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MG MGB Technical - oil filter head

I was changing the oil and filter yesterday and noticed that the threads on the oil filter head looka bit stripped. The replacable spin on filter screws on alright but the beginning threads seemed to be missing. Must be a previous owner putting the filter on cross-threaded. I was thinking about replacing the filter head which mates witht the engine block. This is on a 1980 engine. What are my options? I had thought about going to an oil cooler but do you get the filter head with the kit? I noticed in Victoria British they sell these filter heads at $160, ouch. Does anyone have one kicking around that they might want to sell for cheap? Thanks.
David Favero

also, can these be replaced with the engine still in the car? do they bolt on or screw on? Thanks.
David Favero

David. No, the oil filter adapter does not come with the oil cooler kit. Yes, they are rather expensive. There are two things you can do. First, post an ad on the "Parts Wanted" section of this website and see what turns up. Second, you can contact Bob Schaulin at gbmg@aol.com and get a good used unit from him. I have deal with him for a number of years and am out to the wrecking yard he and his brother own about once a week. I have never had a problem with the used parts I have bought from him, nor have I heard of anyone who did. You might check and see if there are any wrecking yards near you which have MGBs in them. Bob has something over 50 in his yard and a good supply of used parts. If you should decide to replace the adapter, you should also replace the rubber O ring that goes between the adapter and the block. These things harden up over time and often do not reseal properly when the adapter is removed and replaced. I find it interesting that neither of the two "lower engine gasket kits" I have in stock contain this sealing ring and you must purchase it seperately when rebuilding an engine. Something to be aware of. If it were me, I would wait to replace the adapter until it either did not work anymore or I had to pull the engine. Much easier to get the old, hardened gasket out when the engine is outside of the car. Les
Les Bengtson

Les, are you saying you have a salvage yard near by with 50 MGBs in it? Wow, you are lucky. No yards that I know of around here have any. If it ain't a late model car with some expensive parts on it, it goes to the shredder.
Dana

Yes, Dana. There is a yard about a 50 minute drive from my house with a very large collection of MGBs, a smaller collection of MGAs, midgets, Sprites, Austin-Healeys, some Volvos and several Alfas. The people who own it are very well known in the local car community and are constantly being contacted when cars are on the market. I have bought three cars and a lot of parts from them over the years with complete satisfaction. A good place to do business with. Les
Les Bengtson

I replaced the inverted cannister with a spin-on adapter last night. Got mine from Tony Barnhill(thanks Tony). I found a local wholesaler (Euclid Foreign Motors for those of you in the Greater Cleveland, Ohio area) that sells Mann W917 for $4.81 each.
The old O ring IS a bit of a bugger, but I didnt like to keep using that old cannister.
To remove the O ring I used a sharp utility knife and cut obliquely through the O ring. Working from above I ran the knife along the groove of the filter head in the engine block until a small chunk was sliced out. Using a small bladed screwdriver I was able to pry out just enough of the ring for me to grab and slowly peeled it out of the groove. I used an old round headed fender mirror positioned underneath so I could see into the filter head from above. Working from above you can apply more pressure on the knife or screwdriver than you can from working from under the car. In all it took about 1/2 hour.
Andrew Blackley

I have had lots of problems with leaks from
the copper washer between the bolt head and
filter head on this thing. (In contrast to the
usual problems of the o-ring leaking.)

I wonder if the copper washers supplied by the
mail order places are too thick or not soft
enough?
Ronald

Les , I'm going to Az. soon , how about shooting me the name and addy of the MG breakers ? I still need a few bits .

TIA ,
-Nate
NSH

This thread was discussed between 18/04/2002 and 22/04/2002

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