Burlen will produce swinging needles with 'fixed needle profiles' for the HIF44 to be used with the 1185 build.  They seem very responsive to customers.

hi i am also in process of converting a HIF44 so fixed needle. i ave bought the fixed needle sleeve from fron berlen systems which is fine but now have an issue where i cannot centre the needle properly. on the HS design meant for fixed needle the jet sleeve moves around in the body so can centre the needle and then losck the jet in the correct alignment. on the HIF the jet sleeve is the same diameter as the body which stops you centering the jet. the obvious answer is to remove the sleev and turn the dimeter down a bit but i just wondered if anyone else had experienced this

 

UPDATE:  Works a treat! 

Yeah, you bet; better 0.090" needle selection, it's also easier to quickly modify a needle if you don't have the spring platform to contend with (place in a drill chuck on low-speed (I use a strip of 420, then 800 and finish polishing with 2000 wet/dry) and minutes later, back in the car).  It's also not necessary to center the jet as one would with HS series carbs.  Reduced jet wear is also a consideration. 

The AUD 4253 22mm needle lock screw is nice, but the head needs trimming down and re-slotting, so after repeated calls to Berlen Fuel Systems, I lucked upon the AUC 2057 needle lock screw which, although shorter in overall length as it's also suitable for HS2 pistons, works just fine. 

So, all my HIF38's are sporting double ignition vacuum take-off nipples (choose between Ported vacuum or Manifold vacuum for ignition advance) and I've got a pair fitted with fixed needles, one with AAM and another with AAA (modified). 

Just need to sell some of the other carbs now; have a few HS4's, an extra low-mileage 'Metro' HIF38 (has all new seals & float valve assembly, ultrasonic cleaned & no wear or play on throttle shaft - no need to re-bush/replace it), an HIF44, a pair of HS2's with air-cleaner (my old ones, re-bought, though the guy I bought them back from painted the metal air-cleaner housing Tahiti Blue) yet still to rebuild.  I might modify these, though, to get a little more air-flow and put them on the car.  Dunno yet, there's something sexy about twins.

It's always fun to try something different. I spent many years running Sus then went over to Weber for a very long time. By the time I got back the HIF was out and I have used them with good results. Just like the small section tackle boxes I keep a very large Weber jet selection in I have a box with fixed and one for floating needles. For awhile I was ordering $50 in needles each week from Joe. If you have looked even later HS SUs have floating needles. I do keep a set of fixed and floating 1 1/4" pistons with my engine test stand. I don't know that I'd go to the trouble to convert my HIFs. I have a couple of sets of MGB HIF 38s I'd like to rebuild for a twin 38 mm system. Let us know how this pans out. 

I recently spent a lot of time working a single 1 1/4 SU according to Vizard. Pepping up an 850 but still wanted the correct intake and air cleaner. I ask around as to which needle people were using in 1 1/2 SUs on 998s. Once I got it running on test stand I found the popular 998 / 1 1/2 SU needle was very close on the O2 gauge once jet tube was adjusted. I was able to get the intake and carb to flow very well. As soon as the air cleaner was added the O2 richened and jet needed adjustment. Don't have a flow bench but it would be cool to see what can be done.  

OT, I have a Rover V8 HIF44 brand new. I ask a customer about a new carb for his project and he picked this up off Ebay. If anyone needs such an animal I'd trade for a mini / metro HIF 44 or cash. If not I'll send it to Joe for needle credit. I'd also like to find a couple of HIF 44s needing rebuild. Pay pal at the ready. Thanks. Steve (CTR)

I commend your optimism but we are talking of HIF's which were introduced in the late 70's in BL's glory days.

Why the change to fixed needles ? Maybe a better selection for tuning ?

Possibly, haven't installed it yet.  The carbs are sitting on the workbench - Hyacinth called and let me know that it was dinner time, so I barely had time to modify the screws.  I'm optomistic, however, that the design of the HIF jet is so superior to the HS that it won't need centering. 

Good information. I am sure you realize that you have to center the jet as well.

I'm converting to fixed needles in my HIF carbs. 

Berlen Fuel Systems has a steel fixed needle adapter (ABF 193) which takes the place of the usual (JZX 1039) needle guide and I've had a couple of them in my 'someday' box of carb spares for several years. 

What the Berlen website doesn't tell you is that should you try to fit this into the carb piston, the standard HIF38 18mm needle lock screw (AUD 4252) is too short to engage the needle.  So, I phoned Berlen and found out that they have another needle lock screw, 22mm long (AUD 4253) which has a slightly longer tip and engages the base of the needle nicely.  The drawback is that the 22mm screw also has a taller 'head', but is marked in stages for cutting.  If one doesn't trim the head down, it sits proud of the piston diameter and won't fit the carb body.  So, I cut the head down and ground a new screwdriver slot across the top and I look forward to seeing how it works.  Just think - no more running the risk of losing a spring in the dark at roadside, and reduced jet wear.  Just tap the needle from the tophat and good to go...

Joe Curto has a similar device (WZX 2003/2004), and his is complete; screw and piston adapter.