[Mgs] The Continuing Quest to Cool my MGA

[Wilkmanracing at aol.com]

I've received some very good suggestions from site members.   Thanks!
 
In chasing down the timing issue, I found that the clamp had not been  
tightened on my distributor.  Of course, this allowed it to seek its own  timing 
willy-nilly.  I don't have the means to do a dynamic timing, so I  set the car 
static to 7 degrees BTDC, per the factory manual.  The clamp is  now tightened 
at that setting.  I took the car out for a short test and, in  85 degree 
weather, moderately high humidity, it ran around 190 degrees for about  4 miles of 
driving.
 
Next was the matter of carb mixture.  As suggested by one lister, the  carbs 
were, indeed, set too lean.  I reset them in accordance with the Moss  SU 
video, and took another, longer, test drive.  This time the car stayed  at 190 
until I did a short run on the freeway, whereupon it moved up to around  210.  
Then, I was forced to idle in the full sun for about 5 minutes while  waiting 
for a passing train.  This time the temp gauge went up to  230.  After getting 
underway again, and after about 3 miles of driving, it  went down to below 212, 
ranging from around 200 to just below 212.  By the  time I got home, after a 
short climb up a moderate hill, the car was at  212.  
 
I checked for exhaust gases in the cooling system using a block checker and  
it showed no leaks.
 
I have on order from Moss, the rad shroud, water wetter, and felt piece for  
the bonnet.  I also plan to fill in the gap between the grille shroud and  the 
bottom of the radiator with some weather stripping.
 
The thoughts and suggestions of the group have been really helpful.   Are 
there any more thoughts, given the temps I'm now experiencing after  correcting 
the timing and fuel/air mixture?
 
Bill Wilkman
 
 



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