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MG MG Y Type - YT with single carb?

Some of you may remember that a few months back I posted some pictures of a 1949 YT I am negotiating for. It was pointed out that the YT had only a single carb and should have twin carbs like the TD.

I met today with the owner and asked about the single carb. He said he purchased the car in Monte Carlo in the early 1960's while he was in the military and had the car shipped to the US. He said the car has had the single carb since he has had it.

I checked the engine ID and it matches the reg plate so it does appear to be the original YT engine. So, the question is, does anyone know if MG did make any YT's with a single carb/aircleaner similar to the YA/YB? Seems odd that someone would go to the trouble of changing it to a single carb engine if it came with two.

This is a RHD YT.

PS. Negotiations are still going on for the YT. I took a 58 magnet and a 79 triumph spitfire off his property today to assist him in cleaning out some garage space, so I am hoping once I get these cleaned up and sold, he will let go of the YT.

Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Looking at the photo Bruce, the manifold clamps are not original pattern, so I would suggest that at sometime in the past the twin carbs & manifolds have been swapped on to another car. There were lots more saloons about, that went cheaply in the 60's, so that's where a replacement was sought.

So why the non-standard clamps - I think you will find the manifold studs on YT's are marginally shorter than the YA, so the YA clamps were too thick. Just a theory - happy to be proven wrong on this.

Not the best photo, but the best I could find showing the original pattern clamp on a YT.

Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop

A L SLATTERY

I concur with Tony Bruce. There was never a single carb. YT.

Paul
Paul Barrow

Good catch Tony. The manifold clamps are nothing like any I have seen on an MG.

The good news is that I have a spare TD intake manifold and carbs. I am assuming from Tony's picture that the YT has the same intake manifold as my 50 TD.

Looks like the YT uses a different Air Cleaner. So if I am able to pick up the YT, I will need to look for one of those.

Any recommendations on good books or information sites where I can learn more about the YT?

Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Bruce,

'Let there be Y's' is THE book on Y's, including YT's.

Please look on: http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/imgytr/bookreview.shtml
Willem van der Veer

Bruce, The YT was an "export only" model and only a few were available new in the UK - most went to the Commonwealth Countries of Australia, Canada and quite a few to South Africa & of course LHD ones to the USA.

So the YT was fitted with the export oil bath air cleaner/silencer - similar to the TD air filter, but quite a bit taller. These are hard to find now, but a TD filter will do the job very well if you can't find an oil bath type.

Your air cleaner is a "home market" type for YA, not the export type, so this suggests to me the carb swap was carried out in the UK rather than in Monte Carlo.

You won't find a better reference book than "Let there be Y's", but can I suggest you get the CD version rather than the book - it has more up to date addendum and is "searchable" when you are looking for key information in a hurry.

I hope you get the YT one day - you will be pleased !.

Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop
Oz Rep - International Y-Type Register
A L SLATTERY

Tony is correct - having the book is great but they are very very rare now. There is one on eBay currently for about £200 which is the going rate for an original book. The CDs though offer much more flexibility for sure.

As to the YT air cleaner Bruce, I have a spare one of these very rare items too if you are interested. If so, email me off line. They dont come up very often if at all!

Paul
Paul Barrow

Bruce

I agree with Tony and Paul. However, a guy called Dave Ivins rebuilt a YT and this is still on the Y's on Parade site. Though Dave sold it around 4 years ago and advertised it the Bulletin (The MG Octagon CC magazine) for £10,000 GBP. It looked very good and was certainly worth more than that. I looked at the car with David Pelham and we advised the owner that his price was far too low. It wasn't standard through as amongst other items it was fitted with a single carb.

It then did the rounds after Dave re-advertised it for £13k and even appeared in the showrooms of Chelsea Cars, who advertise in Classic Cars, and was competing with Ferraris, Mercs etc..! It moved on and was subsequently advertised in the South East of England. I am none too sure who owns or is selling it now.

Of course if the YT you are looking at has only a single carb then you need to negotiate accordinngly. A new pair of SU Carbs and correct inlet manifold would set you back around £500 GBP and you can always convert the air filter to an adapatation of one marketed by NTG which has a modern K and N Filter fitted. Cost around £175 GBP.

So if the numbers match up and the chaassis number etched on the nearside dumb iron and the guarantee plate match you ought to have a bona fida YT. Dont just go on the guarantee plate alone though. If it is OK then offer him at least £700 GBP below the offering price I would suggest.

It entirely depends how good the car is in all other respects!

Cheers

Jerry
Jerry Birkbeck

Jerry,

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C625853 Dave Irvins old car which was a converted MG YA is still for sale with the same vendor who lives couple roads from me and has had it since at least 2012, when I first started to look for YT. Current asking price £18950.

From photo's looks like twin carbs fitted now but not too sure on authenticity of carbs.

Richard
R E Knight

Thanks All. I will pick up the CD and increase my MG knowledge.

I will double check that all numbers match. Have not gotten the opportunity to look on the frame yet.

The owner does have a "spare" 1 1/4 carb, so with my spare parts, I should be ok to change it back to dual carbs.

I have owned my 50 TD for 41 years, so have a good selection of spare parts, including everything but the block and pan from my first TD engine (ok, if you want to cringe, I will post a picture of a catastrophic failure of a rod bolt) (What you do not see it the crack in the block on the other side that pretty much took off the pan fastening edge of the block.)

YT has been garaged in a heated garage and not run for 10 years. It was stored on jack stands under the rear axle and under the A arms. Gas was drained, so I am hopeful it will return to life fairly easily. Interior is beautiful, supposed to have a new top just prior to it being garaged. Paint is presentable, and I did not find any signs of rust on the exterior of the body.

New tires, belts and hoses will be needed, and then a good going over once I hopefully get it.

The owner is a close friend of the family and the feeling I am getting is he is not as much interested in the price he gets versus it going to someone that knows MG's and will take care of it. His kids have made it clear that they are not interested in the car.





Bruce TD4139 Cunha

Bruce, Was that a rod bolt at the little end that failed ?.

You will need an opposite handed float bowl to fit twins carbs. If you need one, let me know as I can supply these.

Tony Slattery
The Classic Workshop
A L SLATTERY

Thanks Tony. I will let you know what I find.

As for the TD?. No, this was a big end bolt. Re-builder used nylock nuts. I found what was left of the rod bolt in the pan. The nut was still on the lower half of the bolt, but not where it should have been.



Bruce TD4139 Cunha

I would think that the builder over tightened the rod bolts along with not checking for stretch. I have found many rod bolts with stretched areas.
All the more reason to use new bolts of proper strength.
Sandy
Sandy

This thread was discussed between 12/06/2015 and 16/06/2015

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