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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 MGA - Extra Carburetor Spacers

Finally getting my MGA back on the street after a long while. When reinstalling the heatshield and carbs I noticed a difference in that I have two spacers for each carburetor. The parts between the heat sheild and carburetor are gasket-spacer-gasket-spacer-gasket, instead of gasket-spacer-gasket as in the Moss catalog. Any reasons anyone can think of for using the extra spacer? (perhaps keeping the carbs cooler by moving them further away from the exhaust manifold and preventing vapor lock?) Any detriment to performance by having the extra run length to the intake manifold? - M.S.
Martin Straka

I look forward to an answer to your question, I'm not giving you one, but didnt an extra spacer somehow solve the piston burn problem in the twin cam?
Steve Meline

I think that the previous owner just thought it would reduce heat transfer to the caburetters.
The Twin Cam is a different story. A soft gasket or "O" ring was used with the carburetter locating nuts not fully tightened (lockwired double coil spring washers or some other method). This gave a "soft mounting" to the carburetters reducing vibration, which was causing fuel starvation.
This is not a Twin Cam specific problem, but is for all high compression engines with SU caburetters. It was done on the Coventry Climax engines with SU's (they discovered the problem). It is also described in the factory Special Tuning booklet for the pushrod MGA with a compression ratio of 9.25 or 10.1 (Stage 3A and Stage 4A).

Mick
Mick Anderson

I have intentionally installed exactly that setup, double spacers for each carb. I was hoping it would help to reduce fuel boiling (vapor lock) on hot days, but as far as I can tell it's not much improvement by itself. It does position the air cleaners closer to the inner fender, farther under the body cowling, making R&R for servicing just a tad more difficult.
Barney Gaylord

My 57 Coupe has TWO spacer for each carb and this is how I received the car. I am the second owner and the first owner was not a mechanical person , so I doubt he would have made any modifications to the car.Gordon


Gordon Harrison

Longer studs would have to be installed to allow two spacers. One spacer was stock.
The order of the parts is a question. Both MGA,by Robert Vitricas and The MGA, MGB and MGC by Graham Robson show pictures of the installation. Both show the 1500 with the spacer next to the manifold and the heat shield next to the carburettors. Both also show the 1600 and the 1600MK11 with the spacer next to the carburettors and the heat shield next to the manifold. (this is how Moss shows it in their catalog)
What was right? Were both right? And if so when did it change?
R J Brown

Hi R J , I have just checked in my original service parts manual and it clearly shows the spacer next to the carbs for all MGA's 1500 and 1600


regards gordon
g c pugh

Gordon both of my cars are set up with the spacer next to carbs.
Page 51 in MGA by Vitrikas shows two pictures the one identified as a RHD production model has the heat shield and the spacers backwards. His other picture shows what he calls a pre production LHD that has no heat shield at all. The same exact photo as # 1 is in Robson MGA MGB and MGC.
If yours is an updated service manual it would only show the "new" way. The question was does anyone Know if it is just this car as pictured was backwards or if the early ones were done that way?
Not a very important question just curious.
R J Brown

hi r j its an original parts book that came from a local mg dealer dated 1961

gordon
g c pugh

mine are next to the carbs
g c pugh

hi a photo of mine


g c pugh

Interesting.

I always fit the spacers above the heat shield and below the carbs as I want a tad extra space between linkage and shield, but it has been years since I gave any thought to what was stock.

Damn - another point lost in concours (like I care...)


Bill Spohn

But, at least as I read this thread, that's the correct way Bill.
Neil McGurk

Its the chromed rocker box studs that will lose the Concours. Spacers ok!

Gordon take note.

Lol

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve, gutted, lol so you don't think the 1950 cc engine and 5 speed box is going to be an issue then



gordon
g c pugh

They'll be too busy looking at the toolkit to notice!

Neil
Neil McGurk

now Neil thats not sarcasm I detect


gordon
g c pugh

No, just envy!
Neil McGurk

Neil swap your Jag for tool kit lol


gordon
g c pugh

Gordon, Don't do it--that tool kit is worth way more than a Jag.
James Johanski

Gordon,

OK, but I'm going to take the (original, complete, mint) toolkit out of the boot first!

Suddenly not so interesting eh!

Neil


Neil McGurk

Neil now thats just mean, I shalln't let you play with my tools ever again


gordon
g c pugh

This thread was discussed between 22/01/2008 and 25/01/2008

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This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.