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 pressure issue

I just tried to start a 1500 engine out of a 1974 midget that I put in a 1967 Sprite. At first had no oil pressure, found that engine builder forgot to put pressure release spring and plunger in place. Took care of that. Now I seem to have plenty of pressure in the lower end, in fact blew out gasket on oil filter with external oil cooler adapter. But have no oil pressure indicated on oil pressure meter(no oil in the line going to meter) and no signs of oil in the valve train..
Questions
1. Where is the best place to attach oil pressure line. (Now have it in outlet hole at bottom on distributor housing)
2. What is the oil passage to the upper part of engine?
3. Is there a most likely spot that would impede oil travel to upper part of engine.
4. I took off the external oil cooler to eliminate and potential blockage issue there.
Any suggestions would be a great help
Thanks
Paul E. McCann
Owner
Classic Auto Appraiser
925-699-5398
Paul McCann

Paul,
sounds like you have a right can of worms there..
But to help you move forward..
1, where it is should be fine. Disconnect it and make sure oil is coming out when cranking the engine. If not you have no oil to the bottom end!
2, the route runs from the rear of the main gallery on the left of the engine up the block and head to the rocker assembly rear pedestal.
3, My guess is the head gasket is blocking the point between head and block (but only if you have oil in the main gallery!).
4, where are the connections to the oil cooler (Pic's?)

Best of....
MGmike
M McAndrew

Paul,

Yeah, real can of worms! I would note that it does take quite a lot of cranking to prime the system and start to build pressure on a fresh build.

Oil gauge connection below the dizzy sounds fine. Contrary to a lot of peoples belief you do not need oil in the gauge line for it to work, or bleed the line or anything like that. It is a sealed system, so even if you don't have 70 psi of oil in the line, you will have 70 psi of compressed air in it instead, same pressure, just air is a bit squishier!

RE: Mikes third point, I think it is unlikely that the HG would be blocking oil to the head (assuming flow through the main gallery is OK). The HG would have to be wrong (it can only be installed one way). I would think it is more likely that the oil way is blocked off at the rocker pedestal near cylinder no. 4. Oil flows up this pedestal to the rockers. However, the rocker pedestals sometimes have to be shimmed for proper alignment of the rockers and it may be that a blank shim (as used on 1,2,3 pedestals) and not a shim with an oil hole in has been used on 4.

Hope this helps.

Malcolm

M Le Chevalier

I cant add anymore to the above, but....

I can add this, you can barrow, or rent from good automotive machine shops what is called an "oiler" its just a tank that holds a couple qt. Of oil and hooks up to an air compressor and you hook up the hose from the oiler tank to the oil gallery and you add about 30 psi and it fills the oil gallary and bearings before you start to start the car

I know everyone just cranks on.the starter for new engines and engines that have sat along time, but I think this method kills alot of grimlins before they an hatch....I barrow mine for free from my local machine shop and never thought twice about it. It just takes everything out of play and gives better focas if something goes ape doo doo

Just my 2 cents

Prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

This thread was discussed on 17/11/2014

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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