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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - UK speedo and techo

I must admit I'm not too happy with the size of the US speedo and tacho on my '79 1500. I'm converting to RHD so needed to purchase a UK dashboard to replace the US dash.

I understood that the US gauges were smaller than the UK gauges, but I really didn't realise just how much smaller they were. I can cut a "donut" out of the old US dash and weld to the back of the UK dash to make the gauges fit, but there must be another way.

If I could find a '79 UK set of gauges, would they be calibrated to show correct revs and speed straight away, or would there be some work to do.

That is, of course, if I can find a UK set of '79 gauges here in Australia. From what I can gather, there are very few 1500 MG's in Oz.

How far back through the years can I go to fit a "larger" set of gauges and still have them calibrated to the engine???

Wazza

w butler

Wassa,
I think all 1500 units will be okay eg from 74 on. 1500 UK cars all had a 3.9 diff as standard and 12" wheels. Provided you have the same calibration will not be an issue. You might need a slightly longer speedo cable to reach the take off point on the "wrong side" of the box.

MGmike
M McAndrew

"all had a 3.9 diff as standard and 12" wheels."

Err No!

Wheels were 13" and late 1500s had a 3.7 diff.
Deborah Evans

I am not sure about that Mike

I thought they all had 13 inch wheels and some had 3.9 diffs whilst others (later) had 3.7 diffs
Bob Turbo Midget England

Oops got that one wrong!!!! Forgot about the late attempt the gear them up! Anyone know exactly when the 3.7 was introduced? And who cares about an extra inch anyway!!!
Thanks for keeping me right Deb's and Bob

MGmike
M McAndrew

wazza, I have spare late 1500 instruments which will be a match to your car once you have the correct dash ; email if interested midget1380 at btinternet dotcom.
3.7 diff started in Aug77 production.
David Smith

Wazza

It might be worth checking that your car has the correct diff fitted. It's not unknown for them to be changed for whatever was available.
Dave O'Neill 2

>>Anyone know exactly when the 3.7 was introduced?<<

Haynes Super Profile says September 1977 (page 14)
N Atkins

you could ask Mr Boldry to bring you some back with him
Mick struggling with the wiring

Don't know whether this helps, but Moss says the 3.7 diff was introduced from G-AN6-200001.

Peter
Peter B

Thank you lady and gentlemen for your informative replies, it is great to see a robust posting full of "stuff". I now feel a lot more comfortable in my plan of attack.

Pete, my car is gan-6-ul-223685-g so should qualify for the 3.7 diff. DaveO has suggested I double-check this, so I'm assuming there is some sort of number on the diff somewhere???

I'm also wondering who the mysterious Mr Boldry is.

DavidS, email sent. Thanks.

Wazza


w butler

The diff ratio is marked in two places - one on the outside and one on the inside.

The outside is stamped on the top RH side, just outboard of the uppermost nut on the outer mounting flange. A 3.7 diff is stamped 11/41 and a 3.9 is stamped 10/39.

A bit like this...

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/$(KGrHqV,!lME3HUG+EEgBN5YlttIjw~~_12.JPG

If you can't get to the top of the diff, you could try jacking up the rear of the car, locking one rear wheel, put a mark on the other rear wheel and a mark on the propshaft. Turn the 'free' wheel two complete turns and count the number of turns of the propshaft.
Dave O'Neill 2

Hmm, link doesn't seem to work, so here's the photo...


Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks Dave . . . more Maths. I knew I should have taken notice while I was at school.
Wazza
w butler

I'm mtg the mysterious Mr Boldry for a curry tonight, Wazza, I'll mention this thread to him. He is currently in the UK but lives in Oz and will be travelling back soon, which is why Mick suggested him. I suspect he has ltd access t'interweb at the moment.
Mothy

Wazza

Not too much maths...you only need to be able to count up to 4.
Dave O'Neill 2

W, your gauges are in the post as I write...
David Smith

Good'on'ya David, looking forward to receiving them. Wazza
w butler

Horler also says Sept. '77.

Bernie.
b higginson

my copy's been delayed or I'd being quoting page number too to potentially increase sales of this excellent book
N Atkins

"Horler also says Sept. '77."

er, not in my copy it doesn't.

page 136 Production changes, clumn 2: GAN6 200001 (Aug77) - 3.7 differential replaces 3.9

and lower down the same page in the Production Dating table:
200001 First 1978 model built on 24th August
David Smith

This thread was discussed between 01/06/2011 and 04/06/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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