Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[clan chieftain]

Is there a better alternative for the 1800 marina than the SU.
The SU tends to flood sometimes when in traffic queues although I have not experienced it yet with the estate and the small rubber O ring at the base of the float chamber tends to perish and leak fuel. Touch wood that hasnt happened yet.
A couple of lads in the Owners club down south have fitted Webbers.
I am just asking if the Webber would be a better alternative to the SU.
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The Clan Chieftain

[Rick]

Only going off what I've read, Webbers look like more aggro to keep "on song" than a fairly straightforward SU.

Causes of SU flooding? sticking needle valve, punctured float, float level too high?? otherwise they're pretty reliable IMHO.

RJ
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[peter scott]

Hi Larry,

This might help with the flooding:
http://www.jag-lovers.org/saloons/Jaguar/carbs.html

Better than any carb set-up would be fuel injection. I don't know your engine size but didn't the later push rod cars use single point (or greater for specials) injection systems?

Peter


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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Roger-hatchy]

The SU's in question that flood, have they had new float chamber covers?

I had to replace one of the covers on my twin SU set up.
Had no end of agro trying to set them up, each time I got the float level correct, I ended up with the piston / suction chamber cover off to get the levels correct, but after re-assembly one would flood again.
Anyway I found it was because the new cover is softer alloy and anything other than finger tight and then pinched up by one flat would change the setting.

Has the car got mechanical or electric fuel pump.
Mine has electric pump so the pressure is there when not running and the leak would show more readily

[ukdave2002]

The beauty of SU’s is their simplicity, they may not be the most efficient ; sticking a chunk of metal in the induction path sort of doesn’t seem right! Problems are generally easy to diagnose and fix. Setting other carbs up can be trickier, with their acceleration pumps and secondary barrels.

If you want to go down the EFI route, Megasquirt seems to be way to go, lots of forum support, I recall PC did it to an A40 and by all accounts it worked well. One day I want to put EFI on a Morris 8....just for a bit of fun!

Dave

[clan chieftain]

Peter. After reading the article on the Jag I went out and checked my float. There was lateral movement so I gave it a wee tweak. I will give it a run later, but thanks to everyone who gave advice.
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The Clan Chieftain

[peter scott]

Hi Larry,

I think they definitely are fixable as Alastair suggests in his article. I used to have this problem too but I can't remember the last time now. I have also had it as Dave describes due to distortion of the lid but I think this is more of a problem with the domed lids.

Peter
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https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[clan chieftain]

To be on the safe side I will carry a spare lid with a new needle and seat just in case.
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The Clan Chieftain