As usual, I am mystified by my MGA. On a recent trip, it began to
sputter and die. I could start it again, and go a short distance by
pumping the gas pedal in unison with its dieing sputters. Now the car
will only intermittently start. If I rev the engine and hold the gas
pedal constant, the engine will run rough for a few seconds and then the
revs will drop steadily until it dies.
I changed the spark plugs which were black and went to a hotter plug
(Autolite 63 gapped to .35). I re-timed the engine (twice). I had
replaced the points,and rotor about a month ago. The car ran great when
I installed the new points so I know I installed them correctly. The
condenser is from last Spring. I had reported to the list recently that
the cam block on the points on this car had worn in just a few months
so that they hardly opened. Barney Gaylor suggested testing the coil to
see if it was a ballister type, which it was not. I replaced the ground
wire on the distributor about a year and a half ago and inspection
shows it is in good condition.
I had problems last year with a reconditioned head that the machine shop
had failed to lap the bronze guides. The problem seemed to work itself out.
I am getting gas. And my rudimentary spark plug tested from HF says the
plugs are sparking. Compression shows all four cylinders within 5 lbs
of each other (@125)
This is a 1963 MGB 3-main engine with the original MGA carbs.
For what its worth, the "rear seal" on the engine has began to leak
about 4 months ago. I attributed this to a really nackered U-joint
messing up drive shaft.
How should I go about diagnosing and repairing this problem. Could it
be the condenser? The camshaft? Valves? Bearings (rear seal leak)?
Vengeful gods?
Thank you.
--
Robert Guinness
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