Maestro 1.6 'S' Tuning

[joeygee]

Hi,

Does anyone have any experience in tuning a 1.6 maestro? I'm about to remove the head to replace the head gasket & I also need to change the downpipe, so I was wondering if there were any mods I could carry out at the same time?

(I realise this may seem a bit strange since there are the MG versions, however my 1.6 is in v.good condition so it would be a shame to get rid of it)

Joe

[Captain Slow]

Use MG1600 bits perhaps; twin Weber setup?

[Russ]

Moto-build used to do all kinds of stuff, mainly for the R series I seem to remember. But as was said above MG1600 stuff is good and a decent exhaust and filters make them even better

[MG MAL]

Find a rotten 216 efi and pinch its bits?

Mild cleaning /fettling of the exhaust ports on the head, uprated needle for the carb and a free flow exhaust is probably the best you can do without spending oodles.

mal.

[Russ]

Apprently the inlet manifold/plenum chamber is too big to fit in the maestro as the 216 has its engine tilted forward. Whether the mainfold cud be cut and welded to fit I dont know. Would make a great conversion though if it could be done.
I had one cut and welded to fit an 820 manifold on my 16v O series

[joeygee]

do you know where I could get a free-flow exhaust & suitable needle for the carb? I'm also interested in the weber set up, is that fairly straight forward?

[Captain Slow]

Should be, it was standard fitment on the MG Maestro 1600 so should be 'bolt-on' so to speak...

[Austin-Rover]

I would say not to bother with a twin Weber set up. You might find it more trouble than it is worth in terms of keeping the carbs in tune and working well. You would likely lose a lot of your currently enjoyed reliability.

I think a company called Burlen Fuel Systems sells a lot of parts for the SU carbs, you might do well to look them up.

[Russ]

If the inlet side of the head is the same as an R series (anyone know if it is?) you could possibly fit twin SU's from a maxi or allegro

[Captain Slow]

I think a company called Burlen Fuel Systems sells a lot of parts for the SU carbs, you might do well to look them up.

Burlen manufacture the parts for all Su stuff IIRC, Su is now a Burlen trading name.

[threelitre]

I would say not to bother with a twin Weber set up. You might find it more trouble than it is worth in terms of keeping the carbs in tune and working well. You would likely lose a lot of your currently enjoyed reliability.

The only trouble with these I see is the hot starting problem (and leaking petrol now the pipework connecting them is getting old). Even SU carbs hardly ever get out of tune if no-one fiddles with them, Webers will do even less so, as there are no needles sliding up and down a jet... My MG 1600 has done 120000 and some miles with the previous owner and after getting the carbs set up properly by a specialised garage early on, they never needed to be touched again. It runs superb, very smooth and does not use too much petrol - hot starting can be a bit awkward though...

Regards,

Alexander

[joeygee]

Anyone know where I could get a suitable free flow exhaust made up & set it up on a rolling road?

I'm in north wales, denbighshire.

[E_T_V]

Balmuir garage near wrexham do stuff like that and have various needles etc if you are sticking with the single SU carburettor. I've had my cars dyno'd there in the past.
A local powerflow agent etc should be able to make you up a free flowing exhaust for it.

[guussi]

whense s/s zorst added...heat wrap the zorst manifold for more ponies and mPG
hotter gases are lighter and flow better!