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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - Condenser

Interesting that a condenser for our cars from the normal distributors is around $15.00 each, yet a condenser for a Plymouth Arrow which fits, is around $4.50 each. Quite a difference. PJ


Paul161

Paul and forum members -

Here is info about the Plymouth Arrow condensers that I posted on the MG Exp in response to your question.

I looked at probably 300 photos of condensers on-line. I found only two that fit the distributor ... Moss and Plymouth Arrow. Two Moss condensers failed in a very short time so I searched for an alternative and found the Plymouth Arrow condenser. The condenser is a little smaller diameter than the original Lucas or Moss condenser.

Here are manufacturers' part numbers:
BWD G635
Echlin Ignition Parts ECH EP657
AIRTEX 5H1025
CARQUEST 501565
WELLS JA525
GM 88921447
MITSUBISHI MD607309
MITSUBISHI MD607530
BOSCH 02237
ACDelco E281
Forecast 2844
ORIGINAL ENGINE MANAGEMENT 2844
STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS JC-53

Prices range from $1.55 to $15.00.
Some parts houses are closing them out at $1.99 or less. Not many Plymouth Arrows still roaming the highways.

NAPA part number ECH EP657
Advance Autoparts number G635

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Lonnie are those for the Plymouth better quality than the ones from South East Asia? Anyone have any problems with any on the list? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter -

Who knows! I think that today, the quality of every condenser is a shot in the dark. So far I've had 100% failure of the two Moss condensers that I bought for $15.00 each and 100% success with the Plymouth condenser that I bought for less than $4.00. My Plymouth condenser was Echlin #EP657, made in Japan. FYI, they are the correct capacitance -- "0.22 microfarad" stamped on the condenser.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Thanks mate. Nice work! I'll see what makes from your list are available locally.

I'd also like to present your list at the MGRA T Type Tech Day on the 1st Nov here in Sydney if that's OK with you? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Sure, Peter

No guarantee, just my observation from a vary small sample.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Peter -

Photos etc on MG Experence ...
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?46,3092960

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Lonnie,

In the past 2 years TD3966 came to a sudden engine stop twice. In both cases the condenser was the culprit.

Searching the internet I came across the site of Distributor Doctor in the UK. My impression is that they know what they're talking about. And if it's true what they claim than sudden engine stops are history... So I ordered their 423871 condenser for my DM2 distributor.

Price GBP 6,95 + shipping.

Do you know this company? Or does any of the members of this forum? Experiences?

see http://www.distributordoctor.com/distributor_condensers.htm

Regards, Jasper


JL Nederhoed TD3966

They are well known and have a decent reputation. Similarly, Advanced Distributors in the USA.
Dave H
Dave Hill

I'm writing a "Tech Tip" about condensers for next month's club newsletter. Although I don't know anything about the Distributor Doctor, I listed him as a potential source because the website was the only one that claimed to have condensers that work and that fit T-series MGs. I also suggested that Jeff at Advanced Distributors may have a source for condensers.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Why not post the photos directly to this thread? That way they are easier to view, get archived with the thread, and don't use someone else's bandwidth!

Both Distributor Doctor and Advanced Distributors seem to have condensers that work. I've used them from both sources with good results. I've actually had mostly good luck with Moss units also but it's been a couple years so perhaps the latest batch has gone south in quality again.
Steve Simmons

Sportsparts here in Sydney advise that the condenser from the MGB works. A littler larger but still fits inside the cap. (It may also suffer from the same faults though..) Had no luck in chasing any of the condensers from Lonnie's list here. I did see a couple of suppliers in the States on line though. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter -

You will need to drill and tap the breaker plate to accept the mount tab on an MGB condenser. The mount is on the rear of the can.

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

Some folks think I'm a little over the top when I order parts, but if it is a part known to go bad in a short period of time, I usually order two or three. I just ordered three 78 Plymouth Arrow condensers, two from one seller and one with a different brand name from another seller. The one in the distributor now works fine, but I have no idea how old it is and the new ones will go in the tool bag, just in case. Plus, I'll have a spare for someone who needs one in a hurry. I paid $4.50 each for them and free shipping. So really, I got three for the price of one from our normal suppliers. Just sayin. PJ

Paul161

Paul, now is the time to install each of them and let them prove themselves before you put them in the tool bag. Bud
Bud Krueger

Lonnie, thanks for the list. Found two Echlin's on eBay for $4.47 each with free shipping, so I purchased both. Hope this will help my ailing TF! Thanks again. Larry
Larry Brown

Good idea Bud, thanks, simple thing to do and could eliminate aggravation later. PJ
Paul161

I posted this in another thread a while ago. I found that the BWD G102AP fits. The mounting bracket had to be modified a bit to get it to fit in the distributor. A tiny bit of the bracket protruded into the center area and had to be bent out of the way. I may also grind away a bit of the bracket around the condenser itself so I can set back the wire a little more.

S Grimm

Installed picture. You can see how I might want to modify the mount a bit. You can also see where I bent the mount so it doesn't interfere with the distributor shaft.

As you can see from the first picture, the condenser is about twice the size of the one that was in before. Not sure if that will make any difference other than to take up more space.

Stuart

S Grimm

Here's a different angle.


S Grimm

It's a shame that we have to go through all of this to get a condenser that will last. Our suppliers should be doing it instead of selling us inferior junk. The next step is to make our own, not that difficult. PJ
Paul161

Right, Paul. Just get a potato from one of your neighbors up in Idaho. Bud
Bud Krueger

This thread was discussed between 27/09/2015 and 01/10/2015

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