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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Column cowl

My 66 midget is missing this , I have tried to fit a later 1971 one I have but it just wont seem to fit . Does anyone know if these earlier ones are different, none of my catalogues appear to show an earlier type ? Thanks
Mike Fairclough

My parts list seem to show the cowl has different part numbers for different chassis numbers, seems to indicate later cowls were changed. I have the chassis numbers, not that they will be much use to you.
L Langley

Mike

I think I have a couple of spares. Not sure which ones, though.
Dave O'Neill 2

If you come across them Dave if you could send a photo please and I can compare with one I’ve got . I couldn’t seem to find a part number for an early version
Mike Fairclough

Mike what's on yor stalk - is it just indicators, and a single pull for headlight flash?
David Smith

Mike,
I'd imagine the change was at going from wire flick style of column stalk switch and sprung wire-spoke steering wheel to square ended switch and sold spokes steering wheel.

You may be able to fit the later type by modifying it (same as when fitting later squared ended stalk switch to later cowling) by cutting the stalk aperture as the later cowls are sold as a substitute to the earlier ones.
Nigel Atkins

Thanks for the replies , the stalk is the thin type with just a pull to flash ( dip would be on the floor ) The cowel is off a later car that had flash/ dip on the stalk but no hornpush . The cowel just won’t seem to clamp together, difficult to see what is preventing it really
Mike Fairclough

Mike,
check the opening for the stalk on each half doesn't foul (on joining clip for stalk?) and that on the bottom one that the open bridge piece goes over your wrapped wires.

Is this the switch (BHA4628) you have? -
http://www.leacyclassics.com/bha4628.html
Nigel Atkins

Yes Nigel that’s the stalk I have , I’ll try each half at a time tomorrow as you say and see if I can work out what’s stopping it
Mike Fairclough

With the (later than yours) modern replacement stalks I had to cut and file a bit out of the top and bottom cowl pieces where they wrap on to the metal closing clip of the stalk, just behind the stalk.

Without doing so it feels like the two cowl pieces ought to join but of course they don't.

I then found the bottom cowl piece kept riding on the wrapped wiring as it was slighted twisted across the bridge opening for it, the use of a cable tie (or two, cI can't remember) held the wire in position and the cowl holds at last.

Don't over tighten the screws or you'll lose a fixing point, being aware of this check them for tightness after each of the first couple of drives or you might wonder what's that shiny thing under my heel.

All these jobs are so easy and quick, in theory, just undo four screws and as the Haynes would have it reverse for refitting.

Nigel Atkins

It is a bit confusing but the top cowl is AHH 6314 and bottom cowl AHH 6316 to GAN3 33498
Then top AHH 6966 and bottom AHH 6967 GAN3 33499 to GAN3 52389 and GAN4 52390 on.
L Langley

(ETA: I was typing whilst Lawrence posted - in my parts book 88G 8387 was up to GAN5-74886.)

I forgot, I looked the part number up for the cowling (NLA) - 88G 8387.

Sod's Law I'd put the book away before I remembered, then I didn't trust my memory for the correct part number but on looking it up again just for once I'd remembered correctly.
Nigel Atkins

Nigel does that mean the part number changed again at a later date?
L Langley

Lawrence, the pain you have caused me. The other day I tricked the computer into reading the DVD but today it has regained the upper hand and once more I am its servant rather than the other way round. So I only have my paper reprint copy of the 1977 Parts catalogue (at least the American computer corporations can't stop me from using that) to look at.

The part numbers in that refer to the cowling two halves as one part.

I did wonder if it might be a typo of the two parts not being consecutive numbers with top cowl AHH 6314 and bottom cowl AHH 6316.

I'll try again later to get back control of the computer but it'll take a few attempts to hit on the path I found before.
Nigel Atkins

Apologies Nigel if I’ve sent you in to the world of IT nightmares , please don’t spend too long on it it’s a too nice a sunny day ! One of those part numbers took me to an MGC Cowl , it’s possible they were used on s number of models it would be a similar date span .
Mike Fairclough

Here’s one of them. Looks the same as the one on my ‘67 B.

One screw missing.





Dave O'Neill 2

Mike,
it's not you causing me IT issues (and Outlook won't login with my email provider, just imagine if our lives depended on these programs). And I can't take too much sun - as I'm a miserable old sod.

Some of (all?) the cowlings would have been used on the Bs so Cs too.

Borrowing Dave's photo, the yellow arrow shows the area I had to alter but mine is the later cowling, and the orange circle shows where the wiring can ride out of that tunnel. With a new cowling it's easy to junior hacksaw and file the plastic but I'm sure more care would be needed with aged cowling and plastic.

I don't know what the differences are in the earlier and later cowlings, I think the pull back flash was an optional extra at some point so perhaps that has an influence - and of there's ones for LHD.

My cowling is triple modified, customised, non-original, worth an extra half horsepower at least.



Nigel Atkins

Thanks Dave looks identical to what I’ve got here unfortunately even down to the chaffing mark where it rubs on the dashboard





Mike Fairclough

Thanks Nigel our posts crossed , I’ll have another go
Mike Fairclough

Mike,
mine squeaked on the dash so I cut it down but when I recently fitted those (backwards drilled) dash retaining straps it exposed the cut off area, do you have those straps fitted?


Nigel Atkins

Lawrence,
I've managed to trick the computer into doing what I want but there's too much text for me to type and get right and I can't copy and paste to transfer neatly or without a lot of editing, I also can't do a pdf print to email to you as it's a non-copy disc.

So, I think your confusion might be with the alternative bottom half, for for the earlier set of cowling "For use when optional extra indicator switch is fitte" I think that means additional headlight flash facility to stalk switch.

Two options to early and later sets.

(The AHH 6314 and 16 aren't consecutive.)

My info was from the BMC Mechanical Service Parts List, 1969, AKD 3513, Issue 8, page MN4.



Nigel Atkins

Mike,
screw is RMP(0)214 - SCREW, CSK, RAISED HEAD, CHROME, UNF, NO.6 X 7/8".
Nigel Atkins

Nigel - Theses were from BMC Mechanical Parts List Austin Healey Sprite Mk 111 and 1V
Midget Mk 11 and 111 no date given.
The optional extra one is AHH 6966 top AHH 6967
I was sent these by a gent I was talking to at a show anybody wants a copy I can get my son to e-mail them, I can't do much with them.
L Langley

Well thanks chaps we have success it went together in the end the problem being getting the stalk loom in the that groove and not pinching the wires behind the stalk . When I finished the indicators wouldn’t work as I had pulled the loom and a bullet connection had come out so I made an extension with some original green white wire and soldered in bullets . Funny how these jobs develop. Thanks for the part number for the screws as it it only has two . I have attached a picture as you can see the car has a “ lived in look with patina “



Mike Fairclough

Yes that was one of my problems, the stalk loom snakes itself diagonally and puts itself across instead of in the tunnel grove in the cowling just enough to get the two cowl parts started but not together. But you don't notice as your you're concentrating on the screws and like lots of things on the car it's a black loom against a black steering rod.

That's why I put a cable-tie to hold the loom in position whilst getting the cowling on, you can then cut the cable-tie off if you want.

It's only undoing and rescrewing four screws (well two in your case) what could possibly go wrong.

But straight away I saw your main problem, far too smaller steering wheel - this could cause a lot of problems on the car, door catches, lights, who knows what else.
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2020 and 09/05/2020

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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