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MG TD TF 1500 - Identifying distributor and cam

Looking through the archives, I came across this handy diagram.
Looking at the diagram I would guess that I have a high lift cam(the rotor cut is about 2 oclock, and the profile is the "squarest" of the cams according to the diagram I found on the forum.) See the image at the right, and compare to my photo.
However, the measurement across the flats is .661 which is a symmetric not a high lift cam.
My distributor is a DKY4A 40162F (underneath it says DA37... 1162.
Just want to make certain which type I have... symmetric?






Geoffrey M Baker

Here's the picture of the cam itself.

Geoffrey M Baker

Bob Greneau documented this.
Google Bob Gruneau distributor
Len Fanelli

Bob Gruneau's very interesting and helpful article still left me uncertain for two reasons: his measurements don't agree with other sources, and his distributor numbers make no reference to my 40162F model (he lists 40162A only).
He measures high lift cams across the flats at 0.643", most other sources list it at 0.661" ... which is what I measure with my caliper, 16.8mm or 0.661 inches.
And according to another thread, the other numbers of my distributor (DA37 1162) indicate a much later date of November 1962 for manufacture of the distributor itself. According to an even different thread, DA37 indicates it is correct for a 50-52TD, which is what I have, irrespective of distributor manufacture date.
And in yet another thread, George Butz says that "any distributor part # ending in "E" [mine is "F"] or any letter after originally had high lift cams, but the cam could have been changed at some point. George"

So seems like I have the correct distributor (of later manufacture of Nov 1962) with an F configuration suggesting a high lift cam, and the profile of the cam itself certainly looks like a high lift cam (see black and white drawing at top).. but the cam measurement seems wrong for a high lift cam. It's 0.661 and Moss Motors states:
0.704" = Asymmetric
0.661" = Symmetric
0.640" = High lift


So, looking at the picture I posted earlier, and going with the 0.661" measurement, should I assume this is a asymmetric, NOT a high lift cam?

Geoffrey M Baker

Been a while, but that does not look like a high lift cam, I recall they are very square with slightly rounded corners, more so than in the diagram
George Butz

I apologize, I made an error in my last post here. I've tried deleting it but no luck. So please, ignore the previous post ... here is the correct one:

Bob Gruneau's very interesting and helpful article still left me uncertain: his distributor numbers make no reference to my 40162F model (he lists 40162A only).
He measures high lift cams across the flats at 0.643", most other sources list it at 0.640" ... I measure 16.8mm or 0.661 inches.
And according to another thread, the other numbers of my distributor (DA37 1162) indicate a much later date of November 1962 for manufacture of the distributor itself. According to an even different thread, DA37 indicates it is correct for a 50-52TD, which is what I have, irrespective of distributor manufacture date.
And in yet another thread, George Butz says that "any distributor part # ending in "E" [mine is "F"] or any letter after originally had high lift cams, but the cam could have been changed at some point. George"

So seems like I have the correct distributor (of later manufacture of Nov 1962) with an F configuration suggesting a high lift cam, and the profile of the cam itself certainly looks like a high lift cam (see black and white drawing at top).. but the cam measurement seems wrong for a high lift cam. It's 0.661 and Moss Motors states:
0.704" = Asymmetric
0.661" = Symmetric
0.640" = High lift
Geoffrey M Baker

Geoffrey - Send you picture to Jeff Schlemmer at: jeff@advanceddistributors.com He should be able to identify it for you. Cheers - Dave
DW DuBois

Jeff Schlemmer identified it as an asymmetric standard cam, not high lift.
Geoffrey M Baker

Here is the Grunau article: http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/distributor.htm
Steve Simmons

This thread was discussed on 12/08/2015

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