Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

The 4A, 4AB, 4AC, 4AD cars, including the SM 1500 Roadster and SMX
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tufsinger
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Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:46 am
First Name: Thomas

Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by tufsinger »

All,

The 4AD is coming along. The brakes were a wreck and thanks to Petrol Motors in Van Nuys we were able to rebuild the MC, fix the rear rods, and make the proper adjustments; we have brakes again. He also fixed the steering.

The carb is a mess still, it leaks like a sieve and the car is running quite rich after much adjusting; need to get a replacement or rebuild it.

All appears to be original, but when I look at the carb, I see the following: LL55 B32 (illegible) 5 (picts attached)
20160302_141240.jpg
20160302_141231.jpg
Searches result in a Solex b32 pbi-5 for a 2.4l 6-cyl Jaguar.

All my research says the 4AD should have a Solex 30 FAIO

So,

Do I have the wrong carb?
Does it matter?
Am I reading the numbers wrong?
Which rebuild kit do I need?
If it is the wrong carb any leads on where to get a 30 FAIO?

Another issue is a potential crack in the manifold. Going to confirm and see if I can get it fixed. Unless someone has a lead on a solid manifold or perhaps a dual-carb manifold.

Any help and suggestions are greatly welcome.

-Thomas
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kabu
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Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by kabu »

Hi Thomas,

It does indeed look like you have a non-original carburettor in your car. Im my understanding all 4AD's were supplier with Solex 30FAI carburettor(s). Single and twin carb setups both have the same unit but there is slight difference in the jet sizes, here is a table showing the jet sizes on the 4AD Solex 30 FAI carburettor(s)
4AD jet sizes
4AD jet sizes
carb_settings.png (401.22 KiB) Viewed 2450 times
The Solex 32-B like in your pictures look somewhat similar to the 30FAI but there are clear differences also, the fuel in line comes from different direction

Here is one site with very good information about different Solex carburettors from the same era. It is for instance listing the jet sizes for the 32-B PBI-5 for the Jaguar 2.4 which you suspect your carb is.
http://www.oldengine.org/members/diesel ... exCarb.htm

The 30 FAI seems to be not that readily available as it was not used on very many cars, I think. If I remember correctly it was also used also on Triumph Mayflower and some Morgan models, both of which are not that common in the US (or elsewhere)

Here are some pictures of the 30 FAI and the twin carb setup on my 4AD.
http://www.guru-group.fi/~kabu/index.ph ... 1#category

Best Regards,
Pekka
4ADT Roadster, 1954 --- http://www.guru-group.fi/kabu/singer
tufsinger
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 2:46 am
First Name: Thomas

Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by tufsinger »

Pekka,

Thanks for the info. I did check out the oldengine.org site and they have great diagrams, but few specs on those particular models.

I agree, the 30FAIO is nearly impossible to find. I don't mind keeping the B32-pbi-5 and rebuilding it, as long at is can be used with this engine and not cause problems (too big, too small, too much air flow, wrong jets, etc.).

I'll pull it today and send it to the shop for a rebuild.

Will let you all know how it goes.

Thank you again!
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kabu
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Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by kabu »

Hi Thomas,

The 32-B carburettor may well work quite fine on the car, or have you found it to be problematic on something?

There seems to be now one 30 FAI carburettor in Ebay from the US, The condition looks quite complete and repairable, the ones that I have were not much better that that, maybe even worse as some of the cover threads were broken.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Solex-3 ... 1822673983

This UK company also seems to have a couple of 30 FAI's on sale (probably reconditioned already), if the carb list on their page is up to date and I read it correctly and they also stock repair kits and part for them.
http://www.carburettorspecialists.com/

Best Regards,
Pekka
4ADT Roadster, 1954 --- http://www.guru-group.fi/kabu/singer
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Mark Thompson
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Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by Mark Thompson »

I know that different manufacturers of carburetors use different standards, but does anybody know what standards the Solex is based on. I believe the jets are metric and a 125 jet means that it is 1.25mm orifice. Does anyone know if this is true? Has anyone drilled a 115 jet to make a 125 jet with success. I would think that you could drill and make a small differential change, but I would be leary of trying to convert say a 55 to a 115. Any experience or comments on this? It is difficult to find a source that has a proper set of jets for the Solex. I have several carburetors from multiple sources that have been "frankensteined" together to make a carburetor for my 4AD and two for my 4ADT. They work, but I have no idea what jets are in them and could probably benefit from an overhaul and the proper jets being installed.

Mark Thompson
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Peter McKercher
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Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by Peter McKercher »

Mark

All those jets are readily available . See my recent post at viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1181
Peter McKercher
Vice President - NASOC
Pre war Singer Specialist and Collector
Automotive Historian
Author of "Racing Roadsters"

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Mark Thompson
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Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by Mark Thompson »

I agree that the site has a lot of parts, but I couldn't find a Solex 30 FAI carburetor, rebuild kit or starter air jet #4.
Mark
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Peter McKercher
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Re: Carb Help - Rebuild, wrong carb?

Post by Peter McKercher »

I just picked up 2 # 4 starter jets from him. I couldn't find them either, but I emailed and asked him for them and he pointed out where to find them on the site. I don't know if he has the gaskets, but you might ask the question.
Peter McKercher
Vice President - NASOC
Pre war Singer Specialist and Collector
Automotive Historian
Author of "Racing Roadsters"

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