MG Car Repair: 1952 MGTD, spark plug leads, correct positions

Question
My car is running on two cylinders--3rd & 4th cylinders are not getting any fuel to the spark plug. Both fuel bowls are full of fuel. This car has not been started for about a year and half. Please advise on possible problem. The car was made for U.S.A. Thanks for any help you can give me, it will be greatly appreciated.......Danny

Answer
Good Morning, Danny.  If your TD has fuel in both float chambers, but cylinders 3 & 4 are not firing, then I would have suspected an ignition problem rather than carburation.  

Check that the spark plug leads are in the correct positions.  Counting ANTIclockwise, starting with the plug nearest to the front of the engine, the firing order is 1,3,4,2.  My initial guess is that numbers 3 and 4 have been reversed.

You should also check for a spark at cylinder #4 by removing the plug lead and holding it about 1mm above a cylinder head stud.  Get a friend to start the engine and look for a spark.

After 18 months the fuel could be stale.  Try cleaning out both float chambers and filling them with fresh fuel from a can.  If the engine now starts OK, then you will have to drain all the fuel from the tank.  There is a large brass drain plug on the base of the fuel tank.  Please dispose of the stale fuel with care.     

To check the carburetters, you will have to remove the air filter and the alloy breather manifold so that you can see inside the carburetter throats.  Does the piston inside the rear carb lift easily?  It could be stuck with varnish preventing cylinders 3 & 4 from running properly.  

Try all the above, and if you still have a problem, get back to me.