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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 - Pancake-Type Air Cleaners

I've got 1 1/2" SU's on my TD. The original type air cleaner does not readily fit the carbs. I was going to install the flat pancake-type air cleaners but I'm not sure what to do with the breather hose from the valve cover.

I believe the TD II and TF's had flat air cleaners with a nozzle for the breather hose but most of the flat air cleaners on the market today do not have the nozzle.

Anybody else run into this problem?
Roy Challberg

I believe my car has the standard carbs, but it does have the pancake air cleaners, mine have the wire mesh type of filter.

The previous owner also installed a cast aluminum valve cover that has a vented cap on it. This is what most american cars used to have in the 50's and 60's. Odd that the British reburned the oil fumes but not the americans at the time. The valve cover itself is nice because it doesn't easily deform, and so seals pretty well.

It also has an aluminum side cover that has some kind of protuberance on it with an MG emblem, which may also be a vent. Not sure.
larry ayres

I have the same set up as Larry. The breather was removed to accomodate the new air filters and the PO replaced the valve cover with a "breather cap". Works fine.
mgaviator

I have probably the weirdest set up...when rebuilt (in '67 or so), a breather tube/container was added to the side cover and I notice that oil will gather in the top and drip back down into the engine... Looks to be made out of plumbing copper tubing and some old aircleaner or container?

http://gblandco.com/gb/breather.jpg
gordon lawson - TD 27667

My setup is identical to Larry's too, complete with aluminum sidecover with MG emblem, and vented oil filler cap.

One thing that is probably different on my car is that the PO, when doing this, didn't bend the radiator support rod to go around the new pancake filters. He just moved the connection point for the rod down from the normal spot. I'll probably be ordering a new rod and bending it to get the support position back up in the standard place. Anyone else ever seen the radiator support rod not bolted to the normal ear at the top of the radiator?

Scott
Scott

Mine was converted in the 50s since that was the last time it was driven. the breather was filled with a 1/2inch bolt and a second tube brazed into the side. This was connected by a rubber hose to another 1/4 inch pipe brazed to the left pancake filter. It seems to work. I've wondered if it oils the left filter element
Russ Oakley

My car is a Mark II. It had the pancake air cleaners, and had a small aluminum mushroom-shaped plug in the breather, that had a hole drilled throught the side to vent the gases. I believe that Abingdon Spares still sells them. I have since converted to the correct Mark II air cleaner and oil bath; which only fits Mark IIs, since theyu have the bulge in the side of the bonnet. If your car is not a Mark II, the thinner pancake air cleaners should work; the vented breather plug is a simple solution.

Ira
Ira Spector

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2006 and 10/06/2006

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG TD TF 1500 BBS is active now.