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MG MGB Technical - AIR CLEANERS

The time of year has come to give the MG a service so i will shortly be changing, among other things, the air cleaners. I have read in many parts manuals about how good K&N filters are.
I want to keep the car 'looking' as standard as possible and therefore want to keep the original filter covers.
Does anyone know if K&N do standard replacement filters for the original elements and whether this would give any improvement or should i just stick with the £6 paper filters?
MG'er

There is not much to clamp a K&N to inside the filter housings without metalwork, the paper filters get clamped between the two halves of the can and this forms the seal so no air can bypass the element which you would have to replicate. You might get a couple of bhp extra with the K&Ns, possibly less after the air has had to go through the standard cans, even then you would need an extractor exhaust and richer needles to see the benefit. Hardly seems worth the bother ... But then I'm a dinosaur.
Paul Hunt

Thanks for the reply Paul.

What about Ram pipes/stub stacks? Would these aid in any way or are these for the serious boys?
MG'er

On this side of the pond, at least, K&N sell a filter element that fits inside the standard "cans". I've a Victoria Bitish catalog open in front of me. P.N. 17-760. Sorry, can't give you the K&N part number.
Derek Nicholson

The K&N part number is E-2400 (2 req).
Rob Edwards

MGer-
The K&N airfilters that fit inside the Original Equipment aircleaner boxes will give no increase in flow capacity, thus no increase in performance. Their advantages will lie in the fact that they do an excellent job of filtration and that they are cleanable, and thus reusable. If you want an increase in performance, you'll need to switch to their larger capacity 3 1/2" X 6" airfilters and adjust the metering two flats richer if you retain the stock exhaust system, or change to a richer needle if you have a Peco exhaust system.
Steve S.

Ram/stub stacks are used only for competition and should never be used for normal driving, unless the idea of frequent engine rebuilds makes you heart beat fast. You'd be sucking in all the road dust and crud right into your cylinder bores.
R. L Carleen

There is a guy in Snohomish, Washington who has a way to use the stock K&N Filters to make up some very nice looking alternative which does increase air flow and that can be converted to original very easily. Roger Hotelling is his name. Do search on MGExperience bulletin board or site or email me off line.
J.T. Bamford

How do stub stacks/ram pipes work then? I thought they work with the filters so the air is still passing through them - MGOC for example advise using stub stacks with K&N's
MG'er

MG'er, Check this out: http://www.hotelling.com/mgb7.htm This is a good description of how to use either the OE paper or K&N stock air filters in an unhindered way.

The thing that stub stacks, either aftermarket or the one built into your OE cast air filter base plate, DO is to smooth out the air flow into the carbs and to avoid various air flow problems resulting from turbulence at the mouth of the carb. As you know, the mouth of the carb is simply cut for a flush fit with the backing plate of the OE air filter setup. It is the OE backing plate which incorporates a reasonably decent air horn and, as you will see in Roger's description (link above) of how to use the open filter setup, allows you to not need an aftermarket air horn or ram pipe.

Bob Muenchausen

Mr. Mg

You can buy stub stacks that fit inside your air filters at www.aptfast.com . They are small and compact and perhaps a little pricey. However, I’m a real believer in their usefulness.

What the previous poster referred to was the ram pipes, which are cool looking but should only be used for racing or car shows.

Bryan
Bryan Prindle

Very interesting.I've so far only been tempted to use K&N filters. I've always been put off by their high cost. But this thread prompted me to do some poking around on the 'net. Sure enough, K&Ns own website put me on to several resellers offering the E-2400 filters for as little as $24.53 ea. This even includes free shipping and payment through Paypal for those so inclined! Check it out:-

http://knfilters.com/online.htm

Why do Moss, Victoria British et al stick it to us by charging $35+? We're not that rich. We drive MGs, not Astons!! (BTW, this comment applies to the electronic fuel pump Moss sels for $80 that I can buy at Advance Auto Parts for around $35.)

Derek Nicholson

This thread was discussed between 13/05/2003 and 17/05/2003

MG MGB Technical index

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