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MG MGA - Oil temp bulb fitting

I'm rebuilding a '58 coupe as a replica rally car, mainly because the PO did a great deal of mods to it. The dash, for example, has had a number of extra gauges fitted into it - he cut out the dash and then welded in a new piece into which he cut holes for the extra gauges and switches. I decided to keep this arrangement, but to tidy it up a bit.
He had an oil temperature gauge as one of the extras. This has a capiliary tube and bulb on it, similar to the MGA water temp gauge. When I dismantled the car two years ago, I did not make a note of where the oil temp bulb was fitted to the engine. I then gave the engine away!
Has anyone fitted one of these, and if so where is it installed? My guess is that this was not in the sump (as I would have remembered taking it out), but might have been in the block. The car did not have an oil cooler fitted so it was not in the oil lines. But could it have been in the oil filter mounting?
All suggestions welcome. (For amusing wise cracks on this topic see the MG Experience site!)
Peter.
P. Tilbury

I fitted mine by drilling into the head of the banjo bolt that attaches the oil pipe to the oil filter mounting. I welded a threaded tube to the bolt so that the bulb would not obstruct oil flow. The tip of the bulb had the oil passing across it.
I no longer have this car, so I cannot give more information, but it did work well.
I did not fit it to the sump because I wanted to measure the temperature of the oil going to the engine, not the oil returning from the engine.


Mick
M F Anderson

Peter,

My car already had an oil temp gauge fitted when I bought it. The sensor is fitted through the side of the sump on the same side as the drain plug. However, I prefer the sound of Mick's set-up. If I was fitting one myself now I'd be nervous of drilling the sump for fear of creating a leak weak spot.

If you check out suppliers of performance parts, (in the UK it would be someone like Demon Tweaks), they may supply adaptors that would help you out. There are plenty of competition cars with the B series engine. And if it's to be a rally replica, isn't it worth considering fitting a cooler, in which case the pipe-work offers the solution.

Malcolm
Malcolm Eades

Thanks Mick and Malc,
It will have an oil cooler (just waiting for the steel and rubber pipes to come from SF), and it is the original type that mounts with the fittings down through the apron (photos on Barney's site). However, I've not seen an oil temp bulb fitted to the oil pipes.
Someone on the MG Enthusiast BBS has suggested that Deemon Tweeks does an adaptor - pipes in and out with the bulb fitted 90 degrees to the pipes, so I may try this. Then drilling the pan would be avoided.
Peter.
P. Tilbury

Peter,

As you live Canada, are you also having a cooler muff that closes of the cooler from the air flow during winter? Or are you fitting a thermostat to the oil cooler pipes?
Running an engine too cold creates many problems, mainly drastically reducing engine life.

Mick
M F Anderson

Mick,

Canada, especially the west coast, is not as cold as rumour would have you believe. In fact it has very similar weather to that of the UK. I have had an oil cooler on my roadster since I brought it from Africa, and actually it does not bring the engine temp down very much.
Must go now and close up the door on my igloo.
Peter.
P.S. For Demon Tweeks in my earlier email read Pegasus - got my sources mixed up.
P. Tilbury

This thread was discussed between 24/11/2009 and 27/11/2009

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