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MG TD TF 1500 - TD head oil supply pipe

I am working on an early TD for a friend, the rocker supply pipe is tapped directly into the end of the banjo bolt on the block.
Is this original or has a previous owner done this to get a perceived oil pressure rise ?.
We have no problem other than the oil take off fouls the cam follower cover vent pipe. I may move the oil pipe to the head, I know the shown pressure will drop but not the actual engine pressure.
This car has been off the road for about 45 years and she is anxious to be driving it again.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Ray, can you post a picture?

Regards, Tom
tm peterson

Early TDs had the gauge take off point at the head while later cars had it relocated to the block. I don’t know exactly when the change occurred Yes the change was made to make a perceived difference at the gauge and does nothing more than that.
W A Chasser

I am away from the car at the moment. The later oil connection is from a "Y" banjo.The pipe on this one has a single banjo top and bottom with the gauge connection tapped directly into the banjo bolt.
As I said we are not worried about aesthetics just the fouling of the vent pipe.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Here is a factory picture of the take off on an early TD.





Bruce Cunha

Thanks Bruce,
That shows the oil fitting in the end of the banjo bolt on the head end before the pipe is fitted.
So it is original but the bolts are in the wrong place.
I know that the pipe was later fitted to the block end to show an apparent increase in oil pressure.
Although grainy when blown up, the pic is clear.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

It was moved to the block to show accurate main oil gallery pressure, which is what is what matters in an engine, somewhere around 10psi/1000RPM a rough guide. The ID of the banjo bolts was reduced somewhere in production, which would give an incorrect and reduced reading of main gallery pressure if the gauge was downstream from the restriction. Of course the only time I had suddenly low oil pressure, the loud knocking sound was a clue there was a problem. Seems that the sudden leak between the crankshaft pieces was the problem...George
George Butz III

Thanks everybody, we have found a later oil pipe with the connection into the lower banjo.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

When the change was made to the lower position, they also moved the oil pipe connector from the battery box to the firewall.

I am assuming this had to do with the position of the oil line hose coming off the engine.




Bruce Cunha

This thread was discussed between 14/08/2021 and 16/08/2021

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