would never replace a set of SUs with a DGV, but, it is a good replacement for the Z-S carbs on the later model MGBs.

Les
Les Bengtson

Thank you for your help. The manifold for the Weber does have a hot water set up. I assume that the heat shield for the SU's is eliminated when putting on the weber's. I would rather have a manual choke as well but this is what I have been stuck with so I guess I will use them. The SU's on the car are missing just about everything of importance and the manifold is cracked.
MWH Huffman

Are you using dual sidedraft or a single downdraft Weber?

On the down draft version, the heat shield is not required. I presume this is also true with the dual side draft. I agree with Les, the manual choke version of the Weber down draft is much less problematic. I have one installed on my 58 A. it has performed flawlessly.

You might want to view this info on Barney Gaylords web site.

http://www.mgaguru.com/mgtech/carbs/cb101.htm

FV
F Valenzano

This thread was discussed between 18/01/2011 and 19/01/2011

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