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MG MGA - late 1600 harness clip location for dipper

Hi - Am finishing up my harness install and know that the dipper switch has a harness clip somewhere above it. see attached pic. I have heard that the dipper or its clip location changed around a bit during the car's history. Would a 1600 owner kindly be able to send me a pic of their correct placement of the clip - thanks!


glenn johnson

Glenn, I just reviewed the photos that I took of my 1600 Coupe prior to restoration and do not find a harness clip in either of the photos and have not installed one on my car. The cable goes directly from the back of the switch to the grommet in the heater shelf. I've attached 2 photos because I don't have one that shows the entire harness.

Andy


Andy Preston

Glenn here's the second photo.


Andy Preston

Andy, -- How sure are you that your Coupe dip switch is in the original location? I was under the impression that the 1600 dip switch (roadster or Coupe) was originally mounted low on the plywood floor up against the inboard side of the frame, and the wire was tucked under the carpet from the switch up to the underside of the goalpost.

I have never owned a 1600, but I have driven a few. Relocating this switch to the rear side of the vertical frame member within the triangle would certainly be a popular modification for folks with large feet. That makes you twist your foot to a bit of an awkward angle to reach your toe into that a position, but I'm sure one can get used to to fairly quickly.

Then again, perhaps my memory is fading in my old age. Anyone else have an original 1600 around that has not been tampered with? If the correct location is indeed on the back side of the frame post, then this would make a second difference between 1500 and 1600 frames (after the front brake hose bracket location).
Barney Gaylord

Andy, -- How sure are you that your Coupe dip switch is in the original location? I was under the impression that the 1600 dip switch (roadster or Coupe) was originally mounted low on the plywood floor up against the inboard side of the frame, and the wire was tucked under the carpet from the switch up to the underside of the goalpost.

I have never owned a 1600, but I have driven a few. Relocating this switch to the rear side of the vertical frame member within the triangle would certainly be a popular modification for folks with large feet. That makes you twist your foot to a bit of an awkward angle to reach your toe into that a position, but I'm sure one can get used to to fairly quickly. Then again, perhaps my memory is fading in my old age. Anyone else have an original 1600 around that has not been tampered with?
Barney Gaylord

I have a similar question for RHD late model cars - is there a clip on the loom at the dip switch and if so, where is it?
thanks, Mark
M Wellard

Thanks Andy + Barney:
I’m not sure if mine is even in the correct location – someone told me or I read that later 1600s received a change in location.
glenn johnson

Prior to January 1959 both RHD and LHD cars used the same bracket suspended from the bulkhead. Later cars had a different bracket and the LHD bracket "screws to the toeboard" according to Clausager.

However, the parts manual refers to the "Screw - bracket to inner goal post upright L/H" 3 off PMZ0310, for the LHD bracket, suggesting the bracket may well have been fitted to the frame as in your pictures. This screw would require a tapped hole.

I still have the original toeboard somewhere so I will examine that and my chassis for screw holes tomorrow!

The parts manual also refers to a "Clip - dipswitch cable to goal post" PCR0607, (which is the same as the 3 clips that hold the headlamp harness to the front panel) and screw PTZ806, which is quite a large self tapping screw. Maybe I can find the hole from that one too and answer Glenn's initial question!
Neil McGurk

Barney, I've checked with a friend of mine who also has a 1600 coupe and his dipper switch is in the same location as mine on the rear vertical frame member. I also remeber retapping the holes in the frame member to clean them up after painting the frame.

Andy
Andy Preston

This maybe so unrelated as to not be helpful but.... on the 1500 the P clip is inside the dipper bracket so that the cable is firmly held and no strain can be placed on the terminal at the dipper. It would be logical , particularly with the long exposed harness, that this would apply to your mounting position.
Much more importantly, well to me, where did the rubber dip-switch cover / cap come from? I have memories of these having concentric (annular ?) grooves on them, but have not seen any for on offer. Naked dip-switches seem, well, naked and put all the wear on the silly rivet holding them together so I would like to source one eventually, thanks
Tony

A.M. Leyva

Ok, I think I now have some good evidence! First my MkII LHD frame has the tapped holes where the bracket was fitted (I must have removed it some fifteen years ago). The interesting and more conclusive evidence is that on a RHD 1600 frame I have there are also the tapped holes! So I think we can say confidently that the last 1500 (around the same time as the high starter position) and all 1600 and MkII had the dip switch fitted to the chassis and not the "toeboard".

To answer the initial question from Glenn there is also a hole near the top of this panel that may well have been for the cable clip. It is in line with the inner tapped hole about 2" below the bottom edge of the horizontal chassis member. Interestingly there is a corresponding hole in the RHD frame which has a self tapping screw and cup washer fitted (and some of the original carpet underneath.)

Neil McGurk

Mine hangs from the heater shelf and is above and to the left of the clutch pedal.

No camera at the moment, so no pics....
dominic clancy

thanks; any 1600 owners have a clip on their harness above the foot dipper switch? have a pic of it?
glenn johnson

This thread was discussed between 17/10/2010 and 23/10/2010

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