MG Midget Cup Holder

Having been on quite a few wet runs this year, the same problem cropped up at lunch stops. Where do you put cups down in an MG Midget? The answer is, nowhere safe. Until now that is. I have fabricated a cup holder which can be fitted to the two centre Tonneau Cover lift-the-dot fasteners above the crash rail. The tray then rests on the crash rail with the cups clear of it. The fitting is secure and the tray can be can be quickly fitted and safely deatched out of harms way when it is time to move off. We have used this item on recent runs much to envy of fellow club members.

Ray Bosso

Re-imported MGR V8s

We have dealt with six re-imported RV8s and have found each of them have has had their distributor vacuum advance pipes moved from the inlet plenim upstream of the throttle butterfly to a three way pipe on the side of the plenim. The reslt is that cars equipped in this way have a constant vacuum to the distributor so when the throttle is opened for a sudden acceleration no additional vacuum advance is obtained and the performance is relatively poor. By moving the pipe from position A to position B (a short length of tubing will be needed) and moving the blanking plug to the three way: a considerable improvement in throttle response is gained. The first time the car is started after the change a brief automatic readjustment of the ECU will be noticed, which will settle after a few seconds. If any fuel injected V8 owners are looking for bigger improvements in peformnce or fuel economy we are now able to offer rechipped ECUs, for more details call Cox & Perry on (01603) 737195.

Paul Sayer, Cox & Perry

Slowing Indicators
I have owned my 1980 MGB from new and have maintained it fastidiously, however over the last few years the indicators have become slower and slower to the point that at tickover with headlights on they refuse to “blink” at all. The hazard circuit was unafffected though. New flasher relays did not help and a thorough clean of all earth points did little to improve things. A simple modification however can restore correct indicator function which will not vary with current loading or engine speed.

Instead of the 2 pin “8FL” type flasher unit, replace with a 3 pin electronic unit available from any accessory shop, (the cost is higher approx £8). The pins must be numbered ’49’, ’49A’ & ’31’.

Mount the unit using the same scew hole as the original, connect the live from the indicator switch (light green with brown trace) to ’49A’, connect the live to indicators (plain green wire) to ’49’ and run a separate earth lead from a suitable point (I used the wiper motor mounting) to ’31’. The result will be perfect indicator flash rate under any conditions.

J Whitehead

Better Access to Windscreen Wiper Wheelbox
When the arm of the left hand wiper on my MGB GT started to flop about and the balde failed to make proper contact with the screen, it was obvious that the wheelbox needed replacement. To ease access to the area under the dashboard I removed the carboard inside of the glovebox. There are six retaining screws plus a bracing bracket underneath. With this out of the way I was able to get at the wheelbox then remove it and refit the new one without suffering too many contortions.

A Russell