THE NORTH AMERICANMGB REGISTER The ,WGB Driver is the oficial publicatio~lof the North American MGB Regihter, o non-prLifit rhe Editor's View oryuniratlon dedicated to maintuinrng and expanding interest in Britain's most populclr sp,,rts car-the MGB. The opinions expressed within are those of thc individual authon und reuden are wurned thut t's that time of year when we in the tlley attempt any mechanical or other modificatio~lsdescribed herein, entirely c~ttheir own risk. more northerly climes of our conti- Mernbersllip in the Notti1 American MGt3 Reglster is open to all. with no restrlctlons. Ownership of an MG 1s not a condition of rn embership. NAMGBR Regional Chapters bvill be nent retire to our garages and base- oleased to welcome you to their events. Mernbt xshlp due5 are S25.00 per year. lent workshops to wrench away the For membership details or furthe1 infonnoti~2n wr~teto: hilly months in anticipation of the NORTH AMERICANlubu ~tcl15TER pcoming driving season. With that P.O. Box 3203 1 mind, our theme for this issue is Kent, Ohio 44240 2ch Tips. We've gathered a bunch of Or call the toll-free hotline 800-NAMGBR-1 ps and tech info from a variety of Or visit our website at: ~p://www.norn_~br.orqlnamghrL mrces on the carc and feeding of OFFICERS OF THE NAMGBR our favorite MG. I started to get ready to pull the look into locating paint in the rare CHAIRhlAN: Dovid Deutsch PUBLICITY Richurd Liddick 81 Menick Avenue COORDISATOR: 5237 Glen Arm Rood ngine out of Growler to replace the BLVC color 05 Limeflower. I hope I East Meadow. NY 13554 I Glen Arm. MD 21057 front main cup bridge piece that I remember where I put all Ihe parts think is behind the prodigious oil that 1 stashed so long ago leak I had last year. The garage has So grab your wrench and get your CONVEYTION1 Tony & Lynne Burgess been too cold for the last month to MG in shape. You definitely want to VICE-CHAIRMAN: Nick Pappus AGM 318 Humptvn Purk 4601 Purk Hollow Circle COORDINATORS: Westerville, OH 43081 comfortably work in, so I've held off make sure it's ready to head to St. Bryan, TX 77802 (614) 899-2394 on pulling the engine and flipping it Louis in Tune and join in the fun of (979) 776-3590 (614) 899-2493 Tux [email protected] over. But any day now it will warm the MG 2003 national convention. TECHNlCAL Bob MaLon up enough that I'll be able to finish SECRETARY: D Zinlrnerman ADVISORS: 5 Leslie Court the job. Safety Fast! 811 S. DePeyster Street Fairhope, AL 36532 Kcnt, OH 44240 (251) 928-5366 Even more fun is making plans to (330) 678-9394 (Whcn wril~ng finally get going again on my long- Bob Daniels (eng~nes,ctc.) ~-----7 Kim fax. (330) 678-8568 lo a lechnicol dormant '73 MGB GT project. We're [email protected] odvrsor.plerl,r (518) 372 4566 hc ccrlaln Irr going to use it for Chicagoland MG include a Glen Tvwery TREASURER: lerry Kohlenstein stunlped sell- (302) 734-1243 Club bodywork tech sessions this 10766 U.S Hwy. 12 oddrcs5cd envelope for spring and finally finish the sills and New Buffalo, MI 49 117-9268 llieir rq~l}.) (269) 469-156.5 "oors and attend to the various other ]kprodGlriton.net ~stedareas. Then 1'11 finally have to MEMBERSHIP Prisiilla Blanchard COORD1N.kTOR: 561 BM~Street COORDINATORS OF THE NAMGBR Kent. OH 44240 EDITOR Kim Tonry (330) 673-1229 MGB Driver: 4904 Puffer Road (800) NAMGBR-l Downer5 Grove, IL 60515 REGAL1 r\ Mi~hoel1. Robson (630) 968-4347 COORDINATOR: 39 Bobby's Court [email protected] Ritlaefield. CT 0687" ASSISTANT Robert Rushing Little British Car Co. Tech Tips EDITOR 5444 Sutherland Avenue Jeff and Jan Zorn .MCU Driver St. LOUIS.MO 63109 WEBSITE Rick Brown (314) 353-7655 COORD1N.ATOR: I!O. Box 102 mgsl~md~sv\.bell.net Ast)urv,N1 08802 Page 2s MiscellaneousTech Tips (908) 537-6877 Bob Mason, Technical Coordinator ADVtRTlSING: James T. Brucalo [email protected] P.O. Box 770308 Corul Springs. FL 33077-0308 COKCOURS Rick Ingrunl (954) 340-1252 COORDINATOR: P.O. Box 588 St. loseph. IL 61873 (217) 469-2007 Mowoy 18aol.co1n MGB Bolt Sizes, Taps and Dies FOR REGISTRAR INFORMATION, PLEASE SEEPAGE 49 Les Bengtson, Arizona MG Club The KoRh American MGB Register is afliliatetl tc)the hfC Ca r Club of England. The MGCor Club was founded in 1930 and is the origina!, factory sup:ported. nnd approved organization lor ull MGs, with Plus: Letters, Technical Talk, Whereto 'B and much more! the Club Headquarters sihroted in ~Ibingdon-on-Thclmes clcse by the birthplace of (111MGs.
<, Thc h1CR Drivrr logo ir iop,nght 1992 I;)..Ideul lmoga ond usccl undrr I:ci!nre Ilv ll~eNorrh ,\nir.ri~~inMGK Rc(!ist(:r. Ln(r;~lhon,ctlust consUlulcs niliin~~crncr~l. Chairman's Chat 1 from thevice Chairman-
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!!! vcllo everyone, I hope everyone ! had a great. safe holiday season 1f your 2002 was half the fun thut and a very Happy New Year lo mine was, I'd say you had a pretty ou all. It is hard- i6 believe that good year. I got my 1980 MGB nother year has zipped on by, does- pa~ntedand on the road. Eileen and I II'~ it seem that each year tends to go traveled from New York through by faster and faster? With that about 25 of the continental U.S. thought, to take some load off D, I am States. We traveled through New ' going to start this year off on the right England to Maine and along the foot. 1 now have a copy of all the Atlantic Coast to North Carolina but chapter information from D. If you the highlight of the year was our run location and it sure would be nice to I have any questions about who in with the Chapter presidents in per- to Dallas, Texas for MG 2002. 1 was get it over to the West Coast again. If your chapter is a member of NAMG- son or by phone. So think about fortunate enough to get out to more you host it, MGs will come. BR,just let me know. If for some rea- what you would like to see from than 20 events this year and enjoyed I would just like to once again son 1 do not have the information, I NAMGBR, let me know when I call meeting many of you along the way. thank are the folks that continue to will get it. and I will pass it on to the board. My son Adam graduated from support North American MGB I still intend on visiting as many Remember this is your Club and Hofstra University in December and, Register. I am truly enjoying my first chapters us I can or at least visit your club can only get better when as I'm writing this, is packing up his term as Chairman and plan on run- we know what you want, a 1972 MGB and getting ready to relo- ning for a second term in October. 1 cate to San Diego. All in all it was a look forward to seeing many more of pretty terrific 12 months. you in the year to come and I wish J'm gearing up for 2003 season you and yours all the best for a and beyond ulready. I've got my pre- happy, healthy and safe 2003. Q registrations mailed out for the Carlisle, Pennsylvania Import event in May and the St. Louis MG 2003, David NAMGBR Annual Convention. Plans are movlng along nicely for MG 2004, to be held in New Jersey, as well. I hope all you folks who are members of local MG clubs, that are affiliated with NAMGBR, are thinking
host an Annual Convention. We need an MG 2005 & lAGUAR@ Sports Car Haven RESTORATIONS- PARTS- SERVICE On Our Front Cover - Making sparks isan integral RACE - PROVEN PERFORMANCE Drocess in the renewal of an MGB body shell. Here an = o!d, rc,tted Floor is cut out with a grinder to STEVEN H. WANG FLOWERFIELD BUILDING 2, SUiiE 33 - mckeway for cI new, solid panel. 631-862-8058 ST. JAMES. N.Y. 11780 -
MGKDRIVER-Januay/Februaq 2003 MG Clubof St Louis in March. We have sponsored this by Robert Rushing event for the past seven years and have seen it grow in scope from as few TheMG Club of St Louis has ancient as eight teams to last year's twenty-
1;roots dating back to the dawn of five. The Eighth Annual Missouri :' time. Well, not quite that far back. Endurance Rally is set for March 22- Missouri have been our past destina- show in conjunction with the Great There was an earlier MG club in St 23, 2003. New this year will be a tions. Aside from thc different driving Forest Purk Balloon Race, which Louis in the late '40's-early 'So's, but it Missouri Mini-Endurance Trial that events we normally hold we have attracts over 150 hot air balloons and petered out. It was revived again in the will take place at the same time as Lhe three rallies that are a favorite among over 100,000 spectators. This event is early '80's by a hearty group of MG rally and utilize 5 of the 10 stops of us here in the Gateway City-the Pre- a great warm up for the British Car owners who picked up the torch. Since the regular rally; but with half the Dawn Rally, the Halloween Rally, and Show the next day. then, the MG Club of St Louis has mileage and half the time. the Lilcas Night Rally. The Halloween Past highlights of our riub The first weekend of May each grown to roughly 150 members. -ally is a particular favorite since it include the highly successful NAMG- year is our Fling-in-the-Spring week- We hold our club meetings on the lcludes a costume contest nnd a big BRconvention-MG '93. We had over second Monday of each month at end trip. We pick a different place to arbecue afterwards. In September, 400 cars attend with the MGB VS 7:30 p.m. in meeting rooms at one of go and take a trip out of town for a le MG Club of St. Louis hosts the St. man himself, Ken Costello, as our couple of nights. This is a great way of the branches of the St. Louis Coun.ty ouis Midwest Regional All British guest of honor. It was a great event Library. Our meetings are extremely kicking off the driving season. Such ar Show that has been steadily gain- that we hope to outdo this coming well attended with an average show- exotic locales as Hot Springs, lg popularity, For the past five years, summer when we host the next sum- ing of 40 members. Resides our Arkansas; Hannibal, Missouri; Lake Ie have held a Saturday display-only mer convention MG 2003 during the monthly meeting, the club tries to of the Ozarks: and Cape Girardeau, week of lune 18-22, 2003. hold at least ;ne other However, the highlight we function each month. In ure most proud of took the winter months it will place in 1996. Our club be tech sessions. During got together and com- the rest of the year, it's usu- pletely restored a 1980 ally a driving event. Our MGB that we then raffled year kicks off with a post- off to raise money for holiday party held in charity. After all of our january. A favorite way to expenses were covered, we accomplish this is to rent a raised over $16,000 for bowling alley out for the Giant Steps of St. Louis-a day with lots of food and school for autistic chil- post-holiday cheer. Our dren. The school had just ncxt major uctivity is the Missouri Endurance Rally (pleuselurn to page50) 6 MGB DRIVER-Januaq/Febmary 2003 MGB DRIVER-h~anuaryffebruary 2003 7 , Ainutes of the 2002 NAMGBR AGM
MINUTES of the 2002 David recommended that the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the minutes from last year be accepted as NORTH AMERICAN MGB REGISTER published in the MGB Driverand waive October 26, 2002 being read. The motion was made by "Keep'em On The RoadNrM l:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Rick Ingram and seconded by Dennis Scanlan. The motion was passed. Lakeside Chalet of the Sheraton f&!z'l"l, Westport Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri Reports from the Officers: The Vice-Chairman's report by 0) The meeting was called to order Nick Pappas was short but to the at 1:09 p.m. by Chairman David point, he is looking forward to the Deutsch. There were 20 members pre- elections and assuming the complete sent for the meeting. David asked the duties of the Vice-Chair. attendees to introduce themselves The Secretary's report by TI and what clubs they belonged to. He Zimmerman was also short, being also asked that everyone sign in on that the membership numbers are the sheet being passed around. holding steady despite this current David then gave the attendees economy. The processing of credit some background information on the card charges are going a lot Register and it's progress during the smoother. D is looking forward to year. The biggest expense for the reg- serving the register for another term. ister is the hlCB Driverand that in the The Treasurer's report by Terry 12 year history of the register, we Kohlenstein, he just recently got all have yet to raise the membership the back records, we need to look at dues, but with all the expenses of the ways to cut expenses with the Driver. Drivergoing up, we are-looking into Coordinator,s Reports: ways ot bringing the cost down. He MGB DriverEditor Kim Tonry MGA MGB MGC Midget I also discussed the changes within the introduced Robert Rushing as I . executive level of the Register. (pleaseturn to page 10) Get your MG out of the garage and back on the road. We stock a wide variety of OEM and reproduction parts plus accessories at great prices. Call for your free catalog today!
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8 MGRDRIVER-Janua~yfiebruay 2003 blGB DRIVER-January/Februaty 2003 9 I Club, and Spurious MG and V8 Club MGB V8 Register-We wouId like Minutes of the 2002 NAMGBR AGM - Continued from Page 8 has agreed to take over the upkeep of to welcome Dan Masters as the new I the website and we look forward to MGB V8 Registrar. As Dan has just working with him. started in this position he did not Service Recommendations - There have a report. is no report at this time but later in the Limited Edition Registrar Ron agenda we will review this position. Tugwell's report was read by David Registrar's Reports Deutsch. Ron reported that to date he MGB Registrar Marcham has 21 1 LEs on his roster. He also stat- Rhoade's report was read by David ed that the value of the LE is rising Deutsch. Currently Marcham has just quite nicely. over 2,200 MGBs registered and new MGllOO / 1300 Registrar-We i registrations are received almost would like to thank Tom Gaylord for daily. This includes all MGBs. He also his service to the Register and wel- come Scott Williams as the new I reported that he has in the listing 20 I MC1100/1300 Registrar. Although I of the first 1000 MGBs made. Midget Registrar D Zimmerman Scott was present at the meeting, reports that there are nearly 1000 since he has just recentiy assumed the Midgets and Sprites in the database. position he did not have a report. Pull Handle Registrar Bill Barge With the help of the website they are -oming in from all over the world. reports 170 early MGBs in his data- ;ome in the database are not register base. He states that most of the people nembers, but it is still nice to know that have contacted him have found vhere all of these cars are. out about the register via the website. 100,000 Mile Registrar Jai Assistant Editor, he then spoke of We would like to welcome Rick 1967 MGB GI Special Registrar Marcham Rhoade's report was read Deagan's report was read by David plans to get the MGB Driverback on Ingram back from a short hiatus as Deutsch. ja; stated that he had plenty track within the time frame, and Concours Coordinator. Now for Ricks by David Deutsch, Marcham reported that there are almost 100 Specials on of dash plaques on hand and had a working with the executive to find report; he reports that there were 5 total of 108 cars in the database.. Me ways to bring the cost down. cars competing in the concours com- the listing. Several of these are origi- nal owners. also reports that he has 6 members in Advertising Coordinator, jim petition at MG 2002 in Grapevine, the 200,000 mile registry. Brucato's report was read by David Texas. Scores ranged from 752.5 to 1974% MGB coordinator Steve Deutsch. Due lo lim's work schedule 949.5. He also thanked all those who Harding had no report. (pleaset~lm to page 12) he is askinaJ that the executive find a helped in iudqinq. replacement for his position. embers ship Coordinator At th~stime we would like to Priscilla Blanchard's report was read thank Jim for his service to the regis- by D Zimmerman. it reviewed the ter and announce Robert Rushing as culls to the toll-free line and that most Advertising Coordinator, thjs would of the calls had to be relayed to the seem a logical step as Robert is work- Secretary. She recommended that the ing with the MGB Driver. toll-free number be changed back to Publicity Coordinator Richard the Secretary to cut down on response Liddick reports that earlier in the year time. She also thought that the he circulated information regarding Membership Coordinator position the 40th anniversary of the MGB and should focus on existing membership the register's support of MGB owners with the locul clubs rather than indj- across the US. He also sent out infor- viduals to increase membership. mation about MG 2002. Regalia Coordinator Mike Technical Coordinator, Bob Robson had no report. Mason's report was read by Nick Website Coordinator-there is no Pappas, he states that he continues to report at this time but ...We would like receive some interesting letters and to thank Wayne Kube for all of his phone calls from members concerning hard work on setting up the website their MGBs and Midgets. After answer- and maintaining it for the past 5 ing the questions, he then sends them years. Rick Brown, from the Keystone to Kim Tonry for the MGB Driver. Region MG Club, Eastern NY MGA 10 MGB DRIVER-Jdnuary/Februa~2003 MGB DRIVER-January/February 2003 11 Minutes of the 2002 NAMGBR AGM - from Page11 Rick Ingram (Concours 2003. Hosted by MG Car Club Central Coordinator)-Asked if exec could Jersey Centre. Hotel information in Original Owners Registrar Peter Awards Presentation check price and feasibility of a ~hoto the not too distant future. plaqu; for concours This Cosmides had no report. David Deutsch announced: Closing Remarks by Hammer & Tongs Registrar Phil The Enthusiast of the Year award is being looked into, and at this time no decision has been made by exec. David Deutsch, Chairman Smith had no report. was awarded to Paul Konkle of the We would like to thank Mike Conventions and Regional San Diego MG Club. Regalia-We need to find a new supplier for the binders for the MGB Fishman and the St. Louis MG Club Meets-We would like to thank lake The Good Samaritan Award was for hosting this Annual General and Ann Snyder for their service to the given to George Carrasquillo of the Drivers. This will need to be looked into by Mike Robson and the exec. Meeting and we encourage all to plan Register in this position and welcome MG Car Club - Long Island Centre. on attendina MG 2003. rune 19-22.- - The Newsletter of the Year was Tony and Lynne Burgess as the new Election Results and Installation of 2003 right h&e in St. L~U~S.~issouri: Convention and AGM Coordinators. given to the Arizonu MG Club for The New Officers: The St. Louis MG Club has a really Review of MG 2002, Dallas, MorrisGazette. David Deutsch reported that 18 meat time planned for us. Texas-The report from the hosts of The Chapter of the Year award chapters out of 65 rckrned ballots " David'asked for adjournment. MG 2002, the Texas MG Register, was was not given this year. The following are the election results: The motion was made by given by Nick Pappas. Nick reported New Business Nick Pappas was as vice Kohlenstein and seconded by Rick that while the numbers were small in Chairman with a vote of 18 David Deutsch presented the fol- Ingram. The motion was passed. Grapevine, everyone had a great time. lowing new business: D Zimmerman was elected as The meeting adjourned at Plans for MG 2003, St. Louis- Secretary with a vote of 18 David spoke of the MGB Driver, approximately 4; 00 Dm. Mike Fishman from the MG Club of St about it's expenses, schedule, adver- A. Louis, gave an overview of the event Announcement of the 2003 AGM: tising, future for the Driver. 2003 Annual General Meeting Kespectfully submitted, and all the attendees were treated to a Service Recommendations Listing Zimmerman, Secretary tour of the venue. will be held Saturdav., October 25th. David explained that we are now going , (plcaseturn to page 14) Plans for MG 2004, New Jersey- to an every other year publication. Tony Burgess has reported that he is The Liability limit on the insur- working with Bob Chezem of the MG unce for the affiliated chapters has Holes in Your MGB Driver Collection? Car Club - Central Jersey Centre. been raised to $2,000,000. David introduced the candidates There was no new business from We Have the Cure! for Vice-Chairman and Secretary, the floor Nick Pappas and D Zimmerman, David then presented the follow- respectively. and asked that all ballots ing Old Business: Single copies are $5.00 be iurned in. SPECIAL DEAL-Six copies for the bargain price of $15.00 (Prices Include Postage)
Availability and a Subject Index are Listed on the NAMGBRWebsite at www.NAMGBR.org orcontact Regalia Coordinator MikeRobson 39 Bobbys Ct. Ridgefield, CT 06877 (203)431-6721 mikerl5 @juno.com 'ill in Those Missing Issues Today!
12 MGBDRIVER-January/Febmary 2003 MGB DRIVER--- North American MGB Register Peff and Jan Zorn, owner5 of MGB size socket to fit the drain plug-met- Treasurer's Report Driver advertiser The Little British ric, SAE, size, etc. To make the job a October 1, 2001 - September 30, 2002 Car Company, put out a weekly e- little more efficient, I found that using mail newsletterto advertise specials,give a machinist's marking pen I could CASH ACCOUNTSBALANCE October 1, 2001 well written reports on the shows they write the size on the face of the drain attended the previous week, listcoming plug, e.g. 13/4'' or 'IOmrn'. I use a yel- Checking 15,363.16 events, etc. One of the most popular sec- low pen so it is quite legible and easi- Advances to Officers and Coordinators 3,126.72 tions of the newsletter is the Tech Tips. ly touched up as needed. Total Cash Each week a new Tech Tip is listed from -Gary Stephan those submitted withthe chosen one win- While troubleshooting electrical INCOME ning the writer a 320 credit with problems, check the fuse box for cor- LBCarCo. To loin the weekly newsletter rosion where the fuses snap in. Advertising list, simply go to the Little Britih Car Depending on the climate and road Membership Company's website www.lbcarco.com conditions, Lhey can get really nasty, Driver Back Issues and register. Here's a sampling or some preventing good contact. This will Regalia of their recent tips. result in reduced or intermittent cur- Web Ad Donations Found a way to get the oil in the rent flow. An easy way to clean the TOTAL INCOME steering rack on late model Bs. The fuse box contacts is to use a wire older steering racks had a grease fit- brush used to clean rifles. The .22 cal- EXPENSES ting, however on late model cars this iber size works great by inserting it in Administrative fitting was omitted. The manual only the fuse holder and spinning it, or just Advertising Exp. shows how to fill the rack during a pushing it in and out. All the corro- AGM (2001) rebuild or replacement. If you take sion will be removed without destroy- Bank Charge out the top bolt on the damper cover ing the fuse clips. One thing to Credit Card Fee you can utilize an oiling syringe to remember is safety. Disconnect the MGB Driver inject the oil into the rack through the battery first so as not to short any- Envelopes bolt hole. A little pipe joint compound thing out. Freight on the nut will seal it up properly -Rick Acosta Insert when done. It's not the neatest pro- Production ject, but it beats removing the rack to Here's a tip for easily punching Postage holes into soft materials like gasket get the lubrication in. material and tonneau/top vinyl (for Printing -John Panebianco Processing lift-the-dot fasteners). Make a trip to a TOTAL MGB Driver 1 had to replace my choke cable local gun club and pick up some Insurance recently as the inner braided cable spent brass shell casings from the fir- MG 2002 unfurled and basically jammed. The ing range tloor. A good assortment of Name Tags outer sleeve looked in good shape so shell sizes allows you to be able to Postage rather than replacing the whole punch needed holes into any relative- Regional Show Sponsorship assembly, I simply removed that old ly soft material. Make sure you strike Telephone (800 Line) inner cable by undoing the nipple at the shell with a piece of wood under TOTAL EXPENSES the engine end and pulling out the the material so it lasts a good long knob and cable from the dash. I then time. Note: lust make sure the shell is TOTAL PROFIT/LOSS FOR YEAR -37,757.82 threaded in a new greased inner cable indeed empty. from the dash without any problem -Paul Tonizzo as the solder at the end of the cable CASH ACCOUNTSBALANCE September 30,2002 Door and Kick Panels: If you find Checking 4,405.34 holds the strands together. -Andrew Adams the holes for the trim screws are Advances to Officers and Coordinators 6,326.72 stripped out and you don't want to go Total Cash $10,732.06 Pulling maintenance on five to a larger size screw simply go to vehicles (sadly, only one is an MG!) is your automotive supply store and sometimes a daunting task: changing purchase the emblem attachment oil finds me rummaging for the right (pleaseturn to page16) MGB DRIER-Januay/Febr~~ary2003 MGB DRIVER-- :Januay/February2003 Little British Car Co. Tech Tips - Continued from Page 15 tube nuts. They are NAPA part # 665- side with silicone and lay it over the 1915 Tubular Type Nuts for universal fresh adhesive. Close the trunk lid or use and emblems. Press into place door and allow the seal to cure. This and put in the screw. method should make the seul(s) Choose Moss -Ed Madak appear to be one piece. (Note: if your trunk has a drain hole, you don't ~.mo~smnt~r~,cam Tech Tip #1: If the reflective sur- want to cover it up.) face of your signal and taillights has -Valerie Stabenorv faded or chipped away, don't bother with "rei-lective" paints, they don't It came to my attention the other work-instead spray mount a reflec- day when I wus trying to figure out tive foil over the original surface. Use where the vacuum leak in my '79 thin aluminum wrapper foil (e.g., Midget was. 1 had read that all the Hershey's kiss) or silver Mylar bolts on the manifolds needed to be (Novelty Balloons are made of this) checked. When I checked, the two and then adhesive spray to mount bolts in the middle were causing the the material. This will vastly improve problem. Regular open and boxed the lighting and reflective properties end wrenches only get in their own of the lamp. way und even if you get the wrench Tech Tip #2: Protect the interior of over the nut you couldn't turn it! your car's bumpers just as you would There is a wrench out there that will the underbody. Using an undercoat- do the job perfectly; it's a boxed end ing spray (e.g., 3M #8883 Underseal wrench that usually has a 9/~6"(man- Rubberized Undercoating Black) on ifold nuts) on one end and has a '/$" the inside of the bumpers will protect on the other. This wrench is also bent it from rust, provide some sound jnto a gentle u-shape. Great thing to deadening, and improve the overall have; but you'll have to get one from "shiny" effect of your car's body and the "Snap-on" or "Mac" tool distribu- chrome work. tor. You might be able to find one at Tech Tip #3: Add a 3/8" NPT plug one of the major auto parts stores. - Interactive and a 2" carriage bolt to your car's Mine is an S-K. Hope this makes it tool kit. Should your Heater easier for those that have Midgets 4.. Illustrations ControliWater Valve spring a leak that need new manifold gaskets or when on the road (usually due to a just to tighten down the old ones. blown diaphragm/gasket), you can -Alfred Hester - Tech Tips simply remove the valve entirely I was replacing the hood release and use the 3/s" plug to stop the cable on my 1980 MGB. It looked like - Original coolant from leakjng all over the it would be a tight squeeze to get my engine. Use the carriage bolt to plug hand behind the firewall to put the Specifications the hose to your heater, and tighten new sleeve in position, so 1 removed or Call now for the clamp down around the bolt to the old sleeve but left the old cable in prevent a backflow. !our free Catalog - Online British place. Next, I fed the old cable into - Motoring -Carey Sherman the new sleeve and pushed the new Here is a tech tip if you are doing sleeve up the cable, jiggling a little bit weather-strip or seal work: Often seals to maneuver the threaded part come in two pieces, or in the case of a through the hole in the firewall. Once trunk seal, there is a gap between the the sleeve was in position, 1 removed two ends. Install the seal@) and use the old cable, tightened the retaining black weather-stripping adhesive to nut to hold the new cable in place, fill in the gap (3M sells small and then fed in the new cable. larae-sized tubes). Cut a piece of plas- -Steve Shoyer tic Yood wrap (saran or other heavier wejght wrap works best), spray one (please turn to page 18) L6 MGBDRIVER-January/February 2003 Little British Car Co. Tech Tips - Continued from Page 16 bolts. After excessive adjusting and jack and secure snugly with nut, bolt swearing, I felt there had to be a bet- and a couple of heavy washers. Now The hot summer months are ripe While this acts as a good mechanical er way of doing this job. So after as you pump the jack up and raise the for producing the phenomenon of armor it is primarily there to reflect nuch thought I picked up my trusty A-arm, it will "draw the car down" ar vapor lock. Even if you have never heat away (and so again should be AcMaster-Carr catalog and located the same time. When the kingpin and heard of it, you may have experi- shiny). It should also conduct any lrade 8 Allen head socket cap screws shock arm meet, the bolt cun be enced it and wonder why your car heat that is picked up in hot spots he same size along with stainless tapped in to complete the assembly. thinks it's a kangaroo. The car will and spread it out over the pipe length tee1 flathead screws with Allen socket By using this method, the assembly run fine until you have to stop for a where it can radiate off from a bigger leads of the same screw size. I now can be performed with little fear of the while, maybe at a traffic light or at a surface area. Check also that there 2osely replaced the Phillips screws A arm slipping off of the jack, the gas station, then on trying to pull are good rubber sleeves between the rith the grade 8 screws so the door spring releasing and possibly causing away, the car will surge forward and pipe retention clips and the pipe ould be moved around slightly on injury or damage to the car. This then the engine will die. In mild cases itself. These prevent heat from the he hinge leaf. I then taped two 3" x method is also very helpful, when you the engine may pick-up again or studs to which the clips fit conducting 3" x l/4" plywood squares onto the are reassembling the suspension in a restart immediately but very often it heat to the fuel pipes. jamb wall of the car body. Then forc- car that doesn't have an engine. will take several minutes before it can -Rick Astley ing the loose door into the body pock- Without using the chain technique, be started, after which it runs fine et I latched it into proper place. the car does not have enough weight until the next red light. The problem Recently I had the pleasure of :hmbing Into the seat I then tight- when jacked up, to allow the A-arm is caused by the fuel turning to vapor installing two brand new doors on my ned the grade 8 bolts with an Allen and shock arm to meet for assembly. because it is literally boiling in the 1979 MGB. My old doors suffered rrench till I was sure that they were -Chuck Linick fuel pipes close to the very hot engine. from major rot out on the bottom of .cure. Then by unlatching the door the door panel. This was dishearten- nd nudging it open 1 removed the A lot of our cars have painted Heat travels in 3 ways, convection, metal dashes and instrument panels. radiation and conduction and MG ing considering I had the car body lped plywood. The result was a per- repaired and repainted only 4'12 xtly hung door. We also attend many shows during the used 3 major systems for preventing year. Most of these shows hand out the heat traveling by these means to years earlier. 1 did notice however Then one at a time 1 removed the that most USA MGBs suffer from the rade 8 bolts and replaced them with dash plaques with a piece of double- the fuel pipes. sided tape on the back. Most people 7. same problem. It appears that the le flat head stainless bolts; this allowed MGAs, MGBs and Midgets don't want to stick these to their vapor barrier is sealed poorly to mois- le door panel to be replaced. I hope have a heat shield between the painstakingly painted instrument pan- exhaust manifold and the carburetor. ture entering and as rust begins dirt ~iliswill save someone the anxiety I and rust particles block the weep went through learning this method. els that leave adhesive re5idue when That metal plate is not there primari- removed. The solution is to take those ly to hold the carburetor springs, it holes trapping water in the door -Mike Polovcin pocket and acceIeratiny the process. flat refrigerator magnets like the take diverts heat from the exhaust mani- Whcn doing maintenance and out pizza places. dentists, etc. hand out fold away from the fuel system. When I got the price from my friend- ly auto body shop to re-repair the you need to plug the open end of a and cut them to fit the back of the dash However, chances are that the one on rubber vacuum line such as the dis- plaque. They can be moved around doors I opted to purchase new ones. your car is not bright and shiny on the tributor advance hose, just use a golf and rotated for different shows and no Once in my possession I then was inside surface and so it may be doing tee and poke it in the end of the hose. adhesive residue is left on your dash. a bad job of reflecting radiated heat alarmed to find out how much he Ifyou use a brightly colored one it will -Mike MacLean and that could make the difference wanted to paint and install the new be easier to spot and not forget to between getting vapor lock or not. doors. After some bartering I agreed reinstall the line. I had much trouble installing fab- Indeed, if it is or black, it may be to provide him with the painting ric snaps (the round type) using the rusty -Rex LaBrie doing a great job of heat collection. material and when complete I would cheap toois available for them. The quite the reverse of its proper purpose! install them. Being mechanically I recently realized that even some tool has to roll the hollow stem of the 2. The heat shield is quite thin inclined; but never doing this job of the more experienced MG mechan- button top using a special punch and and will not prevent conducted heat before, I thought-how hard could it ics didn't know this trick. When disas- a die to hold the button. It seemed to getting from the exhaust urea to the be? Well I was in for a lesson. The sembling/reassembling front coil never work properly even though I fuel area so high temperature plastic screws provided with the new doors springs, shocks, and kingpin assem- used many different techniques and spacer blocks between the carburetors were #3 Phillips Head 5/16"-24 blies, there is an easy way to bring hammer sizes. Usually the stem would and the heat shield are used to limit machine screw just like the old ones. +5em all together. Purchase about 5 collapse to the side rather than rolling heat conduction. It would be hard to The old ones came out easy, but I'm ,et of heavy link chain, the same back. I finally came up with .a simple install the carburetors without the afraid GOD would have a difficult eight you might use for hoisting an solution. Place the tool in the chuck of blocks, but check they are there, time installing the new ones properly ~gine.Place your floor jack under a drill press and the die on the press enterprising previous owners have with adequate torque while aligning ie front lip of the A-arm. Wrap the table and use the drill press to "press" been known to be very creative. the new door. All of the attached door lain up over a secure area, such as the tool down. Works every time. 3. The flexible fuel pipes are parts transferred fairly well between ie back of a fully bolted down shock. -The Kerlney Family covered in braided steel material. old & new doors, but those damn hen wrap the chain undcr the floor (pleaseturn to page 26') MGB DRIVER-Januay/Februay 2003 MGBDRIVER-January/Februaq 2003 Little British Car Co. Tech 1rips - Continuedfrom Page 19 From the MGB Registrar Having recently completed the Refilling lever sllocks on your replacement of the carpet in my 1980 British automobile? Use a trigger pumping oiling can to pump the Preetings-and I hope you arc MGB LE {a job which took much -all ready lo get out there thls longer than I anticipated) 1 was con- I-eplacement shock oil into the filling hole. This method works well when \%B year and drive your MGB. The cerned about the premature wear lumber of our MGBs registered has that always occurs on the driver's side the shocks are on or off of the car. It allows filling of the shock quickly ncreased since we last reported to sill from resting your foot while dd- you and we have some iAteresting ving. I wanted something that would while allowing air to escape. -1eff Palya statistics to tell you about. However, I provide protection but would not be must again say that considering the obvious or unattructive. I finally If you have an ornament or number of MGBs sold here in North decided to try a clear corner protector molding made of pot metal and America, we have pit~fullyfcw regis- that you would use at the corner of a chromed, you can remove the dull tered with the NAMGBR. wall to keep wallpaper from tearing circles around the pits using an ordi- Consider this-my friend, George the historical records we keep of or peeling. They can be found at most nary pencil eraser. It won't remove Merryweather, who is the Registrar of any hardware or home improvement Britain's most popular sports car, and the pit but it will make the piece look the North American MGA Register, their place in North American auto- store and cost only a few dollars. After 90% better. recently wrote in their excellent mag- trimming to the desired length, sim- motive history. -Max Brand azine, that they currently have 6304 Recently we've answered questions ply peel off the covering of the adhe- MGAs registered. Twice as many as If you have every had trouble from Belgium, Germany, and England sive strip and press it into place on we have MGBs registered' Now con- your carpet. It fills the bill of protect- remembering how many flats you on U.S. Spec cars which have been have adjusted your carbs. Here is an sider that a total of 100,000 MGAs exported to these countries. We've been ing the carpet from excessive wear were made and nearly all were and is inexpensive too. easy solution. Paint one of the flats able to inform people on the correct -Terry Pahde with red nuil polish or whatever col- exported here. Then look at the MGB color and trim of their MGBs and we ors you prefer, then it is an easy job to wjth half a million manufactured, certainly have some of the earliest When installing a dash cap, for- count forward or back. many of which came to North examples of MGBs, ever built, on our get the phone book idea to weigh it -Bill Mason America and you'll perhaps under- Register, in addition to a few built in down. There is just no room. Get some stand my disappointment that we do the last weeks of the Abjngdon MG fac- fairly thick plastic bags which are When removing or replacing the not have many more cars registered tory operation. We heard from Alaska fairly long and narrow and fill them Choke cable in my MGB, I found it on our database. from a member who was about to drive with play sand which you can get at very difficult to loosen the hex nut Now, there could be several fac- to Mt. McKinley, and from another any hardware store tor about $ 2.50 behind the instrument panel. The dif- tors which contribute to this apparent member who had a query on the date for 40 lbs. Follow the rest of the ficulty increases with the size of your discrepancy. One could be that the his car was manufactured. And yet instructions and you'll find the appli- hand and mine aren't small. Try this. MGA owners are more pa5sionate another who had a strange center con- cation is fairly easy. Disconnect the choke cable from the about their model than the MGB sole which didn't match the MGBs -Steve Powers carburetor linkage and slip the cable owners. Another factor could be that build date! assembly into the cockpit. Then select NAMGBR members do not see the If you experience progressively So, why not do your part to a deepwell socket that fits the fixing need to register their cars-the 'who enhance, and improve our records? worse wheel shimmy as you increase nut and wrap friction tape around the cares' complex? Another, and confus- speed, you may have one or more Send me details of your MGB- outside of the deepwell socket to pro- ing factor, could be the "International NOW!-and let's show those MGA bent wheels. Put your MG on jack vide a good hand grip, lnseit the stands, start the motor, put the trans- MGB Register" which appears on the guys just who has the best database! choke cable into the hex end of the internet and invites you to submit Finally I heard from lames mission in fourth and watch the back deepwell socket and through the wheels spin (don't let the car fall off details of your car. 1 should point out Wofford who appreciated the article square drive hole. Slide the socket up that this website is nothing to do with by Don Bishop printed in the SepiOct the stands or you may have a two the cable until it engayes the hex nut. door garage). It is obvious when they the North American MGB Register. issue of the ;MGB Driver. James writes You will then be able to loosen the But mainly, I think that the problem that he purchased his first MGB in are bent, the tire tread wobbles hex nut very easily. Rcverse the pro- noticeably. Then rotatc the front is one of indifference and/or procras- 1964, Iris Blue with whitewall tires. cedure for installation. tination. The 'aroundtuit' syndrome! He traded this in for a 1967 BRG road- wheels to the rear axle to check them. -Dick Brown It beats going to tire dealer who may "I'll get 'aroundtuit' one day! ster with overdrive. He also had a find the bent wheels, and then again We make life very easy for you to 1968 Grampian Grey GT and a dark may not. Balancing will not cure a register your MGB either via the blue 1972 GJ, but then bought a 1973 bent wheel. NAMGBR website or by mail, and Mallard Green MGB which he still -Jim Dernello when you do register your car you'll owns. James continues: "In other be adding valuable information to (piruse turn to page 22) MGRDRIVER-Januarv/Febri~ary 2003 MGB Registrar - Continued tiom Page 21 Joe Carroll - '7MGB Bob Downs - '80 MGB LE Brooks Amiot - '62 MGB Bob Mason Voltage Stabilizers William Fox - '73 MGB GT NAMGBR Tech Coordinator Most of our British cars have a Carl Elliott - '73 MGB & voltage stabilizer that regulates '73 MGB GT 1974-on Side Mirror Maintenance (steadies) the movement. of the fuel Michael Gr~eco '73 MGB V8 and water temperature gauges. When ' \ \ ,- ' ~ - From about 1974 onwards, MGRs , David Atherton - '67 MGB GT and MG Midgets have left and right either, or usually both, of these nee- .' Douglas & Rene Hallv'67 MGS GT hand adjustable mirrors made by dles commence a slow movement Terry Stoltz - '66 MGB TEX. The crosshead screws that are back and forth, the common cause is Bryant Long - '72 MGB V8 used to hold these mirrors often a failing voltage stabilizer and a new K.C. Kenneyv180 MGB LE become rusted due to lack of move- unit should be installed to correct the Lorne Kozak - '64 MGB ment. It is recommended that these problem. For this unit to operate cor- Michael Poultney - '67 MGB GT mirrors be removed periodically. rectly, the base housing MUST be Remove the adjusting crosshead securely fixed to the adjoining sheet 'I metal with a sheet metul screw to screws and apply some Waxoyl or words I have been associated with other anti-seize material to the ground (enrth) the unit. These stnbi- MGBs for a long time. 1 do not know threads before replacing. Apply some lizers are usually stamped with an what I would do if 1went out into the of this material to the grub screw that arrow or the word "UP" to show the garage and my little green car was proper position of the unit. Why? I not there. She's a lady, and each secures the mirror base to the door as well. If the glass is a little bit loose don't know, but it is always best to fol- morning when I go out to get the The Maraue Of friends hi^ within the mirror frame, push low the manufacturers' suggestions. paper, 1 tell her hello, good morning, inwards on the glass and carefully and wish her a great day! I know she 1929 - 1936 Battery Drains North American MMM Register remove the black plastic securing trim appreciates it. I love my MGB and ring. Remove the glass and install If your battery keeps golng down, only hope I stay healthy so 1 can con- Box727, St. Helena, CA 94574 some dense rubber foam or some of you may have a bad battery or you tinue to enjoy driving it". 7071963-231 3 more probably have something creat- Spoken like a true enthusiast those packing "peanuts". Put in a suf- 1935-1955 Pre-Warm-SeriedYType ficient amount to apply force (gently) ing a current drain on the battery. and to which 1 can only reply Remove the ground cable on the bat- "Amen" James. None of us know The New England IWG'T' Register to the back of the mirror glass. Push the glass inwards and reinstall the tery and connect a 12-volt test lamp what's ahead in these uncertain PO Box 1957 Cary, NC 27512 between the battery terrnlnal and the 7041544-1253 black securing trim for a rattle-free tjmes, so promise yourself now, that mirror glass. disconnected cable. Any current flow you are going to get out there and 1956-1 962 MGAIZARB that wrll cause even the faintest glow drive your MGB while you still have The North AmericanMGA Register U-Joint Lubrication of the test lamp is sufficient to dram the chance! Let me close by telling Some U-joints for our British cars, 15 Cimarror;Tra~l . Lucas. TX 75G02 the battery. If you have a clock, you of a friend of mine who learned narngar.registrarQairmail.net such as the NAPA Auto Parts #341 for remove the fuse. With everything OFF, from his doctor that he was close to MGA. MGB, MG Midgets, and there should be NO illurninat~on of the end. Was he down hearted? 1963-1 980 MGBIMidget/110011300 Spitfires, come with a grease fitting the test lamp. If there is a current NO!-he got in his car and drove all The North American MGB Register for future lubrication. However, in drain, systematically check every the way from California to New PO Box 3203 Kent, OH 44240 some cases, a standard grease gun fit- accessory untll you eliminate the cur- England so he could be with his fam- 800lNAMGBR-1 ting will not fit the grease zerk when rent draw. ily when the time came. Whlch was a the driveshaft is installed because of week after he got there ... Makes you 1968 -1969 MGC the limited clearance at the u-joint Crosshead Screws think doesn't it? American MGC Register yoke. The solution to the problem Almost all of the crosshead screws Until next time, see you in St. 2809 CopterRd. Pensacola.FL 32514 (other than just forgetting about the on our British cars from the late Louis? Happy MGB'ing! 850/478-3171 greasing of that u-joint) is the NAPA 1960's onwards are of the PosiDrive marcha amRhoade auto parts "needle adapter" on their type and are identified with 4 slash part ft71.5-1200. The small point of marks around the top of the screw- Latest additions to our Register- Sponsoredby the needle adapter will fit within the head. Although most drivers will use thanks to you all for sending the The North American Council small opening on the u-joint grease a standard screwdriver for loosening info! Of M. G. Registers fitting and allows the bearing case to and tightening these screws, the nor- be lubricated at the recommended mal Phillip's screwdriver does not fit john Adamson - '68 MGB I I intervals as shown in the Owners' completely into this type of screw and Jan Hurd '71 MGB Q '74 MGB GT - Workshop manual. ,please turn to page 24) 22 MGB DRIVER-Jan~~ay/Febmary2003 MGB DRIVER-January/Febmay 2003 Miscellaneous Tech Tips - cc mtinued from Page 23 long term use will damage the slots of Check Those Points the screwhead. Sometimes a frozen Why should the British car driver screw can be removed by applying with a points distributor check the con- force to the screwdriver while hitting dition of the points, the dwcll, and the the handle with a hammer. If this is timing? As the points rubbing block unsuccessful, acquire an Impact wears, the contact points come closer Hammer tool kit. The kit comes with together, the dwell will increase, and a selection of different sizes for both the timing will retard coming closer to flat and Phillips head screws and will TDC. All of this causes a loss of power, almost always loosen a screw without poor running, the use of more fuel, major damage to the screwhead. This and a hotter running engine. Impact Hammer kit is available at Line Services NAPA Auto Parts on the K-D kit num- Overdrive Oil Leak ber 1141 at a most reasonable cost. Those MGB drivers who are fortu- nate enough to have an LH-type over- Oil Cooler Covers drive unit in their cur will often have This is the time of year For those persistent oil seepage at the bottom Bench Servi 'ces drivers of British cars with engine oil sump plate. Six small bolts that enter coolers to cover those coolers, as they into the aluminum casting secure this do too good a job of cooling the plate. A new thick gasket screen may engine oil at low temperatures. These not stop the seepage even if the small coolers can remain covered on the bolts are tightened properly. John usual short trips but should be uncov- Twist recommends that when this Restoration ered for any extended drives. plate is removed, that the mounting Securing Winged Knock-Ons surface should be checked for trueness Drivers of British cars with wire with a straight edge, because over the wheels and the winged-ear knock on years of use, the plate may be slightly I Technical Seminars nuts often use a piece of word to pro- deformed between the bolt holes, tect those chromed ears from the something that will contribute to the hammer blows. They often use a piece oil seepage. If there is any question, of wood that is too soft and which will obtain a flat piece of glass, about '14 absorb the blow of the hammer with- inch thick, and some wet and dry sandpaper. Sand the mounting sur- Technical Support out really tightening the nut It you do use a protective piece of wood, use a face until all of the outer edges of the hard wood, such as from a shovel sump plate are straight and true. It is handle; but, even so, you will usually very easy to strip the threads in the have to give the eared nut a final aluminum casing when tightening those 6 small bolts with their 10-32 Events, And More! "whack or two'' with the hammer itself to securely tighten the nut. teeth. One might consider using a 6- point socket with a l/4 inch drive han- A Better Switch dle, or better yet, just a simple nut dri- The toggle switch for the 1962- ver to keep from applying too much 1967 MGB, the Lucas #31828 or Moss tightening torque to these small bolts #141-210, is used for a fogldriviny with their hex head. Another tip from Call, write, or EMail far our all new Services Catalogue lamp or as optional for the overdrive Mike Darby is to use some 10-32 6492 Eabt Fultc>nStrcet .Ida,b11 49301-9036 switch. This switch is reasonably Phillips head screws in place of the Phone (616)GX2-GHCQ Fax (616) 692-PKG1 EMail: u~vw.~inivcr.;itymotorslt~1.~1~1i~ pdced, but it is not the best design or standard small bolts to keep from construction. A bit more expensive overtightening. If the threads in the and more durable is the Lucas #31991 aluminum casing become stripped, a or Moss #141-530 that is suggested for Helicoil repair kit is available from the wiper switch. Both of these switch- NAPA Auto Parts, their 6770-3080, to es operate in the same way and have repair those stripped threads. the same external appearance. (pleaseturn to page 26) I I MGB DRIVER-Januarv/Februaru2003 I MGBDRIVER- --Januaiy/Februan; 2003 2 5 Miscellaneous Tech Tips - Continued from Page24 Lucas Lamp Grounds oil is to provide a gas seal between the Lucas lamp assemblies such as fit- piston rings and the cylinder walls to ted to MGBs, Midgets, and other aid compression. Another basic func- British cars are normally Ionq Iastinq tion of the oil is to cool the engine, a and almost always trouble free; but reason so many high performance sometimes strange things will happen engines have oil coolers. While the when a circult is activated, such as the modern lower weights of multi-grade turn signals or the stop lamps. oil aid in increasing fuel mileage in Sornet~mesa turn signal bulb will not more modern cars, our older engines illuminate or a rear turn signal bulb with their greater clearances require a will illuminate when the stop lamps thicker engine oil such as the SAL are actuated. While the driver may be 20W-50 multi-grades. Because more templed to say a few kind words about recent engines run hotter than the Lucas and its lamps, the problem is earlier cars, the engine oil is also hot- most likely due to the unit losing its ter. Because of these hotter tempera- ground (earth)-someth~ng that often tures, oil is susceptible to oxidation, happens when the car is returned which causes oil to lose its cooling from the bodyshop. A simple 12-volt and lubricating ability. The addition test lamp will easily determine if of modern oil additives called anti- power is coming to the correct bulb oxidants can prevent this problem and a basic ohmmeter will tell if the and the formations of lacquers and bulb itself js good. If these two jtems varnishes that can coat critical com- test good, the problem then is almost ponents. The situation is worse in always that the nuts securing the older engjnes as combustion gases lamp ussembly are not tight enough can blow past the piston rings and to make a good earth to complete the mix with engine oil which then caus- circuit. To ensure a good earth, make es further deterioration, oil thicken- sure that the area at the nut is clean. ing, and poor circulation. Further Install a star washer over the threaded additives called dispersants are added posts and then fully tighten the secur- to the better grades of oil to keep solid ing nuts. If necessary, an extra ground contaminants in suspension so that wire can be attached to the base of the our better grades of oil filters can lamp and then to a convenient loca- remove them. These same additives t~onto be secured by a sheet metal ensure that when the oil is drained, screw and star washer. With all as most of the smaller particles will be things should be, the star washer and removed from the engine oil pan. standard nuts securing the lamp base With an increase of contaminants, should be sufficient to restore any the oil flow rate will decrease, oil gal- malfunctioning lamp bulb back to leries will become blocked with normal system operation. sludge, and increased metal wear will take place that will lead to failure of Engine Oils engine components. Frequent oil and To most people, oil is oil. Nothing filter changes in our older engines more, nothing less. The more discern- also keeps acidic compounds, formed ing driver will probably stay away by oxidation and combustion gases, from the $1.99 per gallon oil of the from reaching a level where they start supermarket name-brand in favor of to affect older engine oil seals. The a more expensive name brand; but if correct high quality lubricants and questioned as to why, it is quite possi- frequency of oil and filter changes are ble that they could not explain their far less expensive than replacement reasoning. Oil can be a mystery to parts and engine rebuilds. The driver anyone other than an expert oil engi- does not need to use the more expen- neer. One of the functions of engine (please turnto page 28) IGB DRIVE 26 MGB DRIVER-January/February 2003 I I\. nuts, and mreaas snoula De cnecKeu some lo yuuye elecrrlcal wire to rne for stretching and damage. Failure to length of the shaft and then touch the correct the above faults could lead to bare wire ends to a 9-volt lantern bat- Miscellaneous Tech Tips - Continued from Page 26 gasket failure. tery. Hold the connections until the GASKET COMPOUNDS-Gasket wire gets almost hot to the touch. Do sive full synthetic oils as recommend- and when the engine is cold, the vis- compounds that harden are not rec- not try this with a standard 12-volt ed for many of the modern engines. cosity of the oil in the damper is high ommended for head gasket use. Those automotive battery, as the wire will NAPA Auto Parts offers their high and the enrichment obtained is metallic gaskets that have not been very quickly become very hot, so the quality NAPA Gold series engine oil thereby greater than when the pre-coated may be treated with a film %volt battery is safer to use. filters and several well know brand engine is warm." So without the oil, of non-hardening lubricant or oil. It is With the long shaft #2 Phillips names of quality engine oils. You do the piston rises too quickly throwing recommended that oil or grease screwdriver now magnetized, the not need to be an oil engineer to real- off the air to fuel mixture thus caus- should not be applied to cork gaskets. removal and installation of those ize that the weight and quality of ing rough running. These should be held in place with an pedal box cover-securing screws will your selected engine oil will often While the Burlen manual recom- adhesive. Any special surface treat- cease to be a problem. Make certain determine the how long a life your mends an oil weight of SAE 20 for the ments that prevent sticking must not that those securing screws are of the engine will have. The best way to pre- damper reservoir (an oil weight that be removed. proper threading for the captive nuts, serve your engine is to change your is just about impossible to find these TIGHTENING OF CYLINDER for ifyou bodge those threads you will oil and filter at the recommended days), a higher weight oil is accept- HEAD-Instructions given by the create all sorts of problems. intervals and only with quality prod- able-as something is better than vehicle manufacturer for the tighten- ucts, not the no-name brand seen at nothing. However, thin oils like 3-in-1 ing of the cylinder head must be fol- Tightening Sun Visor Rivets your supermarket or your friendly machine oil or Automatic lowed. Tightening should commence The sun visor end brackets on the fast-service aasa stations. Transmission Fluid are too thin and at the center of the head, working windscreen frame of many of our not recommended at all. So while SAE S.U. Carburettors outwards in all directions, using an Br~t~shcars are held in place with pop 20W50 engine oil is acceptable, a even torque pressure, This should be rlvets, and over time, these rivets Burlen Fuel Systems Ltd., pub- lower weight oil such as SAE 30, lishes an excellent Workshop Manual repeated until all nuts are firmly loosen. Instead of trying to replace available at most auto parts stores, tight. After the engine has run these rivets, an easier way to tighten pertaining to the theory, design, and more closely equates to the Burlen adjustments of the S.U. carburetors approximately 100 miles the head the bracket is to take a large center- recommended SAE 20. A good rule-of- nuts should again be tightened. punch to the center of Ithe rivets and found on many of our British cars thumb is to check the oil level of both (some of this same information can PLEASE NOTE-Cylinder heads in with a hammer, strike the punch. your engine and the oil damper each cast iron should be re-tightened to the This procedure will usually flatten also be found in the Haynes time you fill your fuel tank. Worksho~ manua1s.l One comDo- vehicle manufacturers recommended the head of the rivet enough to secure nent of these carburetors that seems Fitting Head Gaskets torque pressure when the engine is the bracket. to puzzle many drivers is the opera- The various workshop manuals still- HOT. Aluminum heads should tightened ONLY WHEN COLD. Wheel Paint tion of, and the need for the oil for our British cars carry quite a bit of NAPA Auto Parts offers a Martin- damper and coil spring installed very useful information regarding the Magnetic Screwdrivers Senour soft sdver spray paint that 1s a within the dome of the various mod- rebuilding of our engines, but often Magnetlc screwdnvers are very close dupl~cateof the or~ginalfactory els of the S.U. When the accelerator is leave out some very important infor- handy; espec~allywhen fighting the color used on Bntlsh wlre wheels and depressed, a vacuum is created which mation in regards to the fitting of head secunng screw5 on the outboard s~de the later disk wheels on many of our causes the piston and its tapered gasket sets. This intormation used to of the master cylinder pedal cover box Brit~shcars. The onginal number was metering needle to move upwards. be included with head gasket sets, but (10-32x1/z inch fine thread screws). MS-7893 GMC Alumlnum but is now The spring, about 6.25 inches long, is generally not with the sets that are However, most magnetic screwdrivers carried on the Martin-Senour prevents piston flutter as it moves up. currently available. The following are too short to reach those outboard Commercial Coating number of 633 1 The design of the oil damper reduces information has been extracted from screws, so what does one do? The the rapid upward movement of the an old installation information sheet usual type of magnetic screwdrivers piston while allowing a rapid drop that came from an old set. This infor- wlth Interchangeable tips, when you take your foot off the mation is very applicable today. +, ,; &--B- - such as available from , ;. pedal. This is why it js very important CLEANLINESS-It is essential most auto parts stores, has .-&- that the damper reservoir oil level is that all faces to be sealed, plus the a shaft of only 3.5 lnches !>P?--A (&;- ,:?;- always maintained at the correct studs and stud holes, should be free of in length, and to reach ., level. The Burlen manual describes dirt and grit of any kind and be com- those screws, vou will need i -... \ the operation of the oil damper and pletely clean. , a shaft length of about 6.5 ''- grade of oil by saying: "The enrich- DISTORTION-Before fitting the inches on a #2 Phillips head ment is achieved by the damper cylinder head gasket, the block and screwdriver. To magnetize the shaft of retarding the speed of the piston lift, head should be checked for any sign a non-magnetized screwdriver, you thereby creating an additional of distortion. If there is distortion then can apply a large horseshoe magnet depression over the jet which increas- this should be removed by machine to the metal shaft. You can also mag- , ...... A- - es the amount of fuel discharged, resurfacing. Cylinder head studs, netize the shaft by tightly wrapping MGB DRIVER-JanuaryFebruary 2003 MGRDRIVER-January/Febrt~ary 2003 23 r Join Your Fellow MG Enthusiasts in centrally MG 2003 located St. Louis, MO NAMGBR 12th Annual Convention Wednesday- 611 8/03 Hosted By The MG Club Of St. Louis (:onlc. ,1 (lClyc!,irly ,II,(I I)(. Register On Line: O~.rrcar show will bc ol~l~ositethe lake in I~ea~~ti(ul A. ,w~nA4K I 'Y>L177 I: ,MC;II (;I '(;, 7 I ,btt,/\ I!,OII.I ,\11<11 t4 s\t(,l%hlK I1 '!hf1'1 I I I I for71 7 K I\\( ( I(,I!NIlIKI CREVE COECIR PARK from 9 AM - 2 PM. P0p~11arj~lclfiing will ( >I~,I+MK 11 ,711.iz K ~I(,I+\)-8 '6) J-~XI \ (I 11 11 14 ,\.I,\I<[J\I~N offered in his book are documented the accelerator to the floor and let the with accurate data collected from one RPMs rise as high as you dare. of these chassis dynos displaying the Through this acceleration. the rollers horsepower one could expect from apply a known load to the wheels. different component and tuning Measuring the time it takes to reach choices on hiGBs. various RPMs allows torque and, ulti- The real draw of John Twist's mately, horsepower to be determined. seminar for me was that on one of the The dyno is computer assisted three class days we would gather at and prints out the familiar horsepow- Baker Engineering in Nunica, er and torque curve graphs for you to Michigan, a local business that oper- keep and study. ntes a chassis dynamometer. We The TF owner simply wanted a could learn the basics of what these baseline peak horsepower number remarkable test instruments can which proved to be around 40 or so. accomplish. At a small extra cost, we The "rear wheel" horsepower figures were offered the opportunity to place measured on a chassis dyno are our own car on the dyno and perform always lower than what an engine some tuning and parts swapping dyno would find when testing the experiments. The bcauty of working engine only. Higher engine-only with your car on a chassis dyno is the horsepower is what typically gets opportunity to make instant, reliable quoted when publishing power specs measurements of exactly what the for a vehicle. The power losses in the tuning or parts change accomplished transmission, differential and the b Kelvin Palmer hobby racing news and ideas that 1 in the way of power increase or loss. mass of wheels and tires all come into dicagoland MG Club read regularly. Carl has been endeav- Four of us seized the opportunity to play in reducing the figures when oring to sort out the effects of various try this with our own cars. testing this way. We were told to typi- &Ihad the experience of attending a bolt-on performance gadgetry for Carl Heideman has performed cally expect a 25 or so horsepower new seminar offered by MG techni- MGs and report accurate results to hundreds of dyno "pulls" on numer- loss from engine horsepower for a car cal specialist john Twist of the readers of these magazines. ous MGs at the Baker dyno, so per- like a MG. Another owner tested his University Motors Ltd. of Ada, Over the lust several years I have forming these tests on our four differ- MGB GT and experimented with dif- Michigan. John regularly offers (usu- spent considerable time reading and ent cars went smoothly and safely. ferent air cleaner setups. The K&N fil- ally during February) a series of MG- re-reading a book by Englishman Carl also confirms that the results of ters he swapped on proved to produce related technical training seminars Peter Burgess titled Howto PowerTune his MG tests very closely match the a 3 or 4 HP boost over the stock facto- ranging in topic from rebuilding MGB 4-Cylinder Engines.Although not results and figures quoted in the Peter ry units. John Twist himself tested his cngines and gearboxes to basic main- literally used in the class as a text- Burgess book. The dyno is housed in its MGA for power und found some air tenance and restoration. This new book, the seminar followed most of own shed building with a garage door. flow chunges resulted in higher out- September seminar titled "Tuning for the tried and true recipes offered by Your car is backed onto a car-size put. The dyno also identified some Speed" caught my attention as I race Mr. Burgess for extracting the most elevator which raises it to the level of intermittent crossfiring in the ignition a MGB in vintage racing events. from an MG engine in thc way of the big rollers. The car is then further which disappeared with a different set John Twist was joined by associ- power and performance. The book backed onto the rollers, tied down and of ignition wires. ate Carl Heideman in teaching the certainly prepared me to better under- chocked in place. The first car tested My car's turn was last. My "butt- seminar. Carl operates "Eclectic stand almost everything we would was a TF. The dyno is sized for typical- dyno" (a technical term we learned Motorworks" in Holland, Michigan eventually discuss in the class. ly larger cars and careful attention from Carl during the seminar) had where he offers body and frame fab- Mr. Burgess promotes the idea of had to be paid to the very narrow told me that I had significarltly rication and restoration as well as "Rolling Road" tuning. The rolling wheel track width of the TF. -4ny inch- increased my engine's output last "go-fast" work on a wide range of road or "chassis dynamometer" is a es smaller and the car would not have year when I sent out the cylinder vintage sportscars. Carl also writes large scale test instrument where the straddled the ramps on the lift. head for a porting job. I was sold on technical articles for a variety of auto powered wheels of a car drive a set of A "pull" on the dyno consists of the benefits of porting the hecld after enthusiast magazines, notably heavy rollers. The instrument mea- gently running up through the gears reading the Burgess book. I had no including GrassrootsMotorsports, a sures torque and horsepower at vari- to third or fourth and then briefly idea what kind of horsepower num- high quality and believable source of ous RPMs. The performance recipes holding at about 2000 RPM. When bers I had before and no idea what I the dyno operator signals, you stomp iplease Lurr~to page 34) 32 MGB DRIVER-Jan~:an;/Februaq2003 MGBDRIER-Ja~~uary/Febtllaw 2003 33 I Tuning for Speed on the Dyna - Continued from Page 33 I HelpYour Parts Supplier Help You might learn today. I knew my engine of 12.3:l in the race operation range was hotter than stock with the easier above 4000 RPhl. Based on these breathing and somewhat milled observations, mixturc setting changes head, an exhaust header and a mys- were not culled for. by Kelvin Dodd parts book or muil order catalog and determine what is unique to your car. tery fast-road type cam. I knew it still We had a bit of clyno time left and British Marketing Manager has low compression, slightly over- Carl wanted to try some uirflow exper- Perhaps it is an early MGB GT. Moss Motors and has the same rear wheel cylinders sized deep dished pistons and runs iments on my engine. I huve always as a Roadster. Which leads me onto real nice on pump premium fuel. Carl run a set of K&N air filters on my race Tips 1 can give from over twenty the next topic.. . explained that most stock or near- car. Practically nobody else at the years of selling British car parts- stock MGBs register peak rear wheel track does. I just figured it was safer Be Prepared to Find horsepower readings in the mid-60s and K&Ns were known to be pretty Know Your Cur Your Car isNot Original to low 70s. He asked me what I good at not impeding airflow. We tried I can't begin to tell you how Let's face it, unless you are the expected from my car before we start- a different set of K&N filters but with- many times I've had customers ask- only owner of the car and huve super- ed and my best guess was 75 or so, out my usual "sub stacks" which are ing for parts for an MGB Midget, or a vised all service, you really have no based on what the Peter Burgess book short but very smooth mouths at the 1985 MGB. I've found the best way to idea what may have been changed. suggested for engines with tame mod- curb throat opezings that fit inside my identify an MGB or Midget is to ask When you buy a rear wheel cylin- ifications like mine. air cleaners. That lost us 1 full HP. We about the headlights-even with the der and the pin on it won't mutch the Well, our first, right-out-of-the- then removed the air cleaners entirely bumper, or set back into the fender. brake backing plate drilling, who do box pull registered 81.7 HP @ 5400 and fitted a very trick looking, $90 set The model year of pre-1968 vehi- you blame? Is it possible that at some RPM. Cool! We measured the ignition of TWM brand stacks to the carbs cles can be difficult to determine, as time the backing plate or even whole timing and realized that it was about instead. These ure the trumpet cars were titled in the year they were rear end was exchanged? 4 degrees retarded from my usual set- shaped, horn-like things I see on a lot sold-not necessarily in the year of ting of 32 degrees of full advance for of race cars (apparently for good rea- production. A 1962 MGA according to Read the Workshop Manual and some still unknown reason. We set it son). My Anal dyno pull with those the title, may well be a 1500 model Parts Book, First to 33 degrees and pulled again. This stacks registered 87.6 HP. Almost with drum brakes which can cause It gets very tiresome for sales and time 84.4 HP. Cool! So what if we tried another 2HP! Needless to say, those major confusion when ordering front tech. people to answer questions 35 degrees, or 37? Result: 85.8 HP! stacks were staying where they were. brake parts. where the answers are listed in the Way cool! I gained 5% in power in ten Better yet, Moss Motors had donat- From 1968-on life got easier, as parts books and workshop manuals. minutes by turning the distributor. ed them as a door prize for the seminar, the VIN plate on the left hand door- Valve lash, types of oil, tire pressures You can't just keep dialing up spark and I got to keep them. Moss and jamb gives an accurate build date. etc. are a13 there to be found. Rather advance and 35 degrees of full Advanced Performance Technology This VIN number is very important on than tying up valuable expert advance proved to be the sweet spot (APT) provided several other valuable these cars as many modifications resources with simple questions, take for my engine. There was no evident freebies to seminar attendees. were made on the fly to meet supplier the time to look up the information at spark knock due to excessive advance Overall, my horsepower gain or regulatory changes. Some of these home where you have time to peruse and the dyno loading does sort of after arriving at the dyno was 6 HP, changepoints are inaccurate and the books in comfort with a cat on mimic climbing a hill where spark an Increase of over 7%. I wasn't sure overlapped so it is possible to find a your lap and soft music playing in the knock would be likely to show up. at the time if everything translates 1976 MGB with a rear sway bar and background. All the while, a "sniffer" was exactly from dyno results to street or no front sway bar! Chances are the information will be inserted in the car's tailpipe sensing track results but the value of the chas- Take the time to find the VIN much more accurate than that you fuel mixture. The dyno can show the sis dyno as a test instrument was number for your car, then pick up a receive from a harassed parts person. a richness or leanness of the mixture at obvious, I've now returned from a all these various operating speeds. race weekend at the four mile Road The Burgess book suggests that best America circuit in Elkhart Lake, power is typically made with an Wisconsin. I consistently turned laps airlfuel ratio of around 12.5:l-con- 2.5 seconds faster than I had there siderably richer than settings made earlier in the year. Doesn't sound like for fuel economy. My air/fuel ratio much? You'd be amazed what racers started out a bit lean (13.5:l) at low- will pay for 2.5 seconds. est RPMs (we guessed due to my Metropolitan areas typically known to be worn and leaking SU have several shops that operate a throttle shafts). It went a bit rich chassis dyno. I highly recommend the (11:l) in the 3000 to 4000 RPM range experience. John Twist may run a and then settled at a nice, safe value (pleasetun? to page 51) MGRDRNER-January/February 2003 MGB DRIVER-Jani~ary/February2003 MG News LATESTNEWS - MG 2003 ~ritishCar Magazine Marketing, we'll be able to provide JUNE 18-21 ST. LOUIS Changes Hands more detailed information on our Up to the minute information on VIR: PRESS RELEASE - BRITISH CAR favorite British cars while coverirlg all the upcoming excitement at MG = Website: www.virclub.com (Track. ,I/IAGAZINECHANCES 0 W:I'ERSHIP, the other marques that were so 2003 in St. Louis is on the official race, location, lodging, area, etc.) GARY ANDERSON TO BEEDITOR OF much a part of the sports car hobby convention website, www.ma2003. Contact: Julie Allen: jallen@ NEW PUBLJCATlOhr,Ormond Beach, as we knew it in the fifties, sixties, com. You can even register on the virclub.com, or call 1-434-822-7700, Florida, ianuary 3 1, 2003 and seventies." website with PayPal. Or use the x-101 Motorsport Marketing, Inc.. The expanded magazine will Registration form in the center of this Publishers of Grassroots Motorsports, give British Car readers more tech MG8 Driver. Don't mlss out! Rooms MGVR: has announced their purchase of features, emphasizing ways to Contact: Greg Prehodka, are going fast. Don't miss special British Car Magazine on January 30. improve reliability, safety, and per- guests like renowned MG authority [email protected], or call 973-473- British Car will be relaunched this formance of classic cars. In addi- John Twist or the father of the MGB 3888 spring as C[assicAutosport,with British tion, Classic Autosport will be build- V8, Ken Costello. or Mark Palmer, mgvrmarkm Car's Gary Anderson as editor. ing its own project cars like those hotmail.com, or call 1-610-867-6014 Classic Aufosport magazine will that Grassroots Motorsports is MGVR at VIR offer classic car enthusiasts more famous for building. Classic car The excitement is building MG Rover/ So-CaI depth in its technical coverage and a meet and vintage racing coverage beyond expectations. As of late Plans are apparently still pro- wider range of classic performance will be expanded. All of this will be December, Virginia International gressing for MG to re-appear at the automobile coverage - British, as well added while the magazine will still Raceway's "Gold Cup" competition Bonneville Salt Flats with a Roush V8 as European, American, and others. maintain the enthusiasm for classic chairman, Peter Krause, announced powered MG ZT-Testate car. The car Classic Autosport will be all-color, per- cars that British Car readers have that a record breaking 35 MGs were recently showed up on So-Cal Speed fect-bound and will start with at least come to expect. already pre-entered for their June 6-8 Shop's webpage at www.so-calspeed- 100 pages. The first project cars planned "Gold Cup" vintage car races. Much sho~.com. So-Cal, the legendary In making the announcement, for the new publication include an of this excitement is over the All MG California hot rod shop, is preparing Tim Suddard, president of Motorspofi MG Midget and Porsche 911, while race scheduled, as one of the focal a ZT-T, like the one shown at MG Marketing and publisher of Grassroots the magazine will also campaign a points of that vintage race weekend. 2001 in St. Paul, to run on the salt Motorsports, said "As classic car pair of vintage racers: Publisher The MG race is sponsored by Moss flats at Speed Week. The Bonneville enthusiasts ourselves, we have had a Tim Suddard will continue to run Motors, and supported by the MG Salt Flats were the site of many MG dream for over ten years of adding a his Triumph TR3 at East Coast Vintage Racers, as their "Focus Event" Land Speed Record attempts by classic car magazine to our activities. events, while Editor Gary Anderson race for 2003. The entries include MG George Eyston, Goldie Gardner and, With the acquisition of British Car, we will campaign an MGA on the West still the reigning MG Midgets, MGAs, MGTs, MGBs, MGCs, speed cahmp have the core around which to create Coast. after 40 years, Phil Hill. Pre-War MG's, and MG svecials. Bv the kind of magazine we have always The April/May issue of British race day, 50 to 75 MG's ark predicted wanted ourselves, in the same way we Car will be the last one to carry the to be dicing it out on the tarmac. Seventh Annual British Car Week have built Grassroots Motorsports." old name and logo. British Car read- MG entrants will be coming from May 24 to June 1. 2003 British From his office in Los Altos, ers will see no interruption of service, all over the US and Canada for this Car Week is the ongoing tradition of California, Gary Anderson, editor as they will be the first to receive this special race. VIR is a beautifully spreading awareness of classic British and publisher of British Car new and expanded publication. The restored racetrack located jn southern automobiles. Driving our British cars Magazine since 1996 said "I'm real- first issue of Classic Autosport will be Virginia, one of the best in the coun- in our own communities during this ly looking forward to editing the mailed in late May and on the news- try for both racers and spectators. The week, especially in larger numbers, new magazine. stands by 3 Tune. racers will be usjng the full 3.27 mile will help create a heightened expo- With the strong technical and The readers services number will long circuit, with its over 20 turns, sure toward these wonderful cars, publishing resources of Motorsport remain the same: 1 800 520 8292 1 through rolling hills. This is also a thus help to preserve the entire British great vacation area. So, if you are an car hobby. MG racer, crew, spectator, or MG http:llusers.arczip.com/zntech/british enthusiast. mark vou calendar to carwee k. html make tliis speiial MG race. Additional information is available from the following sources: 36 MGBDRIVER-,Ianuary/February 2003 MGBDRIVER-January/Februa~ 2003 3 7 I I Midget Registrar MGB Bolt Sizes, Taps and Dies got my first MG in 1987 and made I could, in fact, write volumes by Les Bengtson bottoming) tap has no taper and is ' only used in holes which have my first MG friend shortly there- about each of the individuals to which Arizona MG Club after. I still have that Midget, and my Midget has introduced me. Some already been tapped part way. It come to think of it, that friend is still of them actually deserve u chapter or TheMGB uses a combination of US. allow one to extend the partial around as well. two and may get their due at some British and Metric nuts, bolts and threads cut by the plug tap for a few Shortly after I brought my new point. However, in the interest of fasteners. While the chrome threads more. I would recommend prize home, one of my previously brevity, 1'11 pick one such couple who bumper cars are more likely to use US that you purchase taper taps for gen- unknown neighbors showed up in my have made a difference in our lives. standard threads and the Rubber eral use and purchase plug or bot- driveway in full drool. It seems Gil When you meet someone who bumper cars are more likely to have toming taps on an as needed basis. was once a mechanic at an MG deal- shares your last name, you always metric, there tends to be a mixture The taper tap is capable of cleaning ership and still held the little beasts wonder if they are somehow related. that continues over the years. In some up the majority of buygered threaded dear to his heart-especially Midgets. Perhaps the limb of the family tree cases, the US and metric bolts are so holes and, with its longer taper, tends It all worked out quite well actually. 1 reserved for stringing up horse similar as to be interchangable. In to help prevent cross threading. Most got tons of technical advice and thieves and politicians. So when we other cases, significant changes have hole damage tends to be near the top I through the years our families met Buzz and Ginger Zimmerman, it been made and what works on one of the hole if it has been buggercd. If became good friends. Would it have didn't take the guys long to figure out car will not work on a different yeur. it is rusted, the entire inner surface is happened without the MG? Can you that they did not shure any ancestry; Over the last several years, I have had contaminated by rust and the taper start a fire without a spark? just a love for MGs and their really access to a '68 MGB GT and a '77 3 tap will remove it efficiently und All of you long time MG owners cute wives. roadster. I have determined the size of leave it sized properly. must know what I'm talking about. It is more likely that Ginger and I all the bolts and studs that 1 huve had Taps are made of two materials- Those of you who are new to MGs lis- are related as we share the family to remove and made a list of them. 1 carbon steel and high speed steel. The ten up. You are in for a treat. My hus- name of "Riddle", this was both of am adding to this list all the time, but carbon steel is somewhat more brittle band and I got involved in our local our mother's maiden names. There hope this initial listing may be of use und is less expensive. High speed steel club soon after the Midget became a are several other similarities that to some people right now. Hence, I am (tool steel) is less brittle and more fixture in our garage. l'm proud of we've uncovered over time, but what publishing an initial draft and will, as expensive. Both have their places in the relationships that have grown has truly amazed and delighted me is time goes by, updute it as more infor- machine operations. For automotive through the years. As with any Mend- how my grandparent-deprived mation becomes available. use, the high speed steel (HSS) is the best one to use. ships, these sprung from a common daughter, Samantha, has adopted Taps catalyst-the MG. But friendships them as her chosen grandparents. A tap is a hardened piece of tool Dies grow over time and that one common And they have reciprocated. steel which has been machined to the Dies are available in two different interest turns into many. "All right", you say, "this is a car size of a standard bolt, hardened and styles-a "re-threading die" and a We've attended MG events all magazine. What does this have to do fluted (grooves cut along the long standard machine die (simply called over the U.S. and Canada; we also with cars?" axis) so that it is capable of cutting a die). The re-threading die has a traipsed over to England to attend a It has everything to do with MGs threads into steel, cast iron or alu- hexagonal external shape and is used pub night with the Midget and Sprite and the people who drive them. If you minum. There are three types of to clean up burred bolts and studs, Club and an excellent event in don't see it, refer back to paragraph taps-taper, plug and bottom. The being turned by a large wrench. Abingdon. Everywhere we went we five and the statement 1 made about taper tap is designed to cut threads in The standard die is circular in met more MG owners and struck up anti-social behavior. a hole that goes completely through a shape and has a hole in the middle more friendships. All of them impor- I know that many of you have piece of material. It features a fairly which has been threaded. Three or tant in their own way. The glue that had similar experiences where your long taper on the bottom end which four relief cuts are made so that chips binds this MG community. car has put you in touch with some- helps to align the tap with the hole so of steel or aluminum will not foul the When we make plans to attend one who you might not have other- the threads are cut square to the top cutting action. They come in various an event we always anticipate run- wise met. And perhaps it should be of the material. It is the best tap for exterior sizes and are held in a "die ning into people we've become your story in these pages. general use. The plug tap has a short- handle" which is a circle with two acquainted with through the years. 1'11 tell you what. Find a package er tapered area for working in "blind" handles coming out the sides. The die Again, if you've been involved with store that sells "Hen's Tooth", slug holes-holes which are not drilled all is inserted into the handle, locked in these cars for awhile, I hope you rcc- down a bottle or two, then write me a the way through the material being place by one or two set screw and ognize at least some of what I'm talk- story. We would love to print it on threaded. Because of the shorter then used to cut or recut a thread. ing about. If you just bought the car I .. these pages. am waiting. taper, the tap will cut full sized Carol1 Smith, in his book Nuts, and don't openly exhjbit any anti- See you on the road- a social behavior, refer back to this in threads somewhat lower into the hole Bolts, Fasteners and Plumbing about ten years. than a taper tap will. The bottom (or (pleaseturn Lo page 40) 35 MGB DRIVER-Jan\ialy/Febn~a~2003 MGB DRIVER-JanuayFebn~ar): 2003 MGB Bolt Sizes, Taps and Dies - Continuedhrn Page 39 you find one thut fits exactly. I find machinery supply stores. You can tind that the use of an optivisor or u mug- there in most major cities through the Handbook states that bolts and studs the number of threads per inch or Ilifying glass helps, especially with yellow pages. Rutland Tools and Enco should never be re-threaded and millimeter. The third is the length. the finer threads. When you find the Tools are mojor mail order discount should always be replaced. This is The length is normally measured one that fits perfectly, you read the tool sources. number stamped on the leaf and, completely true with safety related from the underside of the bolt head lo Bolt Sizes for '68 MGB GT applications. It is less true with non- the end of the threaded area. This therefore, the number of threads per jnch on the bolt. Thermostat housing ~tuds-~/ie"-18 safety related applications. I would same form of meusurement is used Radiator mounting bolts-'/16"-24 not re-thread a head stud. I would re- with most items having a head, such The second method of determin- ing thread pitch is less exact, but will (factory) thread a bolt that holds the trunk a socket headed cap screws or button Radiator mounting bolts-8rnm-1.25 hinge on. headed cap screws. Set screw and work when no thread pitch gauge is available. You measure '/4" on the (replacement radiator from Brit-Tek) studs are usually measured as the Distributor screw (point hold down)- Using Taps and Dies overall length of the item. All of this threaded portion of the bolt and then Taps and dies should be lubricat- count the number of threads covered 10-32 (machine screw size) is easily measured with a dial caliper Grill b0lts-~/4"-28 ed to prevent sticking and promote or ruler. by that area. Then, you multiply by clean cutting. With a tap, the tap itself four to determine the number of Slave cylinder to tranny-3/s"-16 The major diameter is also easy Gear shift sh0fi-~/s"-16 is normally lubricated. With a die, the to measure with a dial caliper or threads per inch. piece being threadedhe-lhreaded is Oil cooler to ~alance-~/2"-28 (non- micrometer. Normally, on portly Dial Calipers and standard size) normally lubricated. Since the majori- threaded objects such as studs or ty of holes being re-tapped are being Thread Pitch Gauges Radiator support bolt~-~/16"-24 cleaned up of rust or paint, you do not longer bolts, the major diameter can Dial calipers can be purchased Oil pressure sending unit to block need to use an exotic tapping fluid. be determined directly by measuring from most stores selling tools, includ- (support bra~ket)-~/16"-24 Motor oil, ATS, light machine oil or a the unthreaded portion of the ing hardware stores, auto parts stores End bolls securing exhaust rnani- studlbolt. The size is normally similar compound will work fine. If and machine supply stores. A very fold--'/16"-24 you are making a special tool or have expressed in either millimeters or usable set may be had for under $25, Steering wheel n~t--~/16"-28 (non drilled a hole larger and are tapping it fractions of an inch. Machine screws, made from stainless steel in China. standard) for the first time, Tap-Magic or a simi- of the smaller sizes, are measured as u The more expensive, American made Front hub grease cap-.j/i6-24 lar compound is recommended. series of numbers going from 0 to 14, tools, are not necessary for most auto- Brake pedal cover screws-10-32 Exactly what to use will depend on the with 0 being the smallest and 14 motive applications. My $18 Chinese (machine screws) material being tapped and the recom- being the largest. When you do not version is just as accurate as my $125 Heater water valve-'14''-28 mendations of a machinery supply have any unthreaded portion of the American tool. Harmonic balancer holes (to use with store should be used. I use the same oil boltfscrew to measure as a major Thread pitch gauges are avail- p~ller)-~/1~-18('71 18V engine) can that I use to top up my S.U. carbs diameter, you measure the threaded able, normally for under $10, from (please turn to page 42) and the tranny, finding that Custrol portion. The threuded portion is nor- 20W-50 works well for general clean mally slightly smaller than the nomi- up work. nal major diameter, so a small amount of inte retation is required. Taps are round in shape with a =-? square end at the top. A device known For instance, a /4" (.250n) threaded as a tap handle js used to hold the tap bolt may only measure ,242-.245" A-PART FROM THEREST. and turn it. Most of these have a col- from the top (crest) of the threads. By comparing the measurement to a let arrangement and are desi ned to nd Coils fit a range of taps ( 0-'/4" and 9/4'1-1,/211 table of standard threads, the size of Ar L,clc BELIE~.YIE +OW who m a~rand uhere our t.#narir c0-r;~.from Ar 1 grov,!ig c0l:iplury vintage Ads being the most useful). There are also the bolt may be determined. founded 8.- :he lsre 90 5. we eke wide n gntng you ng.- qlil~rl cur:c!ner $err :c.Wc -11 hsvothe tap handles which are two pieces of The last measurement is the parrr you need.thercnvenlance yo,, wam.ind at 1 lower prw th3.1 :hovghr you wo~dpay )on Hoods metal with a "V" cut in them and hav- threud pitch or number of threads per ing two screws to tighten them togeth- inch. This can be measured in two Gunson Tools ways. The best way is to use a thread er. These are especially useful if the Moss Motors larger taps are used, but not required pitch gauge. This is a small tool hav- for most automotive use. ing a number of leaves similar to a Halogen Bulbs for Most Sritish feeler gauge. Each of these leuves has and American Cars How b Determine a series of notches cut into it repre- Bolt/Stud/Screw Sizes senting the number of threads it rep- The size of bolts, etc. is deter- resents. This number is stamped into mined by three dimensions. The first the gauge leaf. You hold the bolt in is the diameter of the bolt, known as one hand (or a vise) and try to fit the the "major diameter". The second is various leaves into the threads until 40 MCB DRIVER- January/Fcbruay 2003 MGB DRIVER-J~~LI~~/F~~~II~~~I2003 41 I MGB Bolt Sizes, Taps and Dies - Continued ti-urnPage 41 -- I I Crankshaft pulley n~t-~/s"-16 (non Table of Bolt SizesIThread Pitch- - standard, but taps are available spe- Unified National Coarse (UNC) and cial order) Unified National Fine (UNF) more color, Bolt Sizes for '77 MGB Roadster Size-Fractional (decimal) T h r e a d s 1 more pages, 1 Fender mounting bolt~-~/16"-24 UNC Threads (UNF) I Tall light lens screws-6-32 X '/2" long (machlne screw) 1 , ,,,le,,h more features! Seat mounting bolts-l/4"-28 X 1 ]/4" I long Features on all British Marques Radiator mounting bolt~-~/16"-24 Technical Information Screws-top of windshield to side Profiles posts-10-32 (machlne screw) Classic Fan guard b0lts-~/4"-28 ! Restoration Advice Water pump pulley bolts-l/4"-28 Historical Articles ('~8" shank) BuyersSGuides Water pump to block b0lts-~/16"-24 To Subscribe:Call , Steering wheel n~t-~/16"-18 (stan- Club Events BoIts smalIer than l/4" are measured in 1 dard 9/16" UNF) 800-520-8292 Vintage Racing OutsideU.S. 1-650949-9680 ; Radiator expansion tank b0lts-~/16"- machine screw sizes, running from Zero (0) to 14, with 0 being the small- or subscribe online at 24 11 year16 issuer)521.95 2 years$43.95 est and 14 the largest. They run 0 to 6, : Engine back pIate-3/8"-24 and 5/16"- Canada (USdollars only) 528.00 I $49 00 www.BritishCar.com A then 8,10, 12 and 14. Each has a stan- 7 OurGuaranlee If youre evernor sal~shad, cancel &?I 1 dard UNCIUNF thread specification. a?dwe !I Mund'he costoi 211 unmaled ssues PO BOX1683 LOS Altos, CA 94023 Rear shock to rear axle drop link- 1 I I/2"-20 (bottom of link) These are the most commonly encoun- tered. There are, however, a number of *L Rear shock rear link- specialty machine screws either dating 7/16"-~~(top of link) from before there were standardized This is an on-going work and will be sizes, or to meet special requirements. updated as I have time and opportuni- These will seldom, if ever, be encoun- ty to measure and catalog more sizes. tered in automotive work. a 42 MGB DRIVER---Jal-l~~ay/February2003 I Technical Talk that the above information will be of just after the /ow voltage connection. by Bob Mason looking between the headrests and The second spurk plug wire from the ..--h~lnr, to vou. the vision to the rear would be very front goes to 'the next position on dis- '11 jump right in this issue limited. The best alternative would be I have a 1973 MGB with S.U. curbu- tributor. If1 understand th~scorrectly, ith questions on tires, the mirror for a 1970-onwards GT rettors on it. It has failed inspectiontwice my firing order would be1,2,4,3. My wheels, rear view mirrors, that has the 3 mounting screws in for hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide. car runs very well and has been this speedometers and-that ever-popular about the same location as those on The first readings were better than the way for years. Could this firing order topic-carburettors and emissions! the '68-'69 models. Adequate rear- second readings. be possible or do I not understand this After it failed the first time, I went HiBob! ward vision is predicated on the GT correctiy? Just for the record, I have really sitting at the correct ride height at the home and regapped the plugs and the Now onto a differentsubject, whenI enjoyed your column in MGR Driver rear (i.e.-no sagging springs). points (plugs -025, points .015). They check the oil in the rack and pinion, how were pretty close. 1 also retimed the frorn the beginning. It'smy favorite and Measure your ride height at the center car1 I tell ifthe rack needs oil considering most useful section.Not surprisingly,I've of the rear wheels from the ground to engine to 11 degrees BTDC at 1500 RPj'vf that it already has oil in it? wid] the vacuunt hose plugged and I got a couple ofquestions for you. I've got the bottom of the side molding strips. (p1euseturn to page 46) a 1969 MCC GT that is on the road and The rear should be about 1 to 1.5 topped. . up the carburettors with oil. ~1ze'first time 1 went in for the i a 1969 MGB that I'm rebuilding. inches higher than the same mea- surement at the front wheels. inspection, the HC reading was 832 I What would you recommend for a three-seasontire in the Northeast for my There is no advantage in and the CO 8.91. The second time HC I MGC GT? It's a regular driver in good installing MGC wheels on a 'B other was 1105 and CO was 9.65. Could fill- condition that gets driven in all weather than if you like the looks. Realizing ing the carbs with oil cause these read- that the larger wheel will be turning a ings? Ifnot, what did? What type ofoil SHOCK A6SoRBERs:~ront Rear except snow. I don't show the car and MGTC...... 165.00 165.00 originality isnot an issue. bit slower than the 'B wheel will throw should I use? Do I huve to use S.U. Carb oi!? MGTD B TF...... 165.00 60185 Do you have a suggestion for an off your speedometer reading. The 14- MGA...... 69.95 49.95 alternative rear view mirror for a GT? inch 'B wheel takes a 185170-24 tire When I check my carburettors, it MGB. MGC, Midget...... 69.95 49.95 that is about 24.25'' tall and turns at appears that on the rear carb I have a jet HEAVY DUNUPGRADE ...... 10.00 10.00 Something withoutthe suction cup,per- SHOCK LINK (New or Rebuilt)...... $call haps something mounted on the dash? 862 revolutions per mile. A normal from a non-MGHIF carb because it rises a quarter ofan inch above the bridge.As I have an extra set of MGC wire 180170-15 tire is 25.24" tall and turns BRAKES : sleeved and rebuilt wheels. Is there any advantage to using at 828 revs/mile-34 revolutions per 1 unscrew the adjustmentcounter clock- MGB, Midget caliper ...... $85.00 MGA-MGCcaliper ...... $125.00 slightly largerrims on my MGB? mile slower than the 14" tire. Ityou do wise, the jet rises to its highestpoint and install the 15" wheels and want the then stops; but the adjusttnentscrew can MGA, Midget twin rnaster1956-1967...... $165.00 I'll need to send my speedometer out MGB M~dgetmaster 1968-80...... 5125.00 for repair sometime soon. Can you rec- same ride height as the 14" tire, you still turn out. Will this damage theneedle MGC brake master ...... 5175.00 could consider the 195J65-15 tire that or the jet? MGC booster servo...... $375.00 ommend someone? ..... $40-60 Thanks, is 24.90" tall and turns at 832 What I've done is unscrew the Brake & Ctutch cylinders brass sleeved revslmile. You would then have u adjustment until the jet stops rising on Kingpin swivel axle rebushed...... $40-f80 Steve Brown, Member #I-277 15" ...... tire that sits at almost the same height both carbs. Can 1 now just richen the Front end a-arm (Midget) $75.00 You should have no problem in as the 14" tire. mixture a half turn at a time on each CARBURET0RS:COMPLETEREBUILDING Disassembly, cleaning, bodiesrebushed, new finding a name-brand mud and snow Your speedometer can be sent to carb and expect the mixture to richen throttle shafts, jets, needles,fioaf valves, gaskets. tire for your MGC that will be suitable Bob Castagnetta at Nisonger equally considering that the rear carb Flow bench tested ...... $365.00/parr for all the driving conditions that you Instruments, 5 70 Mamaroneck seems to have a non-MGH1F jet? CARE BODIES REBUSHED; mention. These M&S tires are usually Avenue, Mamaroneck, New York I would like to keep it as lean as pos- and new throHle shafts...... $55.00 each called "All Season" tires. 10543. Bob can adjust your sible so that I car1 get it through the The mirror for the '68-'69 GTs was speedometer to whatever tires you inspection. How far can I drive my car Prices shown are fur Exchange or Yo~1r.sRebuilt . a little bit longer at the stem as com- Core charges apply if items are ordered prior lo have installed as well. His telephone with this lean mixture without burning (and are refundedafler) our receiving your old unil. pared to the '65-'67 GT interior mir- number is (914)381-1952 and FAX is up my valves? Also, why would a valve S/H 54.00-$8.00 per item. FREE CATALOG. ror. The 1970-onward GT stem was (914)381-1953. Nisonger Instruments burn ifamixture were set too lean? ww. applehydraulics.com even a bit longer to ensure better has been in the business of repairing My distributor is a Lucas 25D vision through the rear hatch glass. all Smith's instruments back to at modei #41491,4. According to the APPLE HYDRAULICS The dash mounted mirrors for such least the early 1950's and I have been manual, thefiring order is 1,3,4,2. On 1610 Middle Road, Calverton,NY 11933 cars as the TCITDJTF sat with the top extremely satisfied with all of the my car, when looking at the distributor 631-369-951 5, FAX: 631-369-951 6 of the mirror only about 4.5 inches work that they have done for me. and going in a clockwise direction, the Toll Free 800-882-7753 above the base. If such was installed Thanks for your comments about number 1 spark plug wire from the Visa, Mastercard. COD. Free Catalog on a 'B or 'C GT, you would then be the MGB Driver articles-l try. I hope front cvlinder 4aoes to the first ~ositiorl 1 J I MGB DKIVER--,Janua~/February2003 MGB DRlVER-January/Febnlasy2003 45 Technical Talk - Continued from Page 45 Basic'B I have owned MGBssince 1974 and the level of the bridge, or as close as use them as daily drivers. Thanks for possible to that level, and then turn ticking a lot? Check the fuel gauge answering my questions, the mixture screw clockwise to drop When Your MG Loses Power by Jake Snyder, ChicagolandMG Club again. Smell any gas fumes? Try to Dave Matos the top of the jet below the bridge by start car. (Engine cranks, but doesn't Kendall Park, New jersey two complete turns of the mixture uf your MG should lose power, turn on catch). If you have fifteen minutes, P.S. Why don't you have an e-mail screw. This will then have the top of sit quietly and meditate. Try to start - the main jet sitting about an eighth the hazard signals immediately and address? Sometimes 1 feel ttzal 1 may be the car again. (If it starts, suspect of an inch below the bridge. Turning pull to the widest, flattest part of the intruding if1 were to call you. IfI do call that the fuel pump points are not the mixture screw counter-clockwise shoulder you can reach. Pay attention is there a time where it wouldn't be to the car as soon as a problem is evi- opening at the right part of the inconvenient? raises the main jet and the screw pumping cycle and the fuel pump turning clockwise will richen the mix- dent and before the car stops: - If armature is overheating. Or gaso- I have just received your letter ture by dropping the main jet. A lean a. Do you smell fuel? YES, then sus- regarding your carburettor problems pect a float valve jammed open, line has boiled in the lines and mixture (too lean) will not have caused vapor lock (which is exceed- and thanks for the stamped envelope. enough fuel to cool the flame and this with raw gasoline spilling onto ingly rare if the fuel pump is in its First of all, your timing is pretty will lead to burning the spark plugs the exhaust manifold. Don't open the bonnet without your fire factory location.) good; but with your particular distrib- or the piston if left this way too long. utor it should be set at about 15 Remember that aftermarket parts are extinguisher at the ready. CHECKINGFOR FUEL b. - Is the ignition light on? If NO, degrees BTDC at 1500 RPM with the not built to the OE quality and usual- UNDER THE BONNET vacuum disconnected and plugged. ly will fit either carburettor, while the then suspect a loose battery con- With the ignition off, disconnect The S.U. factory recommended SAE factory parts are "handed" to fit cor- nection, loose brown wire termi- nal on the starter solenoid or a the fuel line from the carburetter and 20W for the damper oil. 20W-50 rectly only to the front and rear car- find a pop can or other container to engine oil is all right, but u straight burettors separately. corroded fuse block or fuses. You also have no hazard signals. catch gas. Turn the ignition on. If no weight SAE 30 would be better. Do not If the carbs are high mileage, fuel flows, YOU HAVE FOUND THE use 3-in-1 oil or automatic transmis- there is a distinct possibility that the c. - Can you get a little more life from the engine by pulling the PROBLEM. Tup the fuel pump gently; sion oil, and no, you do not need to O-ring on the cold start valve (choke) you may be one of the lucky few for choke all the way out? If YES, use the S.U. carb oil. Regarding your is leaking (part #49 on page #79). If whom the points work and fuel again damper oil, the weight of the oil will this ring has failed, you will always then suspect fuel starvation from u variety of causes. flows. Don't smash about wildly and have no effect on any emission read- have excess raw fuel passing through destroy the brake lines, fuel line and d. - Does the tachometer needle ing. The damper oil only restricts too- the carburettor, no mutter what the pressure regulator on the fuel pump. bounce all over? If YES, suspect rapid upward movement of the piston position of the choke cable. The faster The pump should put out at least 4 on acceleration. you drive, the more raw fuel will pass too close a point gap, either from wear or slippage. gallons per hour, so the pop can Your distributor seems all right; through the carburettors. It will even should fill in about a minute. (If the but the rotor turns counter-clockwise, flow during idle RPM and this may be e. - It couldn't happen to you, but just glance at the fuel level pump starts when it is tapped, replace giving you the correct firing order of why your main jet is so high (lean) the pump immediately when you get gauge. If it reads less than 1-3-4-2. The engine would not run and the engine is still running rea- home. Check for rust at the same time well, if at all, if the firing were actual- sonably well. There is a complicated tank, suspect that the tank might be empty. and replace the tunk and lines if there ly 1-2-4-3. Your HIF carbs seem to be method of testing if the rubber O-ring is any.) If tapping doesn't restart the the problem. Especially if lhey have has failed, but the best thing to do is WHEN YOUR MG STOPS ROLLING pump, the best and fastest emergency not been rebuilt within a reasonable to take the carburettors apart and Turn off the ignition, shift to repair is to patch in a spare aftermar- time using the correct parts. replace the O-rings and main jets neutral and set the handbrake. ket pump and drive home on that. Aftermarket parts are usually OK, but (also possibly the main metering nee- Verify that you are safely off the Most of the time, if the fuel pump the best bet is to stick with the OE fac- dles) with factory OE S.U. parts as road, even when the door is opened. works, the car will run. If there is rust tory parts. The main jet has a "finger" available from a reputable supplier Take stock of your situation, and that has settled in the bottom of the that fits within the bi-metallic jet like Moss Motors or ]oe Curto- review your resources: Where are float chamber of an HS carb, or if rust lever (see #10 on page 79 of the remember please do not mess around your spares, tools, owner's manual has fouled a Grose jet, you will get Haynes MGB manual) and this is with aftermarket parts. This cold start and NAMGBR directories? Did you fuel from the line but not into the car- what controls the height of the main valve and its O-ring are shown graph- just pass a gas station a half-mile buretter, though this should not hap- jet when adjusting the mixture screw. ically on page 80 of the Haynes MGB back, or is there a sign for one over pen to both carburetters at once. If the jet IS connected to the bi-metal- manual. The overhaul procedure is the next hill? Take a small sip of Clear out the rust if you can. A Grose Iic jet lever, it is almost impossible to well explained in the manual and water and a deep breath. Turn the jet, once fouled with rust, will never raise the jet much above the "bridge", you should have no problems rebuild- ignition on and verify that the car work properly again, so fit a spare or bottom of the intake throat. You ing your carbs to pass inspection. has power. Listen for the fuel pump. float valve, call the tow truck, or try to ALWAYS then adjust the muin jet to (pleaseturn to page 50) It should have 'ticked' a little. Is it make it home on one carburetter. f MGB DRIVER-cJanuay/Febr~~ary2003 MGB DRIVER-January/February 2003 47 Product Review Registrars of the NAMGBR EBCBrake Pads MGB Reaistrar and MGB Limited Edition by Robert Rushing 1967 MGB GT Special Rwistmr Ron Jugwell Marcham Rhoade 3 De Amaral Road, P.O. Box 2406, Camel Valley, CA 93924, (Por the past several years, I P.O. Box 8645, Goleta, CA 93117 -have been having nothing (805)683-2906 (831)659-2449 but problems finding decent e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] brake pads. I don't know exact- Midqet Reqistrar MG 1 100/1300 Reqisfrar ly why they do it, but my brakes D Zimmerman Scott Williams squeal like a stuck pig. I've 811 S. DePeyster Street, Kent, OH 501 N.E. Emmett St., Topeku, KS 66616 been told that vibrations are 44240, (330)678-9394 (785)234-8101 caused when the brake pad e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] doesn't seat well with the caliper piston thus causing the 1974'/2 MGB Reqistrar 100,000 Mile Reqistrar hair-raising shriek that caused Steve Harding lai Deagan -1913-D Darby Road, Havertown, PA 11825 Columbia Highway heads to jerk around and dogs Eaton Rapids, MI 48827 to howl in agony for blocks 19083, (610)446-2073 around. Do you know how e:mail: [email protected] e-mail: ][email protected] embarrassing it is to have peo- MGB V8 Registrar Oriqinal Owner Reqistrar ple smile and give you the Dan Masters Peter Cosmides thumbs up only to have them P.O. Box 6430, Maryville, TN 37802 219 Pleasant Valley Avenue, grimace and jam those same (865)982-9373 Moorestown, N] 08057, (856)778-3695, thumbs into their ears a few e-mail: [email protected] e-mail; [email protected] seconds later? Pull Handle MGB Registrar 1 tried evervthina to cure Hammer & Tonqs Reqistrar Bill Barge Phil Smith my problem. I tiied skeral dif- i' ferent new sets of semi-metallic 930 N. 350 E., Angola, IN 46703. 103 N. Pennington (260)665-6476 pads from the major suppliers. Each MGF owners swear by them. I checked Sycamore, OH 44882 time, the noise would go away until the Tire Rack website only to find that e-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] the pads got a little wear on them, MGs weren't listed for the brake puds ------then it would start back up again. I (they're not listed for tires either tried using various glues and adhe- which I think is a mujor oversight on POB321 Otego,NY 13825 sives on the back of the pads. I tried the part of the company), so I gave shims and I tried those little foil strips I 1 them a call (888)541-1777). spoke Tel&Fax607 988-7956 that are now being sold. Nothing with one of their sales reps and he BritBooks worked at all. Not even new rotors! told me that they have heard nothing 1 then checked on the MG BBS but good comments from customers We have over 300 MG titles in stock where 1 found the suggest~on to over the pads and that he would rec- chamfer the edges of the braking sur- ommend them highly. The big ques- plus a major inventory of books on face of the pads. AHer looking up the tion was did they sell them for MGBs. Triumph, Lotus, Jaguar, A-H, Morgan. word 'chamfer', I did that and it His reply: "Yes we do. Do you have an seemed to work. There was still a 1800 engine or a 3500 engine?" Wow! minor squeal, but it was something I So not only did they have them, but BritBooksisthe largest supplierofcurrent and could live with. Unfortunately, it only they have V8 pads as well. lasted a few months until the pads SO what's the big deal with EBC out-of-print bookson sports earsin America wore down again and then the noise pads? Well, originally, brake pads for returned with a vengeance. MGBs and Midgets were made mostly Call for a Catalog today, 1-800-732-3646 It was about this time that I with asbestos. Asbestos pads were so- , learned that the Tire Rack (www.tir- so at best. They absorbed a lot of RonEmbling - e-mail:[email protected] erack.com) were selling EBC "Green heat; but they easily glazed and pro- 'i Stuff'' brake pads. These puds are duced a lot of dust. Also, as has been Homepage: http://www.britbooks.com hugely popular in the UKand many (pieaseturn to page 51) MGBDRIVER4anua1y/February 2003 MGB DRIVE Technical Talk - Continuedfrom Page 46 product Review - Continued tiomI Page 48 If, after rebuilding, you still have left and right, this will raise the well publicized over the past decade, boon to those folks since it should a problem, lean the mixture a bit and round yoke enough so that it can be asbestos is extremely harmful when reduce cleaning time greatly. perhaps retard the timing a bit. We removed with pliers. Reach inside the inhaled. This is a very real problem After purchasing a set and have no problems down here when casting and remove the small spring with brake pads since they are mostly installing them, the first thing I following the manual and using and bronze damper (Moss #262-190). worn to dust by use. Thus, most mod- noticed when I went to stop was the quality parts. If you still have a prob- While moving the steering wheel ern brakes are now being made using complete lack of noise from the lem after rebuilding, give me a call. slowing left and right, add the third a semi-metallic/clay base, which also brakes. Not only were they quiet, but As far as the steering rack goes, of a pint of gear oil. Fill the center tend to create a lot of dust and are they had a solid, smooth feel to them. there is no way to measure the hole in the yoke with Vaseline to hold prone to squealing. Another big Of course, being from Missouri, I had amount of any oil that you may the damper pad and spring in posi- minus is that the dust created by these to wait to see if this would last since have in the rack. The only time that tion in the yoke. Line up the position pads can ruin the finish on alloy most of the pads I have tried in the you will know that you have the of the damper with the steering rack, wheels. This is a real concern for those past would cure the problem for a "correct" amount of oil is when you install the shims, and then the top with MGB LEs and Mini-lites. On the short time only to allow it re:urn fill it from empty and then fill it with cover plate along with the two bolts. other hand, EBC makes their pads again. Well, all 1 have to say is thot the correct amount. Although the Your rack probably has very little oil, with Kevlar, the same stuff that bul- it's been 2500 miles now, 1000 of Haynes manual does not address this but even so, any excess oil will prob- letproof vests are made from. The which were put on in 24 hours during question, the Robert Bentley manual ably seep through the ends of the type of EBC pads 1 bought is called the Lap of the Lake Endurance Rally, says that a new fill should be only a rubber boots and dampen the floor. "Green Stuff" and is designed primar- and there is still no noise! Plus there is third of a pint of SAE 90 gear oil. If However, lack of oil will mean that ily for street/autocross use (EBC also just as much grab. I haven't noted you have not added any oil within the rack bush and ball bearing will makes Red Stuff, Yellow Stuff, cnd any wear yet and they have indeed recenl years, you can easily add the soon need to be replaced. The rack oil Blue Stuff pads that are for various seemed to produce less dust. The only oil, assuming that your rubber rack also lubricates the inner swivel sock- racing-only applications). EBC claims downside that 1 have found is that bellows me not cracked and leaking. ets of each tie rod assembly. the following features and benefits of they are not very cheap. The Tire Remove the two 5/i~" bolts using a As far as e-mail addresses go, I using their Green Stuff pads: Rack sells the Green Stuff pads for wrench or socket and remove the top am not what one would call comput- 1 - They have a friction coefficient of 1800 Bs for $49, which are roughly 2 cover plate where the steering rack er literate. Telephone calls are always .46 while standard pads are .32 and a half times as much as a semi- and the pinion connect, taking care welcome; and if I'm not at home, my 2 - They have an excellent bite with metallic set. For ten bucks more, you not to lose any of the shims (Moss wife is very knowledgeable when it no warm up needed can upgrade to the 3500 V8 pads. #263-810). Turn the steering wheel comes to MGBs! 11 3 - They are fade resistant and heat These will fit in the stock MGB stable up to 550" C. calipers yet provide 20% braking sur- 4 - They create a lower amount of face. So, despite the fact that the cost Chapter Spotlight - Continued from Page 7 dust and cause low abrasion to is significantly higher than standard brake rotor surfaces. 1 don't have pads, I fully believe that EBC Green started and was in dire financial donate to Backstoppers in honor of wire wheels, but it should be u Stuff pads are worth the extra cost. 'a need. Our hard work helped them sta- the police and firefighters that lost bilize their funds allowing them to their lives during the 911 1 attacks. move out of the church basement Then at the holidays, we donated - Continued from Page 34 that they occupied and into their own enough funds to help pay for a Tuning for Speed on the Dyno building. Giant Steps takes a one-on Christmas dinner for homeless veter- similar tuning seminar again in the Eclectic Motorworks is at (616)355- one approach to teaching autistic ans. We have voted to do the same future. Watch for it. John Twist can be 2850 or [email protected]. children which results in a very high this year as well. contacted at University Motors Ltd,, In the meantime, if tuning for speed is success rate. Today, they are a thriv- Our club would like to extend a (616)682-0800 or johntwist@univcrsi- your thing, the Peter Burgess book for ing organization with local personal- warm welcome to all our fellow tymotorsltd.com. Carl Heideman of MGBs is invaluable. 1 ities, state politicians, and members NAMGBR affiliated chapters and of the St. Louis Rams sitting on their their membership this summer at MG board. We like to think that it was our 2003. For more information, see the helping hand that made the differ- convention website at ence in so many young lives! Since WWW.MG2003.COM or visit our then, we have been more giving to club's website at WWW.STLOUISMG- charities. Every Christmas we orga- CLUB.COM. If you prefer to contact us nize a canned food drive to give to a the old fashioned way, leave us a local food bank. Last year at our message on our club hotline at 314- British car show, we raised money to 995-TOMG. 50 MGBDlilVER-- Janua~>/February 2003 Our ValuedSupporters Specializing in Restorationsof MG's and other British Sports Cars New E Used Parts Available Body Repair. Wiring, Engine etc. Retail- Whdesale Rob Medynski Aulhcrized MossMotors 1577 Macopin Rd. FadsDistributor West Milford. NJ 074 MCNtScl,AFAX,D!SC. (973)-728-3096 Fax# (973)-728-7871 - MG ERIC JONB AliTOSPORTb Mii Bntkh Car Depaic Riley Tucker J. Madawick Rmtomtion. Reqclmg Owner/British Car & MG Specialist htin Morris by appointment only Triumph 1271 Pollock Road (81 2) 334-1 700 21 10 Vernal Pike FAX (81 2) 334-1 71 2 Bloomington, IN 47404 TbI=ley Ddam~.Ohlo 43015 www-autosportinc.com emall: tuckerOautosportinc com Augtin Healey 74O/363-2203 ~ ~ I:urd Sierraconversion kits for: For All Yoi~rBritish Cai Neeos :A holt in operationtliar cnahlcs !.ou 10 oruisc s~70 Norman Nock Technical A~VISO, wi(h 1895 less rplns (209) 948-8767 Contact: ButchWhite 2060 k.W~lson Way S'ocktor CA 95205 crr~ail:mo\vo~ul~i~c~$actl.conl . Fax 1205; 948-1330 .E Mall I4ea e) Lac 'a a0 con phone: 864-1-376-6703Visil: ingfitespccd con) RESTORATION SERVICE- REPAIRS. PPqTS MGBDRIVER-Jan~~ary/Februa y 2003 MGB DRIVER--,lanuary/February 2003 Our Valued Supporters SPRITEA'IIDGET & MGB I Restore your car- better than new! 5-Speed Transmission Conversion Kits Slecvc and rebuild brakes: ITlaSICT, s.~ccI.~alli>~lh, SPRITEMIDGET Limited Slips so-YO,sl:ivc, clutch cylir.dcr.s arid bcustcm, rclinc shocs I .~ r Service for the GENUINE MG Motor Car JOE CURTO INC. Specializing in 3.Ud Zenith-Strornberg Carburetors British Car Parts and Repair 22-09 f 26th St. College Point, NY 1 1356 0 SPARES 71 8-762-SUSU (762.7878) Connell's MGService Ltd. 6667East 38th Street Indianapolis,IN 46226 FAX: 71 8-762-6287 317.545.6108 Fax 317.475.0544 ZENITH wwwjaecurto.com (210) 626-3840 Bia - radials? ,,, ,,, , ., cr.3 a %arc-r-*: $0 wtrc wf-lccls? MG COSAS PARTS BUY SELL TRADE 800.732.9866 for info &orders JIM & ESTHER UDKLER 24027 CROSSLAND OWNERS SAN ANTONIO, TX 78264 sales@britis hwirewhee1.com 444 A!RPOR:B!L.I:, SUITE114, WATSONVILLE,CA95076 USA 831 763 4211 54 MGB DKIVER---January/Februay 2003 MGB DRIVER-January/Februay 2003 55 Our Valued Supporters I - -- (609) 399-2824 cq-- 8:30 -6 books4cors.corn MGA & VGBPRODUCTS Modifications & - Recommendations for: AGAZINE * ENGINES BRAKES SUSPENSIONS One year - Four great issues $20 (Canada $24, Overseas 530 - U.S. dollars) BRITISH Two years - Eight great Issues $40 (Canada $48, Overseas 560 - U.S. dollars) PHONE & FAX:? Author~zedMoss D~str~butor 7 Send name, address and check or MCNisa Internet' hltp //www.rngbmga corn I (41 5) 883-7200 1 . - J information to P.O. 2308, Huntersville, N.C. 28070 21 Pamaron Way Unit 1 Novato California 94949 Fax 704-948-1746 [email protected] 56 MGB DRIVER-January/Februay 2003 MGBDRIVER-Januaty/Feb~uarv 2003 Sell-See k-Swap ! Where 2 'B The Marketplace ,of the North A I MGB Regisfer Forthcoming Events of Interest to MG Drivers ds in this section are FREE to indivlaual MLB Register members in good stand- mlease check for up to date information before departing to the meet. The ing-please no business or commercial ads. Send ad copy with name, address, d Register encourages local groups and clubs to submit their MG events to hone number and ~nernbership number to 4904 Puffer Road, Downer's MGB Driver. Information must include date, location, and contact phone Grove. 1160515. Ads only accepted in writing. Business or other ads by arrange- number. Please submit events at least three months in advance to the Editor, ment with Jim Brucato, Advertising Coordinator (see inside hont cover). All ads must 4904 Puffer Road. Downer's Grove, 11 60515. be received by the 30th of the month of publication far inclusion. (i.e. March/April 2003 issue deadline is March 31, 2003.) Ads will be run for two (2) issues, space MAJORNORTH AMERICAN MG MNTS FOR 2003 allowing. The Register retains the right to refuse any ad it deems unacceptable. The originating state is shown at the end of each ad. February 4-24, University Motors Workshops, Grand Rapids, MI, (616)682 0800) or their website: www.universitvrnotorsltd.com CARSFOR SALE February 23, All British Swap Meet and Auto jumble, Wheaton, IL, 1969 MGB-Clean older restoration.BRG. wire wheels. Good body, no rust. New (630)858-8192 interior, seats, carpets, top. Wood steering wheel. Runs and drives well. Exact March 22-23, Missouri Endurance Rally, (314)353-7655 or miles unknown--odometer shows only 6900 miles. (316)687-6103- e-mail [email protected] eve./(316)262-4753-days KS April 11-13, Brits on the Bridge, Lake Havasu City, AZ, (480)899-3272 1972 MGB Roadster-Red w/black interior. Four speed stick wlelectric over- April 26-26, Pensacola Beach British Car Show, Pensacola Beach, FL, drive. Canvas top, tonneau cover, and leather seats. Complete engine over- (251)961-7172 or e-mail [email protected] haul; hardened valves, etc. Excellent body; no rust. Emission controls attached May 1-3, British V8 Conversion Convention, Townsend, TN (865)982-9373 or and Functioning. Many custom extras; steering wheel, kill switch, radio, mats, e-mail [email protected] etc. Restoration records and photos e-mailed upon request. This "B"is made for May 10, MGs at Jack London Square, Oakland, CA (415)333-9699 or driving. not sitting jn the garage. $8800. (586)773-0287 or e-mail e-mail [email protected] [email protected] MI May 18, Brits at Easton, Columbus, OH (614)846-2321 or 1966 MGB GT-Red. Located in Riverside, CA. All original interior, original e-mail [email protected] radio, overdrive, five wire wheels. Very original engine bay. Very minor front May 23-25, Champagne British Car Festival, Urbana, IL(21 7)415-2911 end damage. $1700/OBO (949)497-6705 or [email protected] CA May 24-June 1, British Car Week, httv://users.arczi~.~rnizntech/ britishcarweek.htrn1 CARSWANTED lune 1. The British Return To Fort Meias. Perrysburq.- OH (419)878-2041 ox Wanted-Pre-'68 MGB roadster. I have a pristine 20k mile Triumph TR8 to ' e-mail [email protected] trade or can purchase outright. Looking for original, restored, or abandoned June 6-7, Heartland Regional, St. Joseph, MO (816)795-9628 restoration car. I'm a long-time MG owner. Please e-mail me at ]une 8, Bntish Motorcar Gathering , Hellertown, PA (215)257-4457 or [email protected] or call me at (707)565 3591 CA e-mail [email protected] June 19-23, MG 2003, St. Louis, MO www.ms2003.com PARTSFOR SALE August 8-9, Lap of Lake Michigan Rally, Grand Rapids, MI (314)603 7139 or MGB WHEEI.S-4 MG 14" Rims. 3 Chrome Rings, 4 center MGs and Valve e-mail MShetley@msn com Stems. You pay freight. $150 obo. (269)465-0151 or (269)921-8191 cel MI August 14-17, Abingdon Summer Party, Galesburg, IL (630)858-8192 MGB Right Hand Drive Parts For Sale or Trade-Everything you need for a Sept. 7, Chicago British Car Festival, Palos Hills, IL, (630)773-4806 right hand drive car. Dash, steering column, rack, etc. All parts off a 1967 MGB Sept. 14, Battle of the Brits, Sterling Hts., MI, (586)979-4875 or GT. Asking $400 or best offer for the lot. Would also be interested in trading for e-mail [email protected] Triumph TR3-TR4 parts. Email is best but you are welcome to call also. andy- Sept. 28, British Car Club of Delaware Annuul Show, New Castle, DIE (302) [email protected] or call (865)687-3428 TN 328-7702 or e-mail [email protected] Oct. 11-12, Abingdon Trials Endurance Rally, Columbus, IN (630)960-0944 or 1968 MGB parts-Engine and tranny-$75.00 each-condition of engine and e-mail [email protected] tranny unknown; doors hood trunk-$20.00 each; complete rear axle for 1973 1 MGB-$100.00; complete set of rostyle wheels trim rings and centers-$125.00; and other rnisc. parts. Complete front suspension $100.00; windshield frame $25.00 or will sell all for $250.00. (270)771-0073 or e-mail [email protected] KY PARTSWANTED 1977-80 MGB OIL PRESSUREGAUGE-Need a late style MGB oil pressure gauge to use in my idiot-light equipped Midget and match the graphics of the other gauges. (630)968-4347 or e-mail [email protected] IL 58 MGB DRIVER-Januaryflebruary 2003 IF- PRSRT STD U. S. POSTAGE Effingham, 1L Permit No. 294