MG T-ABC

Happy New Year, All,

I hate to admit it, but many years ago when I was younger and more foolish, I lost track of the original air cleaner for my TC. I did have enough sense to keep the 2-piece aluminum "manifold" which fastens to the carbs, but the air-cleaner can itself is long gone. Now I want to re-create a cleaner which will externally look like the original, but will use a replaceable filtering medium. To do this, I need some dimensions for an original filter, and I'm hoping someone will be willing to measure theirs, and e-mail me the results. Here are the measurements I want:

1) Overall length (Rim-to-rim)
2) Depth of the "doming" at the upper end
3) Outside diameter of the can itself
4) How many air-intake openings are there around the periphery at the upper end, and what are the dimensions of those openings? With these dimensions in hand, I hope to be able to extrapolate the dimensions of the internal passages from the illustrations on pg. 45 of the TC manual.

I know that new units appear in the catalogs of some parts houses, but it seems to me that the prices are way too high; I'd rather spend the dough on other items. However, If someone has a used TC aircleaner can they'd be willing to sell, I'd sure like to hear from them!

I'm currently using TF "pancake" cleaners with paper filter elements, but can't seem to find replacement elements of the right size any more. "Right size" element is 6 inches OD, height not more than 1.25 inches (any thicker than that, the cleaner hits the side of the bonnet). I can't find any identification on the esisting elements, but I know they were US-made. Any help on finding these would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Regards,
Carl Fritz
TC 6756

Hi Carl, here are the dimensions of the can:
Inlet pipe: 2 3/8" ID, 1"long
Body: 4 1/2" OD, 8 1/4" long
Vents: 1 3/16" X 7/16" with a space of 3/16" between them except along the seamwhere the space is 1 1/4" and 1 7/16" at the carb breather. 19 of them in total.
Breather 90 degrees from seam.
End Cap: "curvature" is 1/2" from center to edge.
The bulkhead with the inlet pipe appears to be the same curvarure as the end cap, but inverted to be concave.
I hope this is of assistance.
Regards,
Hugh Pite

Carl,
You might consider getting a set of K&N air filters for your TC. I have a set on my '49 and they do seem to perform as advertised. The car does seem to run better - doesn't seem quite as strained at hiway speeds. The only problem is that they don't make them for the 1 1/4" SUs. Mine were intended for 1 1/2" SUs, but with a 1 1/4" carb gasket they fit OK. But then if you are using TF filters you are probably already aware of the differences. You might see if they make elements to fit the TF air cleaners.

I would leave the TC canister to the show cars. If you put one back on, you will soon realize why you took it off in the first place.

Regards,
Charles Hill
TC 0857 (With original filter but still under restoration)
TC 7387 (With K&N filters)