My 79 Spitfire recently failed the California emissions test. The only
part of the test it failed was %CO at idle (it was 2.8% versus a max of
1.5%). The hydrocarbons amount was almost nil leading me to think the
mixture is too lean and a simple adjustment would do the trick. I got a
Gastester from eBay and when I hooked it up it registered 2.7% at idle
just like at the emmitions test facility. I then adjusted the mixture
in Zenith Stromberg carb with the special tool, but after only a turn or
two I reached the end of the adjustment and couldn't turn it any more
and the %CO in the exhaust had only gone down to 2.3%.
I do know that the catalytic converter is basically non-existant, but it
was non-existant 2 years ago when I passed the test.
So, that's my delema. Could the catalytic converter be the culprit and
can it really drop the %CO by that much? If not what other things are
there that could lead to that high of a CO in the exhaust.
Thanks, Bob
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