midget head

[phil63]

I have a Midget 1275 engine but I dont want to use the 2 carbs . what manifold and carb could I use ?
Regards Phil

[bmcecosse]

Ideal set-up is MG Metro alloy inlet manifold with either HIF 38 or HIF 44 single SU carb. 38 for best economy - 44 for best performance! The 38 will easily match the power from the original twin 1.25" SU carbs - the 44 will give more.

[Peetee]

Any manifold designed for the A-series will fit but you will have to consider what to do about the exhaust. Presumably you have a LCB type (three seperate steel pipes joining low down near the bulkhead). If so you would be best to use an alloy inlet manifold with a 1.5 inch (HS4 or HIF38) or 1.75 inch (HS6 or HIF44) SU carb. The manifold will probably suit one or the other size (they have different fixings). If you have a standard cast iron manifold with the inlet section cut off you can replace this with an all in one casting but you will notice the performance difference as they are restrictive on the inlet.
Also consider what air filter arrangement you want. Noisy performance filters such as K&N or Piper are easy to find on ebay but a quiet standard system can be the hardest part to get hold of.

[phil63]

hello bmcecosse, would that be a 1300 Metro manifold ? from what sort of year ? Phil

[chrisd87]

It needs to be off an MG metro (which all have the 1300 engine), and not the Austin versions. This is because the Austin versions used a one-piece manifold, the exhaust section of which is a completely different 2-branch design and cannot be used with the standard Minor pipe.

If you have a few more pennies then I might suggest using a manifold with smaller ports designed for use with a 1 1/2 inch carb (the MG metro manifold is designed for a 1 3/4 inch), as this will give you better low-down torque. I managed to get my hands on one of these, which are designed for 1 1/2 inch carbs:



I would definately recommend buying and reading Vizard's book, I found it very easy to read and really interesting.

[bmcecosse]

Yes - the Vizard book is the definitive word. Manifold from an MG metro - search ebay - usually plenty of them about. Works just fine as it comes - when fitted with HIF 38 (1.5") carb. To get the best from it with the HIF 44 it needs some work on the corners and the port runners - last two I bought were £5 each. Sometimes see them go for even less!

[Kevin]

Other manifolds to look out for are the Howley and the later Mini Spares ones both of which are as good as the Oselli, and has been said you may as well go straight for an HIF carb as they are not only better but produce better performance or economy.