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MG MGF Technical - Air Box

Dear All,

I current have a TF135, on a 53 and I believe that the TF's used the airbox from the Trophy. However, does another have the dimension of the air filter?

many thanks

john
john ip

John, if you need the dimensions to specify a K&N panel filter, Martin Woods has found that 33-2762 is the part to order :o)
Rob Bell

Rob

Are you sure this is correct? K&N themselves say they have no filter suitable for the TF.
Dimensions of a TF airbox are 290mm x 145mm but the K&N site says a 33-2762 filter is only 267mm x 107mm.

Might be worth checking before anyone parts with their hard-earned.

Regards.

David
David AP

Rob/David,

Thanks for that. Yes, decided to take the easy way out and swop for a panel filter and try sorting the air ducting (did something similar in my last car), seems an easier route when all things are factored in.

I'll email the retailer I found via the MGF Gallery and see if they are any wiser or advice.

But the airbox is the same as the Trohpy? Gives me something to go on.

john
john ip

i think that the 33-3762 is the one for the fwd cars, as far as i know, and this has been the subject of several threads in the past.

Airbox dimensions are as david has stated, and to the best of my knowledge, the only panel filter available for the TF/Trophy/ late F airbox is the Green filter, their reference number is P950375

cheers

Mike

mike roberts

To my knowledge, the ZR120 (which the filter quoted definitely does fit) uses the same airbox as the TF - so the part number should fit the TF and Trophy :o)
Rob Bell

Thanks all, think I'll see what the weather does this weekend and get the old tools and tape measure out. Get the measurements and any refereence numbers on the filter, send it to the store and let everyone know what they say.

john

ps. If it rains all weekend now, dont blame me!!
john ip

Still not got to the airbox but after checking the Greenfilters site, found the measurements as 290 x 145. Emailed this to the store and they said they will get back to me. (Tanks mike.)

If they dont get back to me or quote a decent price, at least I can then go for a Greenfilter.

john
john ip

late update!

mike satur does a pipercross panel filter for the TF / Trophy, and is cheaper than the green filter!

mike

mike roberts

Thanks again Mike,

I've emailed the dimensions over and they said they will get back to me.

If not' I'll check out the price of the piperx and greenfilter (i've still got the cleaner and oil, albeit in red for my old K&N, so may go with the green filter but end up with it in red!).

john
john ip

Thanks all for your help.

Shop got back to me today and said that K&N currently dont have anything!! Greenfilters, here I come!

john
john ip

What a bloody nightmare this is!

..received my Pipercross filter from Mike Satur yesterday, and it's the wrong f***ing one -

so despite being furnished with all the relevant information at the point of ordering, [late model F (2001) which has the same size airbox as the TF 290mm x 145mm,] i still get the wrong one..

not happy
mike roberts

Mike,

Sorry to hear that. Hope you realised before getting to the airbox?

john
john ip

i did, but access isn't that much of a problem right now as i've spent the weekend changing the head and head gasket, so everything is nicely accessible - by mgf standards anyway...

to their credit, Mike Satur have sent the correct filter by return post, and it is the correct size, so all's well.

just need to sort out a second intake to the airbox, and duct it to the n/s vent to take advantage of the improved breathing now...


mike
mike roberts

Mike,

Good of MS there, hope eveything works out, you'll have to let us now how much of an improvement can be felt with the improved filter and reducting.

john
john ip

ps. How come you've got the head off? Not much of a techie but why not swop the camshaft while you're there for a later TF one ;) (I think I've spent too much time thinking about the car while I was off work.)

john
john ip

Hi John,

i've done exactly that!

as the car has suffered its second HGF - not bad for a 5 year old car... - and on the last occasion overheated quite badly, i decided to replace the head completely, and have obtained a TF135 head from Bill and Victoria at the MGF Centre.

interestingly - or perhaps infuriatingly - i've traced the cause to be the water outlet casting (the component that bolts onto the head next to the exhaust manifold)

The mating face of this was unfinished, and badly concave, so that the paper gasket had no real hope of retaining water for any length of time, thus causing a leak that would run along the seam between head and block, and then drip down the back of the block giving most of the symptoms of HGF..

If Rover were still extant I would strongly consider marching down to Longbridge brandishing said part and demanding some form of compensation. As they are not, I've flatted it off using emery cloth on a piece of glass, and put it back on.

mike
mike roberts

Ahh the old emery and glass technique,works well. Well now you've sussed the problem. So you should be looking forward to some good motoring :-)

well done getting a new head, was it expensive?

N
Neil

Hi Neil,

I am looking forward to getting it back on the road, especially as i'm taking the opportunity to do all those little jobs that i haven't got round to over the last year like fitting the splitter, de-flashing the inlet manifold, sports panel filter, green stuff front pads etc.

so with the 135 cams as well, I'll be interested to gauge the extent of the transfomation.

the head was from the MGF centre, complete, pressure tested, skimmed and ready to fit: £350 + carriage + vat IIRC.

i did have to remove various studs from the original head and fit them to the new one though - wish i'd checked before i fitted it!!!

m
mike roberts

Mike,

All sounds good (apart from the HGF of course). Should all be good for a few extra bhp, whats de flashing (is this smoothing the inlet manifold)? Good to see that you've also done something to the brakes which people often seem to forget about while concerntrating only on speed.

john
john ip

Hi John,

the 1.8 Mpi uses a plastic inlet manifold, and the manufacturing process, specifically the joining together of the parts, can leave a residue - flash - that obstructs the ports slightly. it's not one of those things that is going to make a world of difference, but is satisfying to know that potential hindrances have been removed.

The TF uses a cast alloy plenum, which has it's own issues particularly with port matching - it's all in the archives!

mike

mike roberts

Mike, unless there was something wrong with my car when I changed to green stuff pads the brakes were no improvement at all, there was just no bite in them.

Kept the wheels cleaner though, but I would rather it stop where I wanted it to not where it wanted to.

I've fitted the four pot calipers now with 305mm discs and it's like stepping on a brick, it stops on it's nose if you want to.

Adrian
Adrian Clifford

Hi Adrian,

I have read on this board that the Green Stuff pads lack bite and feel - I think I recall Rob Bell stating that he wasn't impressed with them - however, i bought them a while ago, and thought that at least I'd give them a try.

Will gladly report back, and if they aren't up to much, they'll come off!

As I have 15" wheels, my brake upgrade options are limited - but I think I'm right in understanding that the 280mm conversions will fit, which use a modded VW disc, with a caliper bracket and spigot ring. i'm just trying the low cost options first.

Mike

mike roberts

Mike, what's the age of your F? If a pre-2001, then there is a good chance you've got distributor-based ignition and a manual cam belt tensioner.

Neither of these are particularly serious issues, as the distributor drive spiggot will knock into the end of a TF135 cam will little problem. The auto to manual tensioner is a little more work, in that you need to have your new head drilled and tapped to fit the manual tensioner. But to be fore warned is to be forearmed :o)

Mike Satur can do this, as can Dave Andrews. Chat to Bill at the MGF Centre, they may be able to undertake this work too - or point you to a local specialist who may be able to help out :o)
Rob Bell

Cheers Rob,

it's a 2001 auto tensioner, so a nice easy straight swap!

Mike
mike roberts

ripe the box out waste of space, stick in a k& n.
belive me it does fcuk all!
r.f.j. griffiths

This thread was discussed between 28/07/2006 and 15/08/2006

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