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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - 1500 Oddities

Any 1500 officionados out there?

Having had a closer look at my 1979 model, the fuel line from the tank is routed up the r/h side of the transmission where it then passes in the form of a rubber hose between the back of the engine block and the heater box to feed the pump from where it passes back past the block again to the carbs. this is a very cramped arrangement (inline fuel filter also fitted)and both feed and return pipes are secured through a grommet attached to a bracket mounted on one of the rear cyl. head studs.

On the other hand my 1976 model has a much simpler arrangement with the fuel line routed along the l/h side of the transmission directly to the pump from where it goes between the block and heater box to the carbs.

The strange thing is, the distance between cyl. head and heater box is much less on the 79 car than the 76, to the point that the hoses to the heater circuit are so acutely bent that the water flow is impeded.

Is one or other of these layouts a bodge? (or a 'lash-up' in cornish)

Dave
Penwithian

On my US spec '79 1500 the metal fuel line runs up the right side of the tranny, to a length of rubber hose, to a short piece of pipe over the bellhousing and attached to the top bolt, to a short length of rubber hose to the fuel pump. I have since routed all rubber hose, with inline filter, from the pump 'round back of the battery to the carbs (twin SUs). It originally had a pipe from the pump to the carbs behind the engine like yours.

I have exactly 3.5 inches between the back of the valve cover to the heater box. I wonder if you don't have bad motor mounts on the '79.

Lee
(bodged to prevent vapor lock)
L Fox

The fuel line should be on the right-side / driver-side of the tunnel.
It is tight behind the block but not that tight you can't get your hand in.
As Lee suggests, maybe the engine or gearbox mounts are on the way out.
If the gearbox mount is shot then the gearbox tail will drop and close the gap at the back of the head.
Bob T

Thanks Lee & Bob,

Problem partially solved.

The difference between the two cars boils down to the position of the heater box. On the 79 car the back of the heater box is 8.75" away from the bulkhead. the 76 is 6.5" away. Therefore the 79 car has a mere 2 inches clearance between the heater box and the rear of the valve cover between which the fuel lines are run. This would account for there not being enough room for the heater hoses to enter the box with kinking.
I suppose is is possible that a previous owner has mounted the heater box farther forward to accommodate a larger battery. Who knows.

Dave
Penwithian

This thread was discussed between 09/07/2008 and 10/07/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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