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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Oil filter configurations

I have two sets of oil filter system parts. They are both for paper filters. One holds the filter canister vertically. The other filter housing has a shorter base and a double ended piece to connect to the block which cants the housing over at an angle. It's purolator filter.I

I think the set to use is the angled version, the other belongs in a standard Morris Minor installation. Is this right?

Secondly, my other Spridgets have all used the later spin on oil filters. Looking at the purolator it has a extended nose piece which I don't think would be compatible with a spin on filter. So either I stick with paper fiters , which I presume are still available, or I would need some sort of adapter?
GuyW

Guy

It sounds like you have the ‘ultra-rare’ power steering version. LOL

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273845677148
Dave O'Neill 2

If you want to use a spin-on filter, you will need the appropriate filter head. It may be possible to get an adaptor for the canister style head, but probably not cost effective.

Certainly on later cars, the spin-on head bolted directly to the block. I think the early cars used the angled adaptor. There was another adaptor used on later canister filter heads which just raised it upwards. I have one or two. I will see if I can find one for a photo shoot.
Dave O'Neill 2

This is the other adaptor that I was referring to.


Dave O'Neill 2

There are also two types of spin-on filter head.

The Purolator one is a direct replacement and is what was first used on spridgets when they changed to the spin-on filter.

The later type, with the thin flange, may have been used on late 1275s. It was used on many A-series engines from the mid ‘70s Minis, Allegros, Metros, etc.


Dave O'Neill 2

Yes the double ended 'adaptor' will angle the filter to the left when looking at the side of the engine. That's the original frogeye setup. It enable you to get to the bottom bolt through the 'triangle' space in the wheel arch. Personally I prefer the spin on with a gfe443 filter as its just as easy to get off and less messy.

The adaptor also means an additional joint and gasket. I had one let go once and had a beautifully lubricated bonnet underside!
Bob Beaumont

Guy
The angled spacer you mention should be alloy: original 948 Frogeye.

It is a useful bit of kit for all engine sizes as it spaces the filter away from the block and points the filter at the hole beside the longitudinal top hat ' "chassis" legs for filter extraction.

Use it with a TAM???? spin on filter head from Minispares. 01707-607700
The spin on filter is MSF166.

If your oil pipe end is not compatible then Minispares or Keith Calver at Calver ST do flexible oil pipes to join filter head to block.

With the MSF166 filter there is no need to lay under the car to remove, for oil changes, as it can be withdrawn through the triangular hole in the drivers side wheel arch.

I have such set-ups on my 948 (ish) Frogeye and 1275 (ish) Sebring Rep.

Alan
Alan Anstead

If you use the thin flange (TAM) filter head, you need the appropriate gasket, as it’s different to the ‘normal’ one.
Dave O'Neill 2

The Mini Spares filter MSF166 I've always taken as meaning Mini Spare Filter 166 i.e. equivalent to Unipart GFE166 and they put -"Same manufacturer and item as GFE443 but with our livery on so you know you are getting the best part at the best price."

So the standard filter and alternatives for 1275s but at Mini Spares price you can't argue for an alternative of that type of filter.

Nigel Atkins

Thanks for the advice.
As I am happy to use a paper element, this looks to me like the appropriate arrangement, and is the same as the photo in Mr Horler's book, p35. The only thing is I will need to sort out a longer adjusting stay for the dynamo as the present one is too short and the dynamo is resting on the oil delivery pipe. But a longer one is easy to make.


GuyW

yes the Frogeye uses a longer stay. You may need a longer fan belt!
Bob Beaumont

I have the longer fanbelt. TBH I did wonder why it was so slack! I thought I must have bought the wrong one! :-)
GuyW

Guy

I did come across a longer stay a couple of days ago.

If you know how long it needs to be, I can measure it - when I find it again ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks Dave
If only I had one, I could measure it and let you know ! :-)
GuyW

Can you measure the gap where it should be? ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

OK, joke over. I just went to the garage and, lifting the dynamo up against the fan belt that I have, I think the overall length of the stay will be around 6". Possibly 6 1/2"
GuyW

I've just found this. I'm not sure if it's the one I was thinking of and it looks like it's been slightly modified.


Dave O'Neill 2

Guy,

I will measure the spare one I have. In the past I had a couple of them fracture just above the slot despite using the correct washers etc. It was cured when I fitted a front engine plate from a 1275 which has the additional stiffener.
Bob Beaumont

Another way of using the shorter (4") stay would be to drill a hole in the front plate out near to the engine mount. From there the stay would be near vertical and would give the right range of adjustment. BUT, I don't think it is a good idea to mess around with the front plate, I wouldn't want to crack that.

GuyW

Looking at Dave's picture what I have always done is reverse the arm.
I drill out the hole to fit, and pivot, on the mount shown fitted to the slot.
I fit the hole to the mount and bolt the slot to the dynamo (now dynamater) using a suitable size washer and lock washer. It makes adjustment more accessible and easier and I have never encountered any problems with this approach.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Maybe that works with shorter stays, but I think the narrowed section on the left hand end of the one in Dave's photo is necessary to clear the body of the dynamo when it is rotated upwards towards the limit of it's adjustment.
GuyW

Guy
Not so. I have long stays.

As usual at this time of the year I will be 'Front of House' on the midget & Sprite Club stand Classic Car Show NEC. this coming weekend.

As I celebrate 50 years with my Frogeye it will be on the stand

If you, or anyone else are attending, do come and say "Hello".

hall 3 near exit 3.5

Alan
Alan Anstead

Awkward position and not the best lighting show my reversed adjustmant strap on one of my cars.
Alan


Alan Anstead

It does look the obvious way to fit it, doesn't it, and is the way one would find it on many modern cars. Certainly easier to get at and see what one is doing.

I presume the small pulley wheel that you have there Alan is because it's an alternator in disguise! The pulley on mine is almost the same size as the dynamo fan, but if anything this would mean that mine is rotated less far up than yours. Unless it's my fan belt that is still too long.
GuyW

Guy
The dynamators use the original pulley wheels. The Frogeye, with dynamotor, has a stock pulley. As you say almost as large a diameter as the fan.
The one pictured is on the Sebring coupe. It is a dynamo pulley but I am not sure from where it came or why I used it..it works O.K.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Alan,
"hello" and "happy anniversary" now as the Midget and I can't now make it to the NEC.
Nigel Atkins

The Frog. You can just make out the adjustment strap.


Alan Anstead

This thread was discussed between 02/11/2019 and 05/11/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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