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MG MGB Technical - CARBs new or professionally rebuilt?

I own a 67 B and a 74 BGT. I do all my own work and am at the point where I am working towards getting the carbs in top shape. The 67's HS4 were redone by the PO about 10 years ago -- runs and tunes well could use a rebuild not badly though. The 74 HIFs are well rough I got the car running well but it was a bear. The carbs need a serious rebuild -- so the question is rebuild or buy new -- does it really matter? I would probably use Curto, Apple, or University. It looks like price for the HS is a wash but the HIFs go for about $600. So...what is the 'collective opinion here"

Thanx in advance.

ATB,
Tom
Tom

Tom,

My personal opinion is a professional rebuild from a shop you trust. It's nice that the new carbs are once again available, but as we all know - new doesn't always mean better or perfect.

It sounds like you probably know your stuff, and if so you know that there really isn't a hell of a lot to go wrong, largely just throttle shafts, and a close inspection of the needles/seats/jets/floats etc.

I'm not an originality nut, but here I vote for a quality rebuild. University is closer to me and I know their work - also if the carbs were truly junk, they'd probably give you core towards some others they could rebuild for you. My educated guess here would be that that a quality rebuild carb has probably received more attention to it's functionality than a new one out of the box. A guy like John Twist actually gets his hands dirty every day on these cars, they stand behind their work, and they don't like to see something they've done come back through the door not working as promised.

My .02!!!

Cheers,

Tom
MG Tom

I'm with Tom on this one. The rebuild, done right by either University or Joe Curto will cost about half of what a new set of HIF4's go for. With the older carbs (HS4), you can buy them on sale for about the same price as a rebuild. So, for HIF4's - rebuild, HS4's - buy new. Now you have $.04, mine and Tom's $.02 each.

Happy MotorinG!
Paul Konkle

Tom...I recently purchased a 1975 MGB, like in mid-August. I'm charmed by my B as my story will no doubt show. The engine was running rough, so I embarked on turning it around. From this experience, I have learned to ask myself "by changing this, where will it lead to".
Here is my story. The 1975 single carb had been modified to a dual system which needed to be refurbhished or replaced. The cost to refurish was about Cdn $250 each,while the out of pocket cash for dual Weber downdraft kit was $600. From a cost benefit point of view, I went with the kit.
The distributor was running shakey, so I decided to replace it with a modified electronic kit. A rebuild adapter is $200 and modification hardware, $400. Now the engine is running real smooth.
But with these two changes to the engine, I just learned that I could go for a sport coil and enhance the effectiveness of the electronic ignition.
Now that I have been around the block on these changes, I am certainly going to think things through more thoroughly rather than just going taking one step at a time while keeping my lights dim.
Anyhow, I'm really enjoying driving/tooling around in my B...Tom
Tom Millar

Tom,
Currently own a 67 rdstr and 74 BGT. These are the 4th and 5th Bs for me and 10th or 11th LBC in the past 25 years. (I am in the Navy so I have occasionally had to part with cars that I wish I still had.) My Bs have ranged from 67 to 77 and I can honestly say my maintenance/improvement planning while improved often yields results similar to yours. The biggest things I've learned are:
1. When you rebuild the front end replace every piece of rubber. Also consider new dampers, springs, kingpins, tie rod ends, steering gaiters and do the brakes (unless they are like new). There is nothing nastier then front end work do it right once and maintain it. The whole enchilada will run about $500 (US). But it is worth it.
2. After the Front is done, replace the rear shocks.
3. "Improvements" to ignition beget improvements to carbs and vice versa.
4. Learn to do your own work or win the lottery. Nothing is hard to do on these cars -- including the carbs. In fact they are toys compared to modern vehicles.
5. Change the oil, flush the radiator, and grease the front end regularly. Most of the "heat" problems are due to poor Radiator/cooling maintenance from previous owners -- the new antifreezes are better at stopping corrision but developed too late to fix PO neglect. Look for oil leaks and fix them or watch them closely. If differential or tranny is leaking make sure you are topping it up regularly before you fix it.
6. Drive it. They (the LBCs) like it and so will you. Teach your wife/significant other/child to drive it also. For sheer driving enjoyment LBCs cannot be beat.
7. Lucas electrics are more reliable then most people think. More importantly, they are relatively simple to understand and can be troubleshot with a test bulb and the wiring diagram.

ATB and see you on the road.
Tom
THOMAS RUBENSTEIN

This thread was discussed between 04/09/2001 and 06/09/2001

MG MGB Technical index

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