[Mgs] MGA sputtering engine

Max Heim max_heim at sbcglobal.net
Mon Nov 9 17:02:45 MST 2009


Fuel pump? Good enough to fill the bowls over time, but not to support
extended running.

--

Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires


on 11/9/09 2:21 PM, Robert J. Guinness at guinness at stclegal.com wrote:

> 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.


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