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MG TD TF 1500 - Valve stem seals

I'm narrowing in on the problem. 1st, I bought Len's roller cam and had an "expert" install it. At the same time I had the triple spring setup installed. There is a part in the double spring set that did not get put in with the triples and that is the metal bucket-shaped oil deflector. Why not? Maybe because they did not come with the triple spring set AND because it is a MUCH tighter fit. Maybe it doesn't fit at all. Since I KEPT my old spring set, I actually have these buckets. I also called Federated and talked to tech support. They do not have ANY stem seals that measure small enough to grasp the TD valve guide. How did I end up with these, I forget but they are useless. I also read the Moss instructions which actually explain why the O rings work. So, my question to the group is what stem seals are to be used with the triple springs and/or should I force these buckets inside the inner springs and use the O rings and/or should I revert to the double springs (now that I have 10.5 : 1 compression)?
John Redman

Comments form the engine gurus PLEASE. Oh, and I just found out that the distributors are different between 1250 and 1500, too. Is it the whole dizzy or just the mount for it?
John Redman

http://www.mg-tabc.org/library/distributor.htm

George Butz

I found, in the Moss catalog, that the newer engines went to a $33 cotterbolt and away from a $99 clamp and that is the only difference. What George sent me tells me to order an additional 1/8 inch spacer ring to make up for not having the clamp. Sooo complicated this project.
John Redman

Triple springs? Why?
Gene Gillam

Sorry, didn't get the above comment edited in time.

Why are you using triple springs. Len's roller cam setup comes with a set of springs specifically designed to work with the cam...I'd use them before something an *expert* came up with.

As for valve seals, these are Felpro SS72522 and SS70373 - I don't remember the ones I used last time but I think they were the SS70373 - these press down over the guide itself and keeps engine oil from going down the guide much better that the rubber seal which is located just below the valve cotters. You can order them online or get them at most auto stores. Less than $15.
Gene Gillam

Gene, I guess that the triple springs are the ones that came with the roller cam, then. They consist of inner and outer normal looking coil springs and a middle spring which is flat - triple. It was a while ago. As for the Felpro SS70373 seals, they are a loose fit on the valve guides. They are a whole mm larger in diameter. They fit the valve stem just fine. You see, I already did get a set. When they didn't fit, I even called tech support at Federated (Felpro) and gave them the dimension of the valve guide and was told they do not have anything that small and that mg tds do not appear in their catalog.
John Redman

John,

I just went and reverified what I have. There are only two springs per valve in the kit Len sent me (mine is a supercharger grind but I don't see what difference that would make). Contact Len to make sure he sent you the correct springs.

Also, I checked the size of the valve guides and they're close to 12mm in diameter - the FelPro valve seals fit just fine. Those numbers came from John Twist and I see that Bud has them on his ttalk website: http://www.ttalk.info/StaffordSeal.htm

I don't dispute that the original o-rings can work if placed where they're supposed to be (at the bottom of the two retainers, not on the stem) but I prefer the top hat seals.

Gene
Gene Gillam

This thread was discussed between 12/08/2013 and 15/08/2013

MG TD TF 1500 index

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