Carbs need re set........help

[MaryJane]

Hi Folks.
If someone can help with this problem i will be eternally grateful.
Car Details =Rover P5B V8 3.5 Twin CARB year 1971 Automatic.
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The car runs very well in general and is a joy to drive BUTit is running a bit rich or overcompensating or something like that ??
MJ = not a car techie as such lol.
The problem is most noticable after a few miles of driving ,when one comes to a give way area it then decides to conk out arrrggghhhhh . Embarrassing to say the least.
I think the CRABS need re setting but no one locally will do this as they don't have the equipment, my ususal garage says they will could do it by ear but then it's not known whether that will be a great success. I have to take the car out on a 40 mile rally in about 12 days time and NEED it sorted out before then.
So therefore my question is........
Do you know of anyone in the Lowestoft Suffolk area who would do this and also give the engine a general steam clean up to make it look ultra clean.

Thank you ,
MaryJane ...........in Sunny Suffolk.

[Bertie]

Come on chaps, can someone help Mary Jane with an engine tune before the rally.
Me, I'm up in Derbyshire, sorry.

[David]

Mary Jane, does you car have an AED (Automatic Enrichment Device or commonly known as an automatic choke!?). if so then this could be the cause as they are probably the most problematic thing about the P5B - the symptons you state sound very familair.

You have two options - fit a manual choke conversion kit to your AED - it fits on top of the system, using cams to manually adjust. Tried this and it worked well but the seals on the AED eventually perished.

or

Take out the AED completely and fit a full manual choke - available from JR Wadhams. This is the route I have taken.

Also I woudl recomment electronic ignition - Luminition is good.

After this the car should start easier, run smoother and give better mpg.

HTH

[Smallfry]

I would look at it for you, but unfortunately I am down in Kent.

[Phil Nottingham]

A good mechanic should be able to set the carbs by ear - its really not that difficult but you can get cheap tool.

If it has an AED that is likely to be the problem

[MAryJane]

Hi folks and thank you for all your advice.
Thank you also Bertie for the gee-ing up sesh lol.
Yes it has auto choke. Normally the car starts well and sounds beautiful , but after driving it for a about 7 or 8 miles it seems to want to do a lot more than just poodle along but I don't feel inclined to thrash the poor old gal as to be honest these cars to me are to drive leisurely for enjoyment and not to do a ton up along the high street.(50mpg is max for me on our local roads in this old car) When it comes to my other car well thats another story lol.
Methinks maybe a car mechanics course is on the cards after I have finished all my IT and computer courses.

It was very kind of you all to reply and try to help and again .........a big thank you, I shall print out the relevant advice and keep it for reference.

Tom and Dave , I don't feel that changing the auto choke to a manual would be the done thing as the car was built as is and to me it would be a shame to, if you will excuse the term "bastardise" the original form. ALL I want to be able to do is take the old gal out from time to time and to a few rallies and car shows in summertime. It doesn't get driven very much to be honest as work and life tend to get in the way of leisurely driving LOL Oh to be in the land of retired-dom but alas that is a few years away yet !!!

What a shame Smallfry lives that wee bit tooooo far away

ah well My usual mechanic will have to have it for a day or two to do it at his leisure so lets hope the old gal is in good form on Sunday 21st.

Take care all and remember.......

Be kind to pigeons.............you may come back as a statue !!!

MaryJane...........on a wet Sunday in Suffolk.

[Phil Nottingham]

:)It should be realised that Rover fitted a manual "Cold start" to the first P5B's and had to admit defeat with the later Automatic Enrichment Devices (AED) and offer a factory approved manual conversion in early 1974 so poor was the reliablilty of these. The main problem was over rich mixture when the engine was partially warm after restarting - this over rich mixture is absolutley terrible for advanced engine wear and dilution of lubricating oils.

Most P5 owners original or 50th have by now have removed the offending devices so there is no need to worry about originality especially as Rover Service depot and factory fitted them rather than fix the old AED.

;)Whlist these cars will give a leisurely drive they were meant to be the GT's of their day and can and even enjoy being driven hard

PS especially if its a Coupe

[MaryJane]

I see your point and your reasoning Phil and thank you for that. I agree about the rich mixture as she was running a bit rich too but now the car has been fixed and i have taken her for a few good long runs and to a few rallys and had great fun with it and hey yes it does go well when trying to do a high speed run, brilliant !!!
MJ