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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - K&N air filters for the 1500

Is anyone using these K&N filters on the 1500 engine ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323783972373?ul_noapp=true

The one piece K&N filters are no longer made for the 1500, so I was wondering if these are a worthy upgrade ?

I'm currently running some generic pancake filters which are quite thin and probably a bit restrictive.

Eventually I would be looking to change out the standard exhaust manifold and exhaust for something better too. At that point I understand that the carb needles will need changing as well..?
C MADGE

Chris,
can only help with general comments.

I don't know but I'd guess just by themselves the K&N filters won't make much difference over a good clean standard set up, they might make a difference over restrictive filters though of course.

The K&N start red but soon go to that grey in your example with use, which is fine. You could also add the fourth dome nut for that concours look (M6 if its the same as mine).

You can put too much of the red oil on them after cleaning (guess how I know) and this will restrict air flow.

Stub stacks seem to be recommended for use with the K&N filters as are different needles.

If you have it, you could for little cost add the pipes to get cold air to the filter case and perhaps experiment with the standard paper filters and stub stacks.

Could you perhaps alter your present filters to take deeper paper filters, clean paper filters can be good and inexpensive to try out.

If you've got those thin-depth, mesh and foam pancakes filters then they do tend to be restrictive, you can perhaps tell by the difference in sound and settings to when they're fitted and not (all filters will give some restriction).

Something to consider perhaps, especially when combined with exhaust, is the induction and exhaust sound difference between the closed factory filters system with standard exhaust (manifold and double rear box) and the more open K&N with stub stacks and different exhaust manifold. Not much gain on the road or gauges and paper print-outs but might feel better because it sounds better, these cars are all about how they feel or make you feel.
Nigel Atkins

The 1500 runs quite high engine temps and that is probably why the factory ducted air into the original air filter from about '76 giving a sort of ram ambient/cold air supply.
The higher engine temps is why I ran an oil cooler when we had a 1500.

Thin pancakes are not usually very good at filtering or flowing air, K&N's flow better and filter well, the addition of a short internal stub stack is noted as improving flow.

I think Moss list suggested needles for various mods.
richard b

I'm using the cheap and shiny after market pancake filters with the wire mesh and foam, so anything is probably going to be an improvement.


I think i will put a bid in....
C MADGE

I have them on mine fitted them about 3 months ago they seem ok dont know if they make any power improvement just a slightly different engine noise
mark heyworth

Mark, you do have to set the carbs up for them and possibly change the needles you have, best results after a full service on the whole car.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 29/04/2019 and 30/04/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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