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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Spin on oil filter adapter

I have 948cc frogeye (1959). I'm thinking of fitting a spin on adapter to make life easier in the future.
I'm a bit confused as Moss lists two.
GFK1001 at £70 and 235-875 (with hose) at £45.
Which is the easier to fit and the better one to get please? - what's the difference?

Many thanks, Graham
Graham V

Graham

235-875 looks like a Moss Motors (USA) part number.

If I were you, I'd try to find a pre-owned version.

There were different versions available, but fall into two categories - those that use long bolts or studs, as fitted to the original type housing, and those that have a very thin flange and use much shorter studs.

I have seen a number of the latter type crack and leak, so the former is preferable.

They were fitted to a number of other BL cars, such as Minis, Allegros, etc.

This is a pic of the one to avoid...

Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks Dave. Good to know I should avoid those.
But the ones I was looking at are as shown in the picture attached. The much cheaper one has a hose also .
G

Graham V

Have a look at the Minispares website. Their ethos is to supply quality parts. You can get all the bits you need there. I use them for engine and electrical parts. Had no reason to complain so far.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Alan,

Unfortunately my experience is quite the opposite - I had a spate of problems, including a broken rocker shaft and broken exhaust valve, both within 12 months of purchase. That was bad enough, but even though I returned the broken parts, I was met with a complete refusal to honour any sort of guarantee. I stopped going there about 5 years ago and have had not problems with suppliers since then.

With regards to the standard, later spin-on filter housing, I did have problems with the 'thin flange' type 2 or 3 times, BUT we have the MG Metro sandwich water-cooled oil cooler, which needs to have the threaded fitting tightened quite well. I put it down to the oil cooler, maybe more than a standard hand-tightened oil filter?

It now has the 'long stud' version, which has been fine for a number of years, but would like to find a spare just in case! They do not seem to come up on eBay - does anyone know where I might find one please?

Richard
Richard Wale

Hi Richard
Will our paths cross this year. Remember me to Mrs W.
Alan
Alan Anstead

An adaptor adapts the original fitting for a canister filter so it takes a screw on fitting. Unless you want to use the adaptor to also install an oil cooler (and there are other ways to do this) it's not the best way to convert to a canister filter.

The later filter fitting, of which there are OE 2 types, come in either long stud or short stud format - both come up on ebay from time to time, though the long stud is scarcer. I've only heard of racers having failures of the short stud type (comments on this thread excepted). Most of the transverse A series engines can 'donate' a canister filter fitting.

There are aftermarket race use (they are expensive) short bolt filter housings.

There are books with this stuff in...
Daniel Stapleton

See: http://www.minispares.com/product/classic/TAM2097.aspx

&
http://www.minispares.com/catalogues/classic/Classic~Mechanical~Parts~Manual/Engine/Oil~Filter~Components.aspx?1~2~24


Cheers
Mike
M Wood

I think I have found the answer to my original question. I think that the £70 one fits into the existing filter head that the old style cannister is screwed into. Whereas, I think to fit the cheaper one you remove the entire existing assembley and pipe, and fit it to the side of the block.
I say "I think" but if I am right, looking at my engine bay (with r/h drive), it seems in the latter configuration, with the spin-on filter coming out sideways there is serious concern the filter will be obstructed by the steering column. That might fit with Dave's observation that the second one has a USA part number?

Thanks for the comments.
Graham V

Graham
You should just need a £15 filter head from Minispares.
Fit it to the Frogeye angled spacer. Gently bend your metal oil pipe pipe to fit it taking care not to kink it. Screw on a filter and job done
If you have the long filter head you will have to release the long studs from the angled spacer and you will need two UNC bolts - again available from Minispares.

Alan
Alan Anstead

Thanks Alan
I like Mini Spares and their Potters Bar shop is not too far from me.
But I couldnt find the part on their website. My filter head, viewed from above,is attached. Not sure which mine is!
I was thinking I will go for the Flexolite adapter, which comes much cheaper than the Moss part,but looks very similar http://www.flexolite.co.uk/cat.asp?cID=4&page=OIL_FILTER_ADAPTORS

Thanks, Graham



Graham V

Filter head Tam2097
Bolts - 2 - Lyg10008
Gasket 12a2035
Filter Msf166
That appears to be what I used on Rylans Frogeye when I converted it last year.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Looks like not many places have the filter housng in stock:

http://min-its.com/mini_parts_accessories/External.html

Not in stock:

http://bullmotifminispares.com/2115/oil_filter_head_12a2032_tam2097 (note lists it with a second part number 12A2032 as well as TAM2097)

http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-TAM2097


And perhaps Minispares out of stock too?

Thanks
Mike



M Wood

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CLASSIC-MINI-SALOON-CLUBMAN-A-OIL-FILTER-HOUSING-SPIN-ON-TYPE-VAN-PICKUP-/182117818884
David Smith

also
http://min-its.com/mini_parts_accessories/External.html

(google is your friend)
David Smith

An idea floated on the MGA pages was that if you wanted to keep the impression of originality then use the long K & N oil filter element but paint it engine colour.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Yes minispares is out of stock too. Is this what Dave O'Neill said he had problems with (see above)
Graham
Graham V

Using an adaptor means utilising the existing seal in the canister head. Then another seal inside the adaptor and another on the spin on oil filter between it and the aluminium adaptor. So, in my view, it's better to just buy a Mini spin on housing.
I tried the adaptor and I was plagued with leaks when the engine was cold, with oil pushing past the top seal. I bought a Mini housing and all is now well.
Bernie Higginson

If you do get a Mini housing, use the Mann W172 filter. It's better quality than the GFE166 that Moss sell, and it seals better.
Bernie Higginson

Geoff

Did you try Min-its as their website suggests it is in stock? See my and David's posts above.

Mike
M Wood

I was actually trying to draw attention to the beautiful competition version made from billet ally on the Min-its website (but couldn't seem to link to the individual item)
David Smith

Min-its were taken over by Leacy MG some time ago.
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave O - that's interesting about Leacy.

David S - seen this one?
http://www.shengineering.co.uk/sh/content/mini-oil-filter-housing

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

thanks Mike, that looks good at the price.
Why have I not heard of this company before? Some interesting stuff on there. Given they're only a few miles away from Peter May I wonder if they supply him or are in competition against him?
David Smith

Bypass valve or no bypass valve, I think I'd rather have one and take the slight risk of dirty oil getting to the bearings than having the potential of a filter element rupture and filter material clogging the passages and bearings.

The last filter head I used on my Sprite for about 65k miles was actually a remote hydraulic filter from Parker and you could buy high quality fine filters for it and it was fitted to the right hand radiator stanchion in the pipe runs to the oil cooler. It was significantly larger than the standard screw on filter, maybe 2x diameter and 2.5x height, and so I took the risk of the bypass operating as minimal. I did consider getting a differential pressure gauge to check the filter pressure drop but the price was prohibitive at the time.
David Billington

More oil filter housing custom jobs:

http://www.swiftune.com/Product/358/swiftune-billet-oil-filter-housing.aspx

http://www.med-engineering.co.uk/products/ancillaries/med-billet-filter-head-kits

Cheers
Mike
M Wood

Could I clarify something please? The later posts seem to recommend replacing the filter head completely. I had originally intended to fit a convertor kit to the existing filter head. I have done it before without a problem.
If cost is not the main factor, which is best do you think? I am wary of the post by Dave O'Neill who has had problems with those with thin flanges and short studs. Obviously I ought to take Dave's advice and avoid those

Thanks, Graham
Graham V

Does anyone know if there is enough clearance for the Metro Turbo filter housing on a Spridget?

I have a spare one, but it is slightly deeper than standard.
Dave O'Neill 2

This thread was discussed between 23/08/2016 and 30/08/2016

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