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RE: Freeway Running with Choke On

To: "'mgs@autox.team.net'" <mgs@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: Freeway Running with Choke On
From: "David M. Hall" <dhall@hp-vcd.vcd.hp.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Mar 1996 08:28:36 -0800
John et all...
----------
From:   John M. Trindle[SMTP:jtrindle@tsquare.com]
Sent:   Saturday, March 02, 1996 12:29 AM
To:     MG Mailing List
Subject:        Re: Freeway Running with Choke On

>On Fri, 1 Mar 1996, David M. Hall wrote:
>
>> I believe that I have my carbs correctly adjusted for the fasted lean
>> idle.  I have a fairly free flow tuned exhaust system, Dual SU Carbs, 
>> some type of hot (PO) cam, Crane Electronic Ignition,  Vaccume advance 
>working
>> correctly, static timing about 20 BTDC.
>
>STATIC timing 20 BTDC?  Zowie!  That's a little much, isn't it?  
>Over-advance has given me a lean-mixture indication in the past.
>
- I came up with the by setting to 10BTDC, and then slowly advancing until 
backfire went
away when shifting, and also while no pinging while going up a hill.  I kept 
advancing, and
kept getting more power, and no pinging.  I stopped at 20 because, yes it 
seemed to be
getting a bit excessive!  Perhaps I shoulde back it off a bit!  Also, I think 
that I noticed that
the idle went up a bit.  I can't seem to get it below 1000 RPM now.

>> b. Are my needles wrong?
>Almost certainly.  A cam change and an exhaust change will certainly 
>change the optimum needle profile.
>
>> c. Is it OK to run with the choke on?
>
>Yes and no.  Yes, if you remember to take it off when you don't need it.  
>Too much gas in the mixture causes excessive ring wear, pollution, plug 
>fouling.
>
>> d. What's the best way to get the performance increase I noticed while 
>running
>>    with the choke on?
>> 
>
>The absolute, positive, best way is to get new needles profiled on a 
>rolling road dyno.

Sounds like the thing to do.  Can any shop which has a dyno tell me what kinda
needles to get?  My guess is that I need to find a shop which is familiar with 
working
on MGs or other SU Equipped cars.
>
>The problem is that each combination of bolt-on modifications and exact 
>engine is going to result in a slightly different optimum.  In the case 
>of a header system, K&N filters, and a long duration cam the flow pattern 
>is going to be SIGNIFICANTLY different than stock.
>
>You can play the game of swap needle (consulting the profile charts or 
>the Haystack program to move in the right direction) but it is not cheap 
>and quite frustrating on HIFs.  Only a few profiles are available in 
>biased needles due to emissions considerations.
>
>Right now I have some fixed needle in an adapter in the rear carb, and an 
>AAE biased needle in the front.  Yes, it is confused, but I ran out of 
>stock and patience at this point.
>
>I'd check that advance with a light against the book value before going too 
>far.  I played the "over-advance it, increase richness to compensate" 
>game for a while when my rings were in the process of segmenting 
>themselves.  It seemed to help acceleration around town but didn't affect 
>top-end (and it sounded AWFUL).  When I rebuilt the engine the temptation 
>went away as I had enough power to get out of my own way.
>
I think that I'll back the advance off a bit, and then check around town 
(Portland OR,
Vancouver, WA) to see if anyone can do the rolling dyno check.  (Any one know
of a good shop in this area?)

Thanks for the input! :)

Dave Hall
dhall@vcd.hp.com
72 MGB/GT





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