MG T-ABC

Context: 36 TA with XPAG engine and TA Brass Carbs. Carb pistons have a dish cut in the bottom approx 1/8" deep--with an 1/8" rim around the edge. Carb bodies have a thin piece of sheet metal riveted across the bridge with a suitbale hole for jet/needle. I acquired the carbs seperate from the car fitted to an XPAG manifiold with FS needles. Both FS and ES needles seem to run rich under any circumstances. Amoung other thinhgs, I wonder where to fit the needles in the pistons-- should the needle shoulder be flush with the piston recess bottom-- or perhaps the piston edge? Joe Cuto says he has seen this before and his solution is to cut and fill and return carbs to a more conventional configuration. Any alternatives, advice/expereince/ tuning tips would be appreciated. Ken
kencarolpalmer@sbcglobal.net

Hi Ken, that's an odd one. Sounds like someone may have tried to get rid of the dish by covering it with a flat surface. Problem is, i the needle is flush with the bottom edge of the piston itself, then it will never seat fully into the jet which would cause a rich condition. If there is enough travel to do it, I would try lowering the needle until it's flush with the cover and see if that fixes it. I'm betting it will make a big improvement in the mixture. But that's just my guess, never having seen this before!