MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

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 MG Y Type - Fuel Cap Alignment

I am just about to fit a restored fuel cap & filler pipe to "Rufus".

I've had a quick check through Let There be Y's and it appears the MG button should be at the top so the cap flips down. Does everyone agree with this orientation ?

The position of the hinge on the cap is related to the chamfer on the tank end of the filler pipe - the above orientation then seems confusing to me.

So many questions, so little time.
Tony Slattery

Whether there was ever a right way Tony I know not, but the majority seem to favour flip down as you have spotted - this does make for easy filling so it is the position I have adopted on mine.

Good luck,

Paul
Paul Barrow

Tony, I have turned the filler cap thru 90 degrees so that it stays open when refuelling and yet when closed the aerodynamic shape is correctly positioned such as it is on T Types. Why else would it be aerodynamically shaped? It is probably a TC part originally used on the Ys from the parts bin.

By the way I just love the look of Rufus and hope to see him in April.

Rob
Rob Dunsterville

Mine is positioned with the button on top as well. It is very possible that it has never been removed or altered since new.
Steve Simmons

Hi Guys,
I have now fitted the filler pipe. The filler pipe I believe has an obvious correct orientation (with the vent to the top), and if the orientation of the cap and pipe are as original, then the cap is flip down.

I have a few more filler pipes in the shed, so I will have a look today and see if there is concensus. I will also send Paul some photos for the Tech Corner.

Happy New Year from Down Under

Tony Slattery
Tony Slattery

This one nagged at me till eventually I went out to the garage and checked the car, then looked at some photos I took before my car was dismantled. My car definitely had its fuel filler cap set across the axis of the car, in other words with the MG release button pointing to the side of the boot. I replaced it in the same position. In "Let there be Ys", on page 143, there is a 1949 Press Office photo of a YT clearly showing this orientation.

Right, anorak off.... isn't it fun getting these details right though?
Tim Griggs

Hi Guys, I have a photograph taken in 1949 when my 1949 Y (a) was new. Close inspection of the picture shows that the fuel cap flipped downwards. The car has not been restored and the fuel cap is still in the same position today, however I hasten to add that I learnt a long time ago that when it comes to old cars nothing is ever black and white. I guess this is what keeps us interested.
Terry Ciantar

Tim

I presume you mean that it is in a vertical orientation with the flip button upper most? When I first read your note (not being an engineer) I thought you meant it was in a horizontal orientation pointing to the boot (trunk) of the car so looked it up!

Fun trying to get it right ... but that is not to say that maybe on a Friday at 5:00 pm a sloppy Joe Fitter wouldnt have put one in up-side down - we are talking British 1950s labour and "quality control" after all!

Keep the fun going!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Well, Paul, in fact that's exactly what I meant :-) - the filler cap release button is closest to the boot side, so the cap opens away from the car, not down the wing towards the bumper (I wish this was one of those bulletin boards where you can post pics!). This is how the press-photo car on page 143 of Let There Be Y's is shown.

But it's very possible, as Terry suggests, that cars came off the line with a variety of arrangements, according to who was using the screwdriver that day. There have been so many examples of this random variation over the years. I keep an anorak in the garage for just such matters....
Tim Griggs

This thread was discussed between 20/12/2006 and 20/01/2007

MG MG Y Type index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MG Y Type BBS now