[Mgs] Performance query

[Stuart MacMillan]

Boy, I've had this happen over the years, and here is what I'd check,
easiest first:

 

Incorrect or carbon tracked distributor cap

Other bad ignition components (coil, points, wires etc., swap one at a time
from your spares collection.  You do have a spares collection, don't you?) 

Bad fuel pump (measure the flow) Timing too advanced.

Bad gas (this just happened here in Seattle at some Shell stations last
week: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364645_gasupdate27.html )

Partially plugged fuel pick up in tank (from a disintegrated hose used by a
gas thief back during the last oil shortage)

 

And probably more.  

 

The worst one to find was the hose in the tank.  We could drive for miles,
and then all of a sudden the car would stumble, and then die.  Wait a few
minutes, and it would start and run fine for several miles.  Drove me nuts
for six months.  Finally pulled the tank because I'd replaced everything
else, and when we cut it open we found swollen globs of surgical tubing all
over the bottom of the tank.  With long trips, hese would eventually clog
the pick up screen.  After a few minutes rest, some would drop off and you
could run again until the next time.  Absolutely the worst intermittent
problem I've ever solved. 

 

 

Also, I finally replaced the coil (20 year old Lucas Hi Performance) after
another intermittent problem. When it heated up on long drives, the voltage
dropped and the car would stumble.  When you stopped, heat soak prevented
starting at all for about an hour.  I replaced everything else over about
two years, (Including a perfectly good Pertronix ignition, which I highly
recommend) before I was left with only the coil as the cause of the problem.
Duh.  I've never had one go bad in 40 years.  But it was a Lucas....

 

Stuart MacMillan

'65 MGB

 

  ----- Original Message -----

   I can, if I chose accelerate smoothly up to about 5K revs in every gear-I
have done it only after experiencing what I am about to describe as my
trouble. If I am on the highway with OD engaged cruising around 3500RPM's if
is start to accelerate I experience a loss of power, the car hesitates and
only when I take my foot off the gas and let the revs drop can I then
accelerate-but only to about3600 RPM.

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