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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 TD TF 1500 - Fuel Filter

I am thinking of installing a fuel filter (old Chevrolet style) near where the fuel pump is located. I understand, from my browsing of the Net for all things TD, that the fuel line acts as a ground for the low fuel light, and, by inserting a filter into the line, the rubber lines used to tie it in would ground the line and keep the line from performing its purpose. I could use a piece of copper fuel line, but was thinking that a mesh line like the one extending from the fuel pump to the carbs would look better. I wonder if that has been done and how it worked out?

Thanks, Bill
Bill Reid TD4618

Bill, I have (2 years running now) plans to do just that purely for the bling effect. I have the shiny braid covered fuel line and a fitting to go on the end of the metal fuel line. I just have to summon up the nerve to solder the fitting onto the line. I'm glad that you reminded me of this because now, with the engine out, is as good a time as any to tackle the project.

Jud
J K Chapin

A Rover/Jaguar glass bowl filter that bolts to the firewall sounds perfect for your TD. (Yes, it's mounted above the starter and the starter switch.) It is period correct, adds bling, and it works. AC supplied the filters to Jaguar and Rover. The glass bowl filter has been used in all XKE’s up until the mid V12 range when the switch was made to a metal bowl and a metal cased pleated filter. There are three types of filters used in the glass bowl. The early cars had either a screen or a bunt cake type filter. The later replacement filter supplied by Jaguar is a paper pleated filter with a spring on the bottom to hold it into position.

A hard line to the inlet side of the filter and a braided line from the filter to the carbs would maintain continuity to the low-fuel light. Or you could have custom braded lines made.

Search Google and eBay for "Rover glass filter" or "Jaguar glass filter." Or purchase new from SU or Rogers Motors.

> SU-Burlen Part Number: C13681
Description: Glass Bowl Fuel Filter
http://sucarb.co.uk/glass-bowl-fuel-filter.html

> Rogers Motors
New AC Jaguar Fuel Filter
https://jollyrogersmotors.com/nos-ac-jaguar-fuel-filter.html

This video shows the Durex Morane glass bowl filter in my recently sold '54 Chevy pickup. Similar to AC glass bowl filters used in later model GM vehicles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUJFMnsi29A&t

Lonnie
TF7211



LM Cook

Good info! Thanks , Lonnie

Bill
Bill Reid TD4618

The late Dave DuBois who was the master SU pump rebuilder always warned about a filter in the suction side. I don't remember why, but might be good to search the archives. George
George Butz III

Just found this: Posted 25 January 2012 at 02:20:08 UK time Up arrow Down arrow
David DuBois, Washington, USA
Instead of a filter to treat the symptom, why not clean and seal the tank to eliminate the rust problem. A modern day, high efficiency filter will trap very fine rust particles that will pass through the filter screens in the pump and the carburetor, causing no problems with either. The problem occurs when the modern filter traps enough of the fine particles to eventually clog the filter and completely stop the flow of fuel. When this happens, a SU fuel pump will stall in a current on condition and if the power is left on long enough (while troubleshooting for instance), the internal swamping resistor in the pump is burned out. This does not cause an immediate problem - the pump will continue to run just fine, but...with the arc suppression circuit (the burned out swamping resistor), the points will begin to arc excessively, greatly reducing the life of the points. Easy enough to slap a new set of points in you say...well, what do you say when that new set of points burn out in a very short time? This is what happens when the the internal swamping resistor burns out. On the early, low pressure pumps, the swamping resistor is is a fine resistance wrapped around the coil itself and is the only thing used for arc suppression. It wasn't until later years that a capacitor was added to the arc suppression circuit and even then, the capacitor works in conjunction with the swamping resistor to suppress arcing. The swamping resistor is also very difficult to replace, as the coil has to be pressed out of the housing and a new resistor installed. For pictures this damage, see the article, SU Fuel Pumps, Fact and Myths in the SU Fuel Pump Articles section of my web site at: http://homepages.donobi.net/sufuelpumps/ )

For those of you who have replaced the original SU fuel pump in your T series cars with an all electronic SU pump, a burned out swamping resistor becomes even more of a problem. Not only does a stalled pump get the resistor, it usually burns the circuit board. If the owner gets lucky and the board isn't burned, they will find that the pump doesn't work at all once the resistor is gone (I was told this 7 or 8 years ago by one of the technicians at Burlen Fuel Systems when we were over there, and this situation may have been cured by now, but I don't know that as a fact).

It is because of the above information that I recommend against a modern, high efficiency filter being installed between the tank and the pump (you don't suppose that the original people in the MG Car Company knew of a good reason not to put a filter in that position do you?). If you want to put a filter in that position and are willing to monitor and change it religiously to avoid it becoming clogged, then it is up to you (besides, I make good money repairing pumps that have quit working properly). Cheers - Dave
George Butz III

Thanks, George

Looks like the definitive answer to the fuel filter question....
Bill Reid TD4618

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2020 and 31/08/2020

MG TD TF 1500 index

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