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MG MGA - Which carbs?

I have a 64 1800 engine to go into my mga. Do I use mgb carbs or mga carbs? Thanks for your advice. Chris
Chris


MGB,

Or at the very least use the MGB springs and needles in you MGA carbs if you still want it to look like an MGA. but I would get the mixture checked after doing that....

Mark.
Mark Hester

I asked Bob West the same question when I converted. He said the MGA carbs would work fine. May have to change the needle. They have been working okay for me for the last 6 years on the same needle (No.6 I think), although of late my MPG has been rubbish. But that is down to me, not the carbs. Doing a spot of retuning while the car is laid up for MC work.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Not 100% sure, as I gave up on 1 1/2 quite early on and went to 1 3/4 then Webber.

I think No. 5 was Standard and No. 6 was richer.

Don't use the MGA jets and dashpot springs as they are only good for a 1500 or 1600.

Thinking a bit more, perhaps the spring is OK, Red again from memory.

Mark.
Mark Hester

Chris
The major advantage to switching to HS4's is the improved attachment of the float bowls among other things. No more leaks from the rubber grommets. Both are 1 1/5 and offer no better perfomance. I also have an 1800 and am using MGA H4 carbs with #6 needles with no real issues.
That being said I do have a set of HS4's that I haven't been able to get to work very well. So I took them off and went back to the H4's untill the fall when I can play around with them.
Kris
Kris Sorensen

I'm a little confused by your post, Kris. I have a 1600 for which I just purchsed an 1800 head (the 1326 casting so I don't have to mill the eyebrows in the block). I was about to pull the trigger on a pair of HS4s on ebay when I searched "HS4" in the MGA section of the archiives here. What I found was that switching between the H4 and the HS4 required a change in (1) throttle linkage, (2) intake manifold, and (3) heat shield. Since I have the MGA components for those three items, I decided to live with the rubber grommet issue on the H4s. So when you say you're switching the H4s and HS4s in and out, you're also switching out the other three items, too?
Not criticizing, just trying to get educated.
thanks,
Bryan
B Phillips

Bryan
Yes you are right. The other items must also be switched. I am running an 1800 that came with no carbs. I purchased my carbs on ebay and also recieved the heat shield and intake manifold. The other bits we picked up to complete the job so switching back and forth is no major deal as I have basicaly two complete setups. I just couldn't get the HS4's to work properly and didn't want to waste good driving weather playing with them. I will reinstall in the fall and try to sort it out.
Kris
Kris Sorensen

HS4 have a very slight advantage at maximum flow, since the inlet side is very slightly larger than on H4, though both are the same 1 1/2 on the output side. Springs are the same, and both jets are .090. Linkage is entirely between carbs, both systems just have cables to connect to the car proper.
FRM
FR Millmore

Todd Clarke has some pieces that address the rubber grommet issue.
Bill Haglan

This thread was discussed between 03/08/2006 and 05/08/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.