05-09-2020, 10:40 AM
I suspect the carb is your problem, Duncan. The Reliant carb was jetted so as to be very frugal. If the buyer of a Reliant couldn't afford four wheels how was he supposed to afford petrol in the thing?
Seriously, it might be worth looking at the inlet manifold at the carb flange, there may be quite a restriction. When I had a Reliant OHV engine in a special it was poor with the Solex fitted. I put a downdraught Zenith on, it may have been from an Austin 8, and after that it went like a bomb and still did nudging 60mpg.
An SU is probably the best way to go.
I am sure your gearing will be okay, you just need a bit more grunt!
Seriously, it might be worth looking at the inlet manifold at the carb flange, there may be quite a restriction. When I had a Reliant OHV engine in a special it was poor with the Solex fitted. I put a downdraught Zenith on, it may have been from an Austin 8, and after that it went like a bomb and still did nudging 60mpg.
An SU is probably the best way to go.
I am sure your gearing will be okay, you just need a bit more grunt!