MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 - Air Cleaner Oil Bath

Hello, i'm trying to find an air cleaner oil bath for my MG TD. i've been given a picture of an engine with one from a 1941 chevy. does anyone know where i can get one, or if there are more alternatives.. all help would be greatly appreciated. thanks


richard ash

There doesn't seem to be any 'other' car that uses the exact oil bath air cleaner used with the 1-1/4" SUs on the TD. The later Mark II or TD/C cars with 1-1/2" SUs - as in your photo - used a larger, 9" oil bath air cleaner that is indeed quite similar to the one used on the '41 Chevy (eBay). Although it will not look or be correct on your car (assuming you have 1-1/4"s), one of these can be made to fit by cutting off part of the neck.

The correct ones are out there from time to time, and sell for about $100. There is one on eBay right now, item 300455184150, at $67 so far, but in New Zealand.

Hope this helps. Tom

PS - if you do have a TD/C, may I know the ID number for my files? Many thanks.

t lange

Here is a picture of the MK 2 air cleaner arrangement. The air cleaner is similiar, but not the same , as the one from a '41 chev.
Cheers, Hugh Pite


H.D. Pite

Ok,I'll put this out there for everyone to shoot at. Off line I had helped a couple of members looking as I am for a 9 in MK II air cleaner. If one exists it would be invaluable to me as I have just completed a MK II concur level resto and do not have an original air cleaner. Somehow my offline picture has surfaced in the initial thread on this posting. I had been told that I could modify a 1.25 manifold by reaming out the insides to match up with the 1.5 carbs. By moving the mounting stem approximately 1.25 in you can make a 1.25 manifold fit. Then you find a 9 in 40-41 Chevy oil bath cleaner that you must admit is awfully close to the original shown in thread #3. You also have to take off approximately .25 in from the bottom mount of the chevy air cleaner to allow for clearing the bonnet. And walla you have a viable alternative until you locate an original. Any comments on the initial thread postive or negative would be appreciated. Richard I have a restored 7 in air cleaner for a regular TD. Message me offline and we can discuss.

Regards,

Gust Nelson
G H Nelson

Ok,I'll put this out there for everyone to shoot at. Off line I had helped a couple of members looking as I am for a 9 in MK II air cleaner. If one exists it would be invaluable to me as I have just completed a MK II concur level resto and do not have an original air cleaner. Somehow my offline picture has surfaced in the initial thread on this posting. I had been told that I could modify a 1.25 manifold by reaming out the insides to match up with the 1.5 carbs. By moving the mounting stem approximately 1.25 in you can make a 1.25 manifold fit. Then you find a 9 in 40-41 Chevy oil bath cleaner that you must admit is awfully close to the original shown in thread #3. You also have to take off approximately .25 in from the bottom mount of the chevy air cleaner to allow for clearing the bonnet. And walla you have a viable alternative until you locate an original. Any comments on the initial thread postive or negative would be appreciated.

Regards,

Gust Nelson
G H Nelson

how about looking in another direction for an oilbath air cleaner,as an apprentice many years ago!! I worked on stationary diesel engines fitted to small pumps, cement mixers and dumper trucks useing lister and peter engines with the same AC air cleaners. Hope this helps. Regards Keith TD 9953
k harris

Hello, thank you for your replies. to explain further, i'm trying to help my father-in-law with his search for an air cleaner oil bathfor his MG TD mkII. so i've been quickly learning as i've been going along.

it is the wider 9" air filter that i require - and which i've found to be extremely hard to find. there appear to be lots people all over the world looking for an original example. all the ebay listings are for the smaller 7" version.

richard ash

Richard: It's not quite that easy... If you look at the intake flanges of the carbs on the TD/C, the two holes in each carb flange will either be roughly elongated sideways or perfectly round. If your carbs have round holes you do need the 9" unobtanium filter which is correct for the later carbs. If your carb flange holes are elongated, then the 1-1/4" set-up is correct for your car - the engine will be a bit strangled, but the smaller air filter set-up is indeed correct. What is the serial number of the car?

Tom
t lange

Having found a TD valve cover I am installing the original oil bath air cleaner. However, I'm puzzled by the metal piece that fits between the wing-nut and the filter case. It has a small off-center hole that seems counter-intuitive as it would allow unfiltered air to enter.





W Worden

That is the camshaft oil slinger. Amazing! George
George Butz III

Lol. The wing nut screws down directly on the lid. Good catch George !
W A Chasser

I thought there was a fiber washer under the wing nut.
Christopher Couper

I'd like to think that the "amazing" and "lol" comments respecting my air cleaner were not meant to be derisive.
The oil slinger was on the air cleaner in 1971 when the car was taken off the road so perhaps somewhat defensible to assume that it beloged there.

For a marque that desperately needs to build interest and attract new and perhaps less knowledgeable owners, I'm not sure that the Butz/Chasseur mentoring approach is the way to go.
W Worden

So what did the factory use to keep oil from seeping out the threaded rod on the bottom that goes through the manifold?

I have tried a few tricks, but always seem to still get an occasional drip down on to the exhaust manifold.
Bruce Cunha

Hi Guys,
Many years ago I converted an oil cleaner from an MG Y-Type to fit a TD. I am pretty sure it was a very good match for the real thing. From memory I used the top part of the Y set-up, discarding the lower "silencer" part. I then welded or braised a tube matching the TD (with splits for clamp) into the bottom of it.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Schapel

Bud was simply identifying the part . And I was giving a thumbs up for identifying the part. I’m sure there was nothing derisive about either comment. Certainly not mine.

Bill Chasser
TD-4834

W A Chasser

Wow, lighten up! Bill and I have been helping and mentoring MG folks for many, many years- me since the late 70s. Just when you think you have seen everything possible, something like this pops up. It may have been left over when the engine was built? Was a big hole cut in the top of the air cleaner? It should be just large enough for the stud to pass through. Always glad to help and advise. George
George Butz III

You may be right George. My wife says I should be more sensitive. Perhaps I've over-corrected.

On closer examination, the manifold stud was too long so they used the cam thrower as a spacer. It may be a replica canister, albeit an old one, with no markings. I'll add some 6mm threads to the stud and use a Dowty washer under the wingnut.
W Worden

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2010 and 19/05/2022

MG TD TF 1500 index

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