• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

reason for it said 1500 has cooling [run to hot] problems?

Share this page

R

recordsj

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Concerning the 1500 MG Midget, I hear talk that it hascooling problems (runs to hot) and people recommend using an oil cooler (to cool the oil and hold a better oil pressure). In connection with this I have seen it saidthat the design is poor which causes this issue of running hot.
I have never seen anyone say WHY the 1500 has coolingproblems. Does anyone have a good engineering/mechanical explanation ofwhy the 1500 has cooling problems?
My only thought is that ones with cooling problems havean old radiator that doesn't eject heat well (as opposed to a new/cleanradiator) and/or have tuning problems with timing and/or carb which isproducing to much heat at combustion.
Any thoughts or solid explanation on this?
 
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
I have never heard of or experienced issues with the 1500 running hot. Mind you, I did exactly what you mention - block boiled, rad rebuilt, new hoses. It runs solidly and always in a good temperature range. That said, what 1500's do tend to have issues with vapour lock. The design issue that it did have, was that the catalytic converter can was located right under the carburetor. This combined with the fact that the carb heat shield tended to deteriorate/ disappear over time and the reality that the gas of today is not what it used to be has caused the aforementioned vapour lock issues.

Now, all that being said, I am also of the opinion that vapour lock way over diagnosed. I regularly read about vapour lock issues when it is fuel filter, or mixture, or fuel pump, or dirty tank or ..... I don't believe it is a common (especially in 1500's) as people think.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
Mine has never run hot. They say the Midget 1500 runs hot because of a smaller engine compartment and radiator compared to the Spitfire it came from. I have a cooler that came with a parts car that i haven't put it on yet. I don't know if I will.
 
aeronca65t

aeronca65t

Great Pumpkin
Offline
I raced my Spridget with a 1500 for over 7 years. No problems overheating and never ran an oil cooler. Be sure block is flushed with clean 50/50 water-anti-freeze (too much anti-freeze can cause overheating). Be sure there is no air locks in cooling system; "burp" system by squeezing lower rad hose with cap off. Use a good thermostat (I like a 165F but a 180F is good too). If lower hose is old, check and/or replace. This hose is under suction and if it becomes soft with age, it will suck closed when engine is running at highway speeds.
 
OP
R

recordsj

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Along the same line that the 1500 runs hot, why is it said that an oil cooler is needed for the 1500 because of the poor cooling design to deal with hot oil and low oil pressure?

I ask some of this since at startup i get 70 psi cold, 30-40 psi idle hot, 50-60 psi hot at 3000 rpm cruising down the road. At times though i get 15-20 psi hot idle especially on a hard drive.
 
Jim_Gruber

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
My 1098 in Bugsy my '68 I just sold had the same issue. I attributed the rise in water temps to a weak lower radiator hose partially collapsing under high sustained RPM's. Oil pressure would drop from 70 to 55 lb as temps rose. A cool down coming off of the Expressway ramp would drop temps back to below N and oil pressure back up to 60-65 lbs. The fact that temps and pressures would change that quickly I attributed to partial copllapse of the hose. My thought was to put a copper elbow in there to make sure hose did not collapse under high suction. It's a very short hose but goes through a lot of gyrations to get connected from the radiator to the lower pipe.
 
OP
R

recordsj

Jedi Warrior
Offline
Makes sense to me. I fully understand that as temps rise oil becomes thinner and oil pressure will drop.
My engine was rebuilt 2 years ago and don't think it is worn parts. I also have checked play in the crabk shaft to check for the thrust washer wear. I also have replaced radiator and hoses. In rhe rebuid i did go to a 9:1 compression pistons and head. With the higher compression producing more hp, maybe that is producing more heat.
 
Jim_Gruber

Jim_Gruber

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
Timing settings have a lot to do with heat production and cooling. Too far advanced = heat if I recall correctly. Retarding a gegree or two may improve cooling. Someone else I know will chime in here if I'm incorrect.
 
JPSmit

JPSmit

Moderator
Staff member
Silver
Country flag
Offline
IIRC 76's are supposed to be set ATDC - though mine is BTDC. Also, the vacuum is Vacuum Retard not advance. Jeff (advanced distributers) suggested I disconnect the vacuum. I did and think it runs better - and cooler.
 
OP
R

recordsj

Jedi Warrior
Offline
I thought what is shown in the manual for '76 to be set ATDC is for emission concerns (my emission components are removed). Why would other years for the 1500 be set at 10deg BTDC?
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
That's emissions BS, mine is set at 12 BTDC but I have 7.5 compression. I'd say 10 is a good starting point. If you want it to run like crap and have no power then set it ATDC.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
JPSmit said:
IIRC 76's are supposed to be set ATDC - though mine is BTDC. Also, the vacuum is Vacuum Retard not advance. Jeff (advanced distributers) suggested I disconnect the vacuum. I did and think it runs better - and cooler.
Click to expand...
IIRC all 1500's are spec'd ATDC. You can find a vac advance diaphragm and convert yours. I did but I can't use it anymore because of the DCOE. I need to hook that thing back up.
 
G

Guest

Guest
Guest
Offline
recordsj said:
what is the front and what side is the back?
Click to expand...
The back is the part behind the front, which us just in front of the back. :jester: O.K, the round thing, right. The back part is the half that is on the distributor side. The front is the other side. It it plugs onto the front, it's advance; the rear, retard.
 
R

Ralphie

Freshman Member
Country flag
Offline
Greetings from the land of dysfunctional government ; I’ve tried every conceivable thing to keep my 1500 cool , replaced all hoses , thermostat -with / without ,radiator replace , heater box (rebuilt) flow on / off valve , timing (10* BTDC) , rebuilt 25D distributor ($200.00) installed 3.5 differentials @ $1500.00 bucks , oil cooler , and finally my water pump (Triumph ) W/ a plastic multi blade fan ……. better but not great . The conventional old clutch fan is old / compromised ………if you can freely move the fan than the “clutch” is shot , it’s compromised , not fully engaging at low RPM‘S . On my 75’ MG Midget doing 3500 RPM’s @ 66 mph on a warm day (80*) the temp starts to rise ………..under 3300 rpm’s (60+) I’m good but not thrilled . Today it’s 50’s and it runs great (temp) but summer is coming .
‘I dunno , I might just install my M/G (Moto Guzzi) engine in it and call it a day . God save the Queen !
Click to expand...
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
T TR2/3/3A Is there a reason for this large pointed piece on front suspension? Triumph 14
Rut Any reason not to mount this here? Spridgets 21
gbtr6 TR6 Reason for my rebuild Triumph 3
T TR2/3/3A Is there any reason there is a stud bolt at top of timing chain cover? Triumph 7
S Off Topic Reason 193 why I love little british cars [especially TRs] Triumph 8
RedTR3 TR2/3/3A The Reason for my Rebuild Triumph 5
J Any reason to not change the color of a Sprite? Spridgets 10
Jer Another reason why it's great to own a Spridget Spridgets 9
tahoe healey real reason for no tunes Austin Healey 21
germanmichel Reason of SU fuel pump strike Austin Healey 9
tony barnhill I know there's a reason, but... Spridgets 14
Trevor Jessie What is the reason for this Spridgets 9
JPSmit There's a reason I haven't - but a question Spridgets 12
jlaird For some reason Spridgets 5
jlaird Another reason Spridgets 8
J The reason stated the Esprit will disappear after 2003 is....[look inside to find out Lotus 2
Mickey Richaud MGB Said Goodbye... MG 16
Zitch TR4/4A Who said the TR4 round shift knobs were NLA Triumph 4
60TR3A What's The Weirdest Thing Anyone Ever Said or Asked You About Your Car? Austin Healey 28
charlie74 74TR6 [or so the licence plate said!] Spotted 0
W As Adam said to Eve.... Spridgets 6
B MGB I just said yep to another MGB. MG 13
C I said let there be light, and there was NO light Spridgets 16
jlaird Today Miss Agatha said Spridgets 2
jlaird No matter what I said Spridgets 10
PATR8 Remember when I said ugg what could happen next? Triumph 5
jlaird Geoffrey Healey said: Spridgets 1
TNMGB Mechanic broke my trunk...and never said a word!!! MG 22
J The Jaguar that Jaguar said it would never build..is being built! Jaguar 5
C LCB header with 1500 single carb inlet manifold Spridgets 1
L Little1's 75 Midget 1500 Thread Spridgets 14
L Midget 1500 Zenith Air Filter Element: Is it a Unicorn? Spridgets 7
dwpirkeyjr Red? Bue? Purple? Yellow? Poly Bushings Complete Set For 1979 MG midget 1500 Spridgets 6
M 1500 Midget water pump weep hole Spridgets 2
M 1977 MG Midget 1500 Problem Spridgets 8
G Spitfire Spitfire 1500 differential whining Triumph 6
M General MG MG 1500 engine 4-91 or 4-110 MG 3
M Midget 1500 1977 Smog pump/Air Injection Pipe Spridgets 0
T MG Midget 1500 crank shaft pulley Spridgets 0
M Wanted Midget 1500 exhaust manifold MG Classifieds 0
G T-Series 1955 mgtf 1500 lites MG 5
W Spitfire 1975 Spitfire 1500 shifting problems when hot Triumph 8
G 79 Midget 1500 overheating Spridgets 2
G General MG Leaking Fuel on twin HS4's 1500 MG Midget MG 5
I Spitfire Triumph Spitfire 1500 refuses to awake after 10 year hibernation Triumph 6
I Spitfire spitfire 1500 refuses to awake after 10 years Triumph 2
M Spitfire 1500 LH Door Triumph Classifieds 0
M 1976 Spitfire 1500 (RHD) Triumph Classifieds 2
B COMPLETE DROP-IN Rebuilt 1975/6 MG Midget 1500 engine PLUS rebuilt Spitfire Overdrive trans NEVER INSTALLED Spridgets Classified 2
R Spitfire Spitfire 1500 Triumph 3

Similar threads

Top