Your comments take me back to my "hot rodding" days. Back to basics. It takes spark and fuel to make the engine run. You mentioned that it did not run with starting fluid. If you have spark and spray starting fluid down the throat of the carburetor, it will run. If it doesn't, you have an electrical/timing problem. Once it fires with starting fluid, full choke (or "hand choke") should pull a lot of fuel through the carburetors if the fuel pump/float valve is filling the bowls. It is not rocket science, getting an engine to run is a sequential process of verifying the ignition works correctly first, then getting the fuel delivery system to work second.

You should be able to get this engine to run without buying new carburetors. After it runs, then make a reasoned decision. (I chose Webbers for my 190SL).

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Jim Villers
190SL, 230SL 5-speed, 95 E320 Wagon, 01 E320 Wagon, MGB, Boxster 'S', 190SL "Barn Find"