Well …. it is finally installed and running … mostly. It seems that a new SU jet needle is needed for finer tuning and Mark Weiner of Concours Cars is looking for it.
The car sure does have lots more “pep” and going up the Colorado hills will be much easier. …. and faster.
Issues with which we had to deal:
1. The SU choke linkage was wrong for the TD. The one sent was for a TC.
The leg that grabs/holds the cable was too long and interfered with the throttle linkage. …. preventing full throttle application.
This is the one that should have been supplied: (image supplied by Terry Peddicord)
We ended up cutting off the bottom of the leg and fabricating a new holder for the cable. It looks a little rough, but it works
2. When testing the car, the engine would die of fuel starvation. It turns out that the grose jet did not pass enough fuel. We had to install a standard SU viton tipped needle and seat.
3. The belt drive and tensioner bracket was bent and showed signs of being installed and uninstalled.
Also, we had to drill a new pivot hole higher up and offset to reposition the tensioner wheel. As it was, it would hit the lower radiator pipe and would not turn. ….and we had to elongate the bottom hole to make it fit the engine mount.
4. Bolt supplied with the K & N air filter protruded too far …. hitting the side of the SU and preventing a seal. The solution was to use a flat head bolt and create a dimple in the base to allow for enough clearance and a good seal to the carburetor.
…and an extra thick spacer gasket was also needed.
BTW: Soren & John did a great paint job on the octagon! I think all the superchargers ought to be sent out this way!
I don’t know how other people have faired with this kit, but without the help of Mark Weiner and his crew (especially Soren) at Concours Cars, I don’t think I could have done this job by myself.
The car is now full of 91 octane and ready to go up the mountains!
- Doug Davlin