MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - oil filter threads?

hello all,

I am looking into adding an oil cooler to my 73 midget, 1275 A series engine. I think the best way is with a thermostat to avoid over cooling in the fall/winter months (not a danger at this time of year in Texas!). one option is to use a sandwich style adapter witha built in thermostat that goes between the engine and the oil filter... but to be sure i get the right one... what is the thread size on the oil filter? I guess i could look at my filter and measure, but i'd have to take it off, wouldn't I? ha ha! so i thought maybe one of you all would know.

Thanks,
Chris
Chris Edwards

call auto zone and get the code number for the filter you have and google it

No! the 16 year old kid working there wont know what your taking about

another reason for an autoparts store thats actually a vending machine of autoparts

prop
Prop

You may not have room for a sandwich style. Besides, since the A-series has an external feed it is easy to add an oil cooler.
Trevor Jessie

Trevor,

Intresting... perhaps AN fittings on the extrenal feed? or another way?

Prop... iI knew there was a reason I hadnt finished my engine.
Prop

the other option is to put in an inline thermostat and cooler from the external feed, but i like the look of the sandwich plate better, looks tidier to me. I think there'd be room...

Prop, thanks, looking up by oil filter number is an easy solution.
Chris Edwards

I think treavor has a point to be made.

with the oil filter housing then the oil cooler sandwhich plate with the built in thermstat, then the filter plus the 3-4 inches of space needed to remove and install the filter you may be banging into the chassis rail, unless you un-bolt the entire housing from the engine block each time to change the filter

Prop
Prop

if it help any... the filter is the same size as the toyota 22re pick up truck engine. 1993

2 differant numbers... exact same filter

prop
Prop

You CAN NOT fit a sandwich plate for an oil cooler take off to the A Series motor as fitted to the Midget!

This is because the oil feed from the oil pump to the filter housing is a pipe that runs externally from the rear of the block on the RHS of the engine.

One end of this pipe has a 'banjo' bolt that screws into the block. The other end has a female fitting that screws onto a male-male adapter that then screws into the oil filter housing.

The way to fit an oil cooler to this engine is to remove said pipe, run a feed from the block via a thermostat to the cooler and back to the oil cooler housing.

The stock pipe fittings are 1/4 NPTF at one end and 5/8 UNF at the other. I use -8 hose with JIC female swivels and the relevant male-male adapters where necessary.
Deborah Evans

MOCAL even do a kit and this can be obtained in the USA from:

BAT inc.
2263 Industrial Boulevard,
Sarasota. FL 34234

Tel. (941) 355-0005
Fax. (941) 355-4683

http://www.batinc.net

I suggest you drop them a line.
Deborah Evans

OMG... I wish i had some money, Mocal has got lots of AN fittings and SS hose on clearnce price.

NICE

Prop
Prop

deb,
thanks for the link. I still don't understand why a sandwich style adaptor isn't a possibility. I have a spin-off type oil filter that screws onto a male thread, the sandwhich plate has a female to male adapter that screw onto the thread from the oil filter feed line (female to male) and then into the filter (male to female) as long as the plate is appropriately sized to seal at top and bottom, why wouldn't it work? I'm new to the oil cooler idea, so please be patient with me.


The reason this appeals to me more is since the engine bay is so small anyway, having fewer connections that can leak, and shorter lengths of oil-bearing hoses just seems like a good idea to me.

p.s. the oil filter thread is 3/4 16, according to FRAM oil filters. (just in case someone searches the archives for this in years future)

that being said, i'm still in the research phase of this project so lots of time to change my mind either way.
Chris Edwards

My 1275 has a spin on with sandwich plate to oil cooler which seems to work.Still has the external oil pipe from block to filter.

Could we have some reasons please Deb?/

David
d brenchley

You can fit a sandwich plate oil thermostat filter to an A-series if you leave all the existing stock pipework in place, (I think) if only it would fit without fouling the H frame etc. It would be possible to make an an aluminium uplifting adaptor plate a bit like the cast iron plate used on filter element filter heads to allow clearance for the H frame. If I'm correct the oil would go in and out of the filter and sandwich plate when cold but to the oil cooler and back when hot.

You would have shorter pipe runs but not by much if at all, depending on where the oil cooler is mounted and how high up or down it is. You also still have the copper pipe from the block to the filter head which you've also modified now you've had to move the filter head up higher.

I spent some time thinking about this but decided it was a lot of work and money for something that only arguably would look neater at the end of the day.
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

"Could we have some reasons please Deb?"

I wasn't aware that there WAS such a sandwich plate for the earlier (non Marina) A Series motor! You learn someat every day! :)

However MOCAL (who I use for all my oil cooler supplies) certainly don't list one.

I am also surprised it would fit given the proximity of the oil filter to the chassis rail in stock form. Unless you are using a shorter filter? Personally I want all the filtration I can get and don't like short filters.

I don't see the point of going to the hassle of a sandwich plate (if you can even get one these days) given that it is so simple to remove the stock external oil pipe and replace with some decent -8 aeroquip hose. If you use swaged unions, or better still aeroquip re-useable anodised alloy ones you will have leakage problems.

This set up is what I use on the racer and we have had no issues at all, neither with leaks nor loss of oil pressure.


Deborah Evans

I was thinking of using a Sandwich plate on my 1275, as it would look neater, and I could not see how to mount a thermostat without it fouling the heater ducting. Merlin motorsport market them in UK, with 80oC opening, and 1/2" BSP ports.
Have not contacted them yet to see whether one would fit the A series filter.

Dave
Dave Barrow

Dave you are better off going straight to the manufacturer, Think Automotive.
Deborah Evans

Deborah

Just had another look, and I think you are correct in that there is not enough clearance with the chassis rail. Will have to have another think about a conventional thermostat.

Dave
Dave Barrow

What Trevor said 5 days ago....
Daniel Thirteen-Twelve

This thread was discussed between 07/06/2010 and 12/06/2010

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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