MG TD TF 1500 TF1500 engine alignment / Volks air cleaners BBS discussion at MG-Cars.net

MG TD TF 1500 - TF1500 engine alignment / Volks air cleaners

For too long I have been reading on here the advantages of running the stock Volks air cleaners for my TF. (Mainly how the “S&H” choke the airflow.) The car came to me with the S&H on it, but the Volks were in the boot. Biggest problem is that the S&H barely fit in my bonnet. (It is so tight that I have to remove the bolts on side panels and the air cleaner mounting flange from the front carb to remove the carbs.) Qusetions: 1: Is the spacer between carbs & manifold in this picture “abnormally large”? (Car had no spacer when purchased …this was added years ago when battling vapor-lock issues.) 2: Does my engine need “aligned better”? 3: Best place to “start” on adjustment for that? 4: Has anybody found a K&N filter that will fit the Volks? (Part number?) I am a big fan of K&N and run them on my other cars. Moss sells a “kit” using these. …Anybody know if the elements supplied with it will fit stock Volks? (Part number?...don't seem to sell "just elements".) If someone has a good picture of Volks in place showing how close they are to the side panels that might be a great help. (simular "view" as my pic)

David Sheward

I monkeyed with trying to use a K&N with the S & H but gave up. No way to fit the front unit. I've wondered about the fit of one of the sloped units but with the blower I had no further pursuit. I would like to have one one the blower as compared to the pancake type I have now because I believe it would give better flow. I never had the stock jobs but what I did wind up using was the bumble bee type that I had on the B and put the K & Ns on the B. Not the best but better than the repo S & H I believe. Another thing I did with the K & Ns is cut the bolt spacers down and inserted a B stock filter base in side. I believe that the radiused entry does a lot for the air flow into the carb. A good thing about the bumble bees is it is very easy to remove the filters.

LaVerne

Is this any help?

Mike Sutton

Or this? Gap is half inch between filter and body at top

Mike Sutton

And this one from inside the engine compartment. The front bolt air cleaner to carb is a s.o.b to secure. You need the fingers of a six year old!

Mike Sutton

This is not the stock set-up as the carbs. are from an MGA 1500. The spacers are also MGA. Can get a calling card between the front of the filter and the side, but that's about it.

David Werblow

Mike, Thanks that helped a lot. As I suspected ...your "spacers" seem to be about 1/3 the size of what I have on the car now! (note that mine are about the same size as carb body flange) My "other reason" for wanting to try this is to re-install the vent tube from valve cover. I have tried all kinds of "wadding / baffles / caps", but short of plugging it (not a good idea!) still sparys oil into the engine compartment at high RPM. When I first got the car there was a pvc valve installed on a rubber hose on the vent. (Very "hookey looking" set-up.) Different valve cover than on the car now. That one was for a TD... "vertical vent" tube. Traded that one off for this one. Have several covers ...but really like the look of the finned one I am running now.

David Sheward

George, You are correct "stamped & angled". Still have a feeling my "spacers" are too big. Looking at the pic DW posted ...maybe I have MGA spacers? Will be a little while before they go back on. Shipping my exhaust manifold back to Jet-Hot for a re-do. Cleaning up the carbs and found a little surprise under one of the floats. Somebody's dremell tool polishing bit has been in there for about 10 years. It's mine now! LOL

David Sheward

David I could ask my contact at Moss to measure the spacer they sell if that would help. Mike PS A very nice cover-especially the red with the alloy

Mike Sutton

TF 6688 has the thick spacer and original air filters, such as they are "screen for rocks and bugs" The front bolts to remove the air cleaners are almost impossible to re-assemble. I think it took me 2 hrs, including time to make a special very thin wrench to get the front bolt in. I did have to loosen the stabilzer bar and rock ther engine over to get job done......an expletive job. As such I dont't take them off very often.

Colin Stafford TF6688

Here's a shot of my 1500 carb spacers and I believe they are original. They seem much thinner than yours. PJ

P. Jennings

LaVerne, Thank you for your very kind offer. I have taken the measurements, 6 5/16" outside diameter and the diameter measurement inside the small lip is 6 3/16". I have also taken a picture of what I have, and it's obvious what I am missing. The bolts are angled. Does it look the same? Thanks, David

DW Burdette

If this helps any: Both "front" plates are the same...angle is on "back" plates. OBTW: The K&N E-3310 filter , cut in half, remove the rubber (too big) but then dip in tool grip works great. (see other post on it!)

David Sheward

DW, Here's a shot of the front Volks back plate. These are new repos from Moss. The special bolts, which I guess are on the originals with screw driver slots, are welded on mine and separate bolts goes in from the carb flange and two on the cover. PJ Please excuse the dust! Grin.

P. Jennings

The bolts on mine are 1/2" deep ,but no screw driver slot and I don't see how one could get a screw driver in that space very easily. Are the bolts in my photo the ones being discussed? Thanks JB

J K Barter

This thread was discussed between 13/02/2012 and 01/03/2012

MG TD TF 1500 index

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