Oil filter block plate - really?

Austin group, I'm a newbie with a 1957 Nash Metropolitan - these American market cars were all british built and have Austin drive trains. So its this weird marriage of American skin over a british car. I've had my car about 18 mos, not exactly a basket case but lots of issues to get it road worthy.
Ok mine is a Austin 1500 inline 4 cyl. And it has a block plate mounted where the spin-on oil filter should go. I have no reason to think this isn't original to the car! I have at least 3 questions: 1) is this block plate common? 2) do any of you run with these? 3) can you tell me what modern filter will fit? I.e. a Fram part number
Thank you in advance, Texas Jim

hmmm, i always thought those cars had MGA engines.

Jim--

Drone Dog is correct--the Metro's used the BMC B block and you would do better to go to either the MG page of BCF or the MG Experience forum where you wiil be able to get accurate info.

Moss Motors has all types of spin-on filters. A call could pin it down.
Bob

My son had 2 of them and rebuilt one when in high school as a project, they had Austin engines in them. Both were yellow and cream colored. PJ

Respectfully, no. It is an Austin. Thanks for your input.

Jim--

This from Wikipedia:

"Series II Overview--After the first 10,000 cars were built, the engine was changed to a B-Series, but still of 1,200 cc (73 cu in), (as used in the Austin A40 Cambridge). Other modifications that were incorporated at this time were a new gearbox, and hydraulic actuation for the clutch (Series I models used a mechanical clutch linkage). The change to a new engine and gearbox added 50 lb (23 kg) to the weight. This model is referred to as Series II or NK2 (Commencing with Vehicle identification number (VIN) E11001 on August 19, 1954)."

I believe the final version of the Metro used a 1498 cc engine as found in the first MGA's and Austin A50's. They only had one SU and may have been slightly detuned.

I also believe you will get more assistance on the MGA forum. Your car may have an Austin engine but it is not an Austin-Healey, and what little we know we know about Healeys, not Austins.

Is this engine and filter what you expect? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipe..._Metropolitan_Series_3_Austin_1500_engine.jpg

You might want to contact this guy on the Forum: https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf...I-can-t-pass-on-part-2&highlight=Metropolitan

A spin-on filter would require a threaded nipple in the block; I'd remove the plate and see if there's a threaded hole for a nipple.

So, the obvious question is: is there another type of filter; i.e. canister or screen (some aircraft have these)? If not, why on earth would a company sell a car without at least a rudimentary means to filter oil, or even blocking said means? The 100 have a blanking plate on the block, but it's for an engine-driven fuel pump but because Healeys have the ultra-reliable SU electric pump there is no need.

See page 7. https://metropolitan-restoration-service.com/assets/pdfjs/nash-metropolitan-parts-catalog.pdf

Legal Bill said:

See page 7. https://metropolitan-restoration-service.com/assets/pdfjs/nash-metropolitan-parts-catalog.pdf

Click to expand...

This shop that Legal Bill has referenced is about an hour from my home and has been there for at least 40 years that I know of. He is well known and i believe I have seen his booth at the large Hershey Antique Meet which is now coming up in October.

The owners of seemingly obscure LBC's can wrongly believe that parts for their cars are unique or hard to come by. However, because of consolidations in the British auto trade during the 1950's-1960's many many cars were necessarily built out of either Austin or Standard parts bins.

This especially includes the "Cottage" industry for which the Brits became famous, and lots of parts for limited-production makes and models can either be purchased off the shelf or made to fit with small modification. On my Ginetta G4, for example, the front end is off of a triumph GT6, the steering rack is off of a Morris Mini inverted and with slight narrowing, and the rear axle housing is from an Austin A40. Same thing on my Elva Courier: Triumph front, MGA/B engine and transmission, Morris rear axle tube and shafts, etc.

BTW I recently missed selling the Courier to a racing newbie when some uninformed person convinced him that he would have a difficult time with spares, and he instead bought a Mini. The number of bespoke parts on it is, in truth, nil.