update,
last night i took out the carb.. adjusted the floats, took apart the autochoke and readjusted it. changed the needle and reinstalled the air piston cleaned everything up in the process and reinstalled the carb. I also took out the spark plugs...again, and cleaned them up (they weren't too bad this time.) I should have all day saturday to tinker with it some more.
joel
1976 MGB with a 1977 engine