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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 MG Y Type - Electronic Ignition Conversion

A friend of mine, who once owned a YT, has very much encouraged me to switch to an electronic ignition distributor.

Moss carries such a product: http://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=38274

I have 2 questions.

Moss says: "Check the distributor cam profile carefully before ordering. High Lift Cams were installed in units with the suffix E or subsequent letters. To identify the different cam profiles, see http://www.mossmotors.com/graphics/products/info/lobes.gif. As a rule of thumb, the MG TC and early MG TD had an Asymmetric cam. The later MG TD and some of the MG TF had a Symmetric cam. The later MG TF had a High Lift cam."

Question 1: Which cam profile would apply to a 1951 YA (serial 6846)?

Question 2: This electronic distributor's automatic advance mechanism seems to be actuated by vacuum. If this is so, where should I tap in order to get this vacuum? Right in the middle of the intake manifold?
Gilles Bachand

I can't answer your questions Gilles but I can recommend Jolly Engineering who manufacture electronic ignition conversion kits that fit in the distributor in place of the contact breaker plate. No visible signes. I have fitted one to my YT and it works a treat no maintenance and very smooth running.
It cost £110 ex VAT
Jolly Engineering
Unit 4 Millbank
Storridge
MR Malvern
WR13SEN
UK
Peter Vielvoye

I installed E.I. on a 1950 MG TD with good results.
The distributor body was rebushed, the drive gear and thrust wwasher replaced, new advance springs and a new cam.
The cam available from Abingdon Spares is the high lift type and so I ordered the E.I. kit to match.
There is no vacuum advance on a TD or YA distributor to worry about.
If ever you need to revert back to points the high lift cam will allow you to set the points @ .014-.016". Keep a plan of the two different wiring schemes along with a fresh contact set up in the glovebox.
Scott Barrow

If your distributor has been the subject of a thorough rebuild by the likes of Masaaki Sakaguchi then the need for an electronic ignition will disappear. Masaaki does very good work - check out the link to his page on the Links page at www.mgytypes.org.

Paul
Paul Barrow

look at www.britishsportscars.nl

123 electronic ignition 16 diff. curves in


your old housing

henry
henry hebels

I believe in upgrading where it improves performance and reliability and does not change the outward appearance of originality. Have had Pertronix EI in my YT for 6-8 years now and would not consider ever going back to points and condensor. The engine fires up on the first pull of the starter and runs better. You don't have to worry about sudden failure of the points or condensor.

The 123 system is a different animal from Pertronix, as I understand it you get a complete new distributor with an EI system having all the bells and whistles.On the TD bbs
there is a post saying that it was developed from Formula 1 racing EI. It is 4-5 times more costly than Pertronix.

I would only go for the 123 system if your distributor is worn out and it is going to cost about the same to fix it. Terry
Terry O'Brien

This thread was discussed between 19/08/2008 and 22/08/2008

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