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MG MGB Technical - Air Filter Question

While doing some routine maintanance on my 1977 B, I noticed that the air filter was very dirty. I have a new one on order, but it will not be here for about 4-5 days. My question is, can I safely operate the car for a 3-4 mile trip (twice a day) without using the dirty air filter, or should I put the old one back in and wait for the new one to arrive? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks,
DEE
Donald E. Elliott

Don,
Get a pair of old panty hose or women's stockings and tie two layers across the air inlet. This'll serve you for a couple days, and will keep the big chunks out, just don't drive in any dust storms.

Joe
Joe Ullman

If your car is a bright red roadster, you shouldn't have any trouble getting panty hose.
Ken R
Ken Rich

Donald-
Put the old airfilter back in. It has worked until now, so it will last another few days. Running an engine without an airfilter is just plain foolish.
Steve S.

I have a bright red roadster . . . AND I have panty hose . . .
Kim de Bourbon

If you had two SU's, I'd let you borrow my air filters for a few days! (I don't expect to drive mine before this weekend.) Isn't it a small world?
Tom Wright

Also have a '77. Have tried running without the air filter and it completely changes the way the car runs.The mixture becomes very lean as a result of the increased airflow. Use the old filter. I have also removed the air temp regulator because it had a habit of clanging when the engine was shut down. Its removal just about doubles the air available and this too causes it to run lean.
jim mindy

Steve S is right use the old filter until the new one arrives. A lean mixture is the least of the problems, without a filter you will pull in all sorts of dirt & grit which can damage the inside of the carbs & the cylinder walls.

Scott
Scott Ralph

One thing you can do is rap the air filter base on the work bench a few times. This will loosen up and knock off some of the dirt. Don't hit it so hard as to squash it down. That's only paper holding the ends apart. You could shop-vac some of the loose dirt off of it afterwards if you had a few more minutes.

Then I'd put it back in. As Steve said, it's run this long. Why take it out for 4-5 days?

Matt Kulka

My comment to use a piece of stocking was given earnestly, although not well received by several folks. A better answer would have been as Matt suggested, knock some of the dirt out and reuse the old filter, which I've done numerous times myself. For some reason, I was thinking the old filter was beyond suitable use; don't know why. But, I have to say, my suggestion wasn't akin to not using a filter at all, like some posters seem to have inferred. If you're ever WITHOUT a filter, it's a good stopgap measure. Many an engine was saved by panty hose years ago when St. Helens erupted, no B.S., and I carried a pair in my vehicle for a year after, as it was considered to keep out finer material than a common paper filter.

Joe



Joe Ullman

Joe, I think Kim and I received your comment very well. Rose to the occasion. Kim, in case you aren't wearing panty hose when your fan belt goes, you should chop the legs off a pair and keep them in the boot. They make great emergency fan belts, as well as keeping bugs out of the carbs. I am going to paint my '71 roadster Signal Red quite soon. My wife will surely take off her panty hose and pop them in the boot, so you don't need to mail me yours.
Ken R
Ken Rich

Great idea about the panyhose. Next time my wife finds a pair in my 'B, I'll use that for the explanation. ( I wondder if a bra will work as well ??)
Ron Arnold

Only if it is a Wonderbra.
Ken R
Ken Rich

This thread was discussed between 06/05/2002 and 08/05/2002

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