I have a 72' MGB with a mongrel engine - parts of a 69 / 72 / another (like originally an offset head with non-offset rocker pedestal - it was called spray lubrication of the rockers!)
The question is - was the 1800cc twin carb engine used in anything else such as a Riley or Wolseley? I've replaced the distributor, needles and set the timing but it doesn't like starting, the choke has little effect (seems to be weak), the exhast pipe looks black (rich). Balancing the carbs at tick-over runs weak in mid-range and rich above.
Fitting a Weber 45DCOE with standard MGB jets gave mid range very weak (almost undriveable) irrespective of timing
I seem to remember the old distributor (with badly broken lower body around the clamp) had an odd (non-MGB) advance number stamped on the fly weights. It didn't register at the time and got binned. It now has an MGB one.
I've come to the conclusion that the distributor / cam was from something else as max torque seems to be around 3,500/ 3,700 rpm .
I suspect that the cam is a slightly de-tuned one from something like a Riley/Wolseley saloon with slightly more mid-range.
Any ideas?
Mart