As far as I knew later model Rover Minis had HIF38s and HIF44s as standard fitment. I have just fixed up an HIF4 carburettor (off an MGB) onto a Mini Spares inlet manifold running a Ramflo air filter and it won't fit! The air filter clearance is fine but the actual float bowl hits the firewall. I've got it all bolted up and basically there is no clearance between the carb and the bulkhead. Unfortunately it hits just above the crossmember and I don't know that some persuasion with a BFH is going to work.

An HIF4 is basically the same overall as an HIF38 with a few minor difference but none that should cause it to hit. Has anybody else had a similar problem? I'm beginning to wonder if it's the manifold, although it is supposed to suit all Minis.

What size spacer do you have? On my HIF6 on Minispares manifold I could not use the thick standard spacer. I ended up getting a 6mm spacer that has a vaccuum port in it from minispares. I assume they do them in 1.5 inch as well.

I have a HIF44 on my 1310 mounted on the pommie manifold with hot water pipes. I have no clearance problems with that.

Incidently, I have the heater hoses plumbed through it. I have a little tap where the outlet comes out of the head and i actually use it on those cold frosty frosty frosty country mornings when carbies do ice up.

I'm running without the spacer at all. I've thought maybe that's the problem, since I assume the spacer will move the carby back but also up. But I think it wouldn't move it up much but would move it back heaps so I'm not sure if it would help. So far I've managed to get about 2 - 3mm of clearance with a hammer but I don't think I'll get much more than that.

Just undo the nuts and slide the carbie back on the studs to see what diiference a spacer would make. I'm pretty sure the spacer takes it back and up a little.