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Removing North American Market Emissions

Posted by lewdisbrow

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Removing North American Market Emissions #1
lewdisbrow lewis disbrow martinez, CA, USA 1968 MG MGC	Posted: June 05, 2012 01:26PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 23

Friends, I have a 68 C I've been slowly restoring here in California I'm still in the early rust repair stage...inner membranes and both outer sills. All is going well, I've been collecting needed parts from around the globe and, most often, from our patron saint, Robert Kirk. A recent posting about overheating led to Mark's reminder that timing will be different for emission controlled engines than non-emission controlled. That got me thinking.

While pulling the motor and sending out for complete rebuild is down the road, I want to be prepared. Here's my question: Since I intend to rebuild my originally emission controlled engine as a non-emmision controled engine (except for the PCV return system, what can I expect? I assume I can plug the threaded emission ports on the head, but is there more? Anyone done this who might be willing to share the experience?

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #2
triplec Russ Williams Pioneer, California, USA 1966 MG MGB "Bridget" 1969 MG MGC GT	Posted: June 05, 2012 03:49PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 223

Lewis
I have a 69 MGC, no smog, triple carbs. Of course the smog ports in the head are plugged. I use a PVC valve and that's it for smog. I sent my Distributor to Jeff Schmeler to be redone. I run 14 Degrees for timing, burning premium fuel. I average in the mid 20's for mileage on the open road. I had my radiator redone in Placerville with a 4 row high efficiency core. I run 175 to 185 for temp. on the road. Maybe Gary ( another California MGC owner can chime in)

Russ

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #3
lewdisbrow lewis disbrow martinez, CA, USA 1968 MG MGC	Posted: June 05, 2012 09:03PM Registered: 2 years ago Posts: 23

Russ, Thank you for your kind response. I will copy and save your information for when I'm ready to take on the motor rebuild and drive train.

Meanwhile, since I know emission removal is a topic of concern, interest, and emotion, I might add that my '68 was bought as a project car. Many significant items of original equipment were already missing, including all emission equipment. I agree with the member who suggested that enjoying our cars "responsibly" (relative to minimizing emission pollutants) is an issue we all should take seriously, and I do.

While I'm building my C as a fun driver, I'm interested in maintaining the integrity of the original equipment when possible. Please know that I am open to members' suggestions about obtaining, installing, setting up, and maintaining original emission controls, as well as suggestions on the alternative...how to rebuild and set up the original engine to be as clean running as possible. Your comments, Russ, suggest that perhaps I'm not alone in this effort. Again, thanks.

Lew

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #4
windjammerusn40 Bill McCord East Peoria, Illinois, USA 1968 MG MGC GT	Posted: June 06, 2012 11:01AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 230

If you do remove the pump I would like the brackets and hardware, but not the pump. PM Me if that is possible. Bill

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #5
Big6Mark Mark Miller Springfield, OR, USA 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 1968 MG MGC "Red Tail" 1968 MG MGC 1968 MG MGC GT "The Wreck" 1969 MG MGC GT "The Lump"	Posted: June 06, 2012 07:26PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,220

With the increasing rarity of the gulp valves and the check valves it is getting harder and harder to maintain the original emmissions systems. The air pumps are more common and rebuilt units can be found, but that is only part of the system.

One can always just retain all the parts, gut the air pump, but leave the pulley and inner shaft, and plug everything if you want it to look like it is all there, even if it no longer does the job. Probably easier just to remove what doesn't work.

On the '68 you should retain the PCV and the crankcase venting into the manifold. Without that the mixtures might run a bit too rich.

Otherwise plug the air injector ports with soft lead plugs and cap with threaded plugs or bolts. They are close enough to US pipe threads that pipe threaded plugs will work. Just don't torque them in too tight, rely on the lead plugs and thread sealer.

Remove the air pump, air manifolds and the gulp valve and cap or plug the gulp valve connections in the intake manifold.

Then work on improving the engine efficiency to reduce the emissions and increase the fun!

C Ya,
Mark

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #6
windjammerusn40 Bill McCord East Peoria, Illinois, USA 1968 MG MGC GT	Posted: June 08, 2012 06:40PM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 230

Mine doesn't have the pump, or a North American Spec Engine. It has all of the mounting points and all of the basic engine accessories are North American but the engine is a 'Home Market' engine. 29G not 29GA. I didn't think the 68's had the pump, just the 69's!

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #7
Big6Mark Mark Miller Springfield, OR, USA 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 1968 MG MGC "Red Tail" 1968 MG MGC 1968 MG MGC GT "The Wreck" 1969 MG MGC GT "The Lump"	Posted: June 08, 2012 10:42PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,220

You might have an early Canadian Market car.

Until August 1968 the Canadian cars were closer to the European Market cars and had the standard motor without the air pump.

After Car Number 3417 (GT) the Canadian cars were the same as the US cars and were collectively termed "North American" cars.

But unless your car was made for Canadian sale, with the metal dash and single circuit brakes it should have had the air pump.

C Ya,
Mark

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #8
windjammerusn40 Bill McCord East Peoria, Illinois, USA 1968 MG MGC GT	Posted: June 09, 2012 11:18AM Registered: 4 years ago Posts: 230

Mark,

I guess that is a possibility but the Heritage cert says not the original engine.

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Re: Removing North American Market Emissions #9
Big6Mark Mark Miller Springfield, OR, USA 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 1968 MG MGC "Red Tail" 1968 MG MGC 1968 MG MGC GT "The Wreck" 1969 MG MGC GT "The Lump"	Posted: June 09, 2012 12:10PM Registered: 5 years ago Posts: 1,220

Bill:

I should have looked at your Car Number first, but it is a US Market car so should have had the air pump and full emissions when built. If the engine was swapped out then there's no telling what is in there now. Is it a 29G Engine Number or a 29GA?

The 29GA engine would have had the cylinder head with the emissions ports for the air injectors to the exhaust ports and the 29G head would not. A 29GA block with a head that doesn't have the air ports would have been built from two different engines.

Did you get my P.M.? I have a spare set of pump brackets if you need them.

C Ya,
Mark

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