Oversized carb

[59Elva]

This carb, I believe an HS4 was on my previous pickup with an upgraded 1098. Can anyone identify the manifold source?

[philthehill]

There will be a part number cast into the body of the manifold. Usually on the exhaust part.
Once we have that it should be reasonably easy to find the original source though that manifold was used on several BMC vehicles.
As a qualified guess I would suggest a Mini Metro as it has the stud in front of the carb damper body to secure the air cleaner body.

[59Elva]

Thanks Phil,
Regrettably I don’t have access to the old truck. It was totaled by the insurance company and towed away at the end of 2019. The setup worked well on the 1098. The new ‘59 pickup has a 1275 that I feel is strangled by the single HS2 with the joined exhaust manifold.
Im just exploring if there is any alternative to twin HS2’s such as a single HS4 or 6. In any case fitting a Migdget exhaust manifold would entail fabricating a custom exhaust pipe and muffler (silencer). Parts availability is limited on this side of the pond.
Bill B

[philthehill]

The 1275cc should have as a minimum a 1.5" carb though the 1500cc BMC cars managed with a 1.25" carb.
I would try and find a Metro or later Mini manifold as they had the 1.5" carb and the manifold lines up with the Minor exhaust.
The 1275cc Marina manifold is better but few and far between where you are.

[jaekl]

In the States the most likely source was an Austin America (Austin 1300). A MG 1100 could be possible. The transverse manifolds are compatible with RWD cars which required an offset in the exhaust pipe even though the FWD saloons was the majority of production. However, the low volume Midget eventually had a unique manifold with as better connection and elimination of the forward curve of the exhaust pipe.

[philthehill]

The later 'A' Series engine fitted for the American and Canadian markets had just a single SU carb and a extensive fuel and vaporisation antipollution system which reduced the engine power considerably. The environmental and antipollution system helped along the demise of the MG Midget/Sprite in the Americas. Fitting the 1500cc Triumph engine came too late and left the car not being a MG/Sprite in the true sense of the marque(s). I get the sense that Americans felt robbed of the MG/Healy heritage.
The single carb inlet/exhaust looks as if it will fit.

[59Elva]

I have a spare Dellorto DHLA45 from my Lotus Elite project. A manifold would be straightforward. A couple tapered funnels to take 45 down to 32mm. Might take some fiddling to work out the jet combination.

[59Elva]

The story I heard was that BL didn’t like MG mowog. When they consolidated they pushed out MG in favour of Triumph. Hence we got the TR7 instead of the updated MGB. A bad decision for US sales since MG always outsold Triumphs. I have an inactive Bugeye project and had a ‘69 Sprite that was a year round daily driver for years until rust started taking over the repairs I had made. Loved the car but it sometimes intimidating to drive in traffic on the interstates. Appeared to be invisible to some drivers.

[jaekl]

All A Series Midgets for North America had dual carbs. The air pump feeding the exhaust on a closing throttle was used on all A Series vehicles in 1967 or 68. Late in 1974 the 1500 was chosen to comply with the current emissions requirements and lead free fuel because the effort to comply would be shared with the Spitfire. The FWD models were done and the Marina was only sold with the B Series engine.