Jeff:

Please note that the carburetor tuning is done with engine at normal operating temperature. The choke mechanism should make all temporary idle and fuel mixture adjustments during cold start and warm up.

Helpful SU tuning pages:

SU Tuning by R Garnett
http://www.mgbexperience.com/service/su-tune.php

SU Tuning with Phil Singher
http://www.vclassics.com/archive/stoichio.htm

Both links stress the importance of tuning up the rest of the engine before messing with carbs. Ignore them and you will likely be disappointed. Guess how I know?

Plugs, points, distributor cap, rotor, and ignition wires are fairly cheap. Setting point gap, valve lash are available for the price of a set of feeler gauges. Timing can be done statically if you don't have a timing gun nearby.

Your wife is quite a good sport for "testing" your mechanical skills on a 40 year old vehicle. You're one lucky guy.

Happy motoring,

Joe M in WV