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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - HIF Inlet manifold-which type

had a look at the search feature but couldn't find anything on which manifold to go for on a single HIF set up. I am aware clearance is the issue, so anyone got a pointer on this ?
P Bentley

Search for "Titan" ;-)
Dean Smith ('73 RWA)

just seen a maniflow one on their respective website. . looks very industrial ! will search for a Titan cheers
P Bentley

hi P Bentley I have a Oselli Torque master for the
Hif44 to fit. I think the mg metro manifold
is used as well.
PETE
P C Knightley

Titan is the one to go for BUT beware - there are two types. The one for a mini is angled upwards and can foul the bonnet. The one for a midget is at less of an angle. The angle is also an issue with the MG Metro as it is angled like a mini one. Sometimes these will fit but usually they have clearance problems. Those capable of doing so can machine the face of the mini manifolds to alter the angle.

I have a Titan manifold. I've no idea which variant. However it has enough clearance provided I use (Chinese?) engine mounts which are lower than the original mounts. I know this as after years of successful operation, I rebuilt my engine and used OE Rover mounts. They raised the engine at least 1/2 inch and I got a ding in my nice perfect (up to then) bonnet. I went back to cheap engine mounts and clearance was restored. This probably means that I got away with a mini manifold.

Chris
Chris Hasluck

My Titan manifold has never given me any clearance problems with an HIF44. I therefore presume it is the correct Spridget, not mini, one
Guy W

Bernie had his inlet manifold face wedged about 2mm thinner at the bottom.

Are you there Bernie?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Here's my Maniflow. Can be ordered with or without servo take-off. Fit is spot on. No clearance problems. Made to order within a couple of days. I've just received an exhaust manifold as well. Again made to order. I had two lambda probe threads put in. The chaps are very helpful.
Mark


M Crossley

Hi Mark
If I may be so rude as to enquire, how much does a Maniflow inlet manifold cost?
Chris Hasluck

Chris is the man! Heed such wise words. Test with a piece of blu tack atop the carb top first and do not under any circumstances slam the bonnet. Any machine shop will machine the inlet face for a few pieces of silver - or a pint.

Tip on fleabay is to also type in HIF44 and see what you get. Manifolds appear also. Titans are rare and pricey and there are alternatives such as the Metro.
Mark O

Maniflow was about £140 six months ago.
Previously I'd tried a Metro item that I milled at an angle, but I wasn't happy with the amount of metal left by the time I'd found enough room under the bonnet.
I'd also tried an aftermarket cast manifold supposedly for a Midget, which almost had enough clearance, but not quite.
I aquired a low level damper rod that would just about have worked in combination with the aftermaket manifold. The damper rod restricted carb piston travel though, and I would have had to muck about with the carb internals to recover the full lift.
I'm finally organised to swap my tired standard engine for the tweaked one I've been building this weekend. I shall then hopefully see the benefit of the ancilliaries.

Mark C
M Crossley

Sorry I'm late Rob. Yes, I had my Minisport manifold machined. The shop shaved off a champher from the face of zero at the top to 2mm at the bottom to make it "lean back" sufficiently to clear the bonnet. I also removed a little material from the damper cap.

Bernie.
b higginson

Cheers guys. . .I checked the Maniflow web site and its still £140 for the manifold. . .looks like it could survive WW3 but I seem to recall Vizard doing a test somewhere and this unit performs well. . .so that's going to be my choice.
P Bentley

140 quid! Wow!.....guess I got lucky with a tenner off fleabay - albeit a modded Metro. Still on after a year - still works....
Mark O

M Crossley.... I expect you thought of this but if you have a Mill couldn't you have made up spacers that reversed the angle instead of machining the manifold itself.
P Bentley

Hi P,

Yes, I'd considered that sort of idea. In fact I think Laurence documented the process with pics not so long ago.

I had several reasons for buying something ready made.
I was looking for an excuse to buy the Maniflow because it was the style recommended for good performance in the Vizard book.

There was a problem with clearance between the bottom of the cast manifold and the centre branch of the LCB. I wanted to replace the ex manifold so it made sense to go for kit from the same place.
I'm also hopeless at finishing projects. So sometimes, if i'm on a roll, I try to keep up momentum, and the Maniflow allowed me to move on to another task.
After talking to the Maniflow chaps, I was happy that the inlet would just fit straight out of the box. That way the car wasn't off the road for ages whilst I bugg**ed about in the garage or sulked in the supermarket.

So, in theory,I probably could have made my Metro manifold fit for zero cost. In practice my car would be in bits for trial fitting of a manifold I hadn't yet got round to fettling! A mans got to know his limitations ;))


Mark
M Crossley

follow you Mark. . . I like your 'get it done' approach. .I was just curious, and sometimes as you say your own time has a value too that needs consideration.
P Bentley

If you want a Titan try Paul Wildgoose on Ebay. He rebuilds HIF and seems to have the odd Titan.
I have just fitted a Titan with an HIF44 with shorter dashpot (of a V8 Rover I believe) and I have about an inch clearance.
At the time he had a Mangoletsi which looked as though it would do the job but whewn we comparted them it was about 15 deg steeper.

You will also need to bend your throttle pedal arm as the standard pedal doesn't have enough throw to open the butterfly fully.

G Williams

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2014 and 01/05/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.