8 replies to this topic

[paul6266]

Model: City E now a 998
Year:1987
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible):
not really a problem but i have just finished rebuilding a engine for my retro city and I have std flat top pistons with a stock 12g202 cyl head on it with a magnetronic dizzy and bp56es plugs in it (no that that makes much differance) now I have a set of twin hs2 to go on here which i want to use as im fed up with just one carb (i like a challenge) now at work today i stripped them down to find out what needles i have with the intention of finding out wha ones are right.....

however....these needles only have a number 4 stamped on them? does this make any sence to anyone? not sure on what I should have or if these will be ok for that matter?

by the way the car does have well kind a stage one kit fitted....well a cooper freeflow and a playmini backsetion with only one box.....

so can anybody help me out if these are the right needles?

please no silly replies like put it on a rolling road to find out as to be honest i dont really see the need for them as last time t just wasted 2 hours of my day and the car was worse....perks of being a mechanic i sorted it myself in the end...hence this


cheers guys and gals


Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem?

[tommy13]

There is a needle number 4 which appears to be quite rich. The model search facility seems to have been down all christmas on the SU site. I currently have 2 sets of twins from an MG 1100 and 1300 with needles EB and GY. You can compare the profiles of all these on the Minty SU needle comparison site here,
http://www.mintylamb.co.uk/suneedle/

I have a listing for '64 998 cooper needles
Rich, M Standard GY, Lean GG, Blue springs

[Sir Cheat]

Try them.. Could try needle no.3 or M..Mine had GY fitted.

As tommy said.

Edited by Sir Cheat, 03 January 2011 - 08:01 PM.

[paul6266]

so are we saying that these will be far too rich for this application? surely its better to be too rich than not rich enough? yes? or am i totally going up the wrong tree here as i can only but assume i can lean it down on the mixture nut?

[Sir Cheat]

I would buy some M needles are try that

[tommy13]

You can only look at what is listed for same size engines with similar compression ratios and valve sizes. I think needle 4 will be far too rich and if you put several options on the comparison graph then GY looks middle of the road, a reasonable place to start.

[bmcecosse]

Are you sure these SUs and the manifold are for a Mini ? Sounds like they came off a Spridget. #4 is indeed a needle but whether it's suitable will be apparent after a road test. You are dead right about the rolling road.......mostly a complete waste of time/money.

[paul6266]

i am led to belive that they come from a mini, they guy i got them off said they were working on a mini but im only going on his word

[tommy13]

bmcecosse has a good point. I have found a listing for a no 4 needle as being the rich option for a 2639cc Austin healey 100.
If the manifold is correct for a mini it should have a 30 degree angle between the carb mount faces and the manifold to head face. Spridgets were 20 degrees I think. If the manifold is wrong then the float chambers will be at the wrong angle and will need a different notched locating washer which fits between float chamber and carb body if you find the correct manifold.