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MG MGB Technical - heater controls

I have started to purchase the parts needed to install a heater in my 66B. Australian assembled MGBs at hat time did not come with heaters so I have to purchase every part. I have managed to pick up just about everything (many second hand.) The two parts I having problems with are: the heater controls, and the metal plate that joins the elbows from the pipes that go up to the demister.

Of the heater controls I have managed to pick up two.
- One has a thread about 0.8cm long and a shaft about 2.2cm long. Looking at the contol with the shaft facing towards me, the rear section where the cable clamps on, is angled away from the main body towards the LEFT.
- The other has a thread about 1.2cm long and a shaft about 3cm long. Looking at the contol with the shaft facing towards me, the rear section where the cable clamps on, is angled away from the main body towards the RIGHT.

so.. my first question is....
Which is correct for a right hand drive 66B? (Hopefully at least one of them is.)

My second question is...
As I understand it the plate where the elbows join is a simple flat piece of metal. Does anyone have the dimensions of the plate, where the holes are located etc.

I would be greatful for any information.

Thanks in advance.
P R Akers

Peter -- I don't think RHD or LHD would matter when it comes to the heater controls. (Can't imagine they made different versions of the controls.)

Don't know if this will help you, but are the controls you have marked with numbers? The heater controls on my 66B are marked as follows:

3/553 is the temperature control (warm/hot), which goes in the top hole in the dash.

3/566 is the directional control (interior/defrost), which goes in the bottom hole.

And check with Tony Barnhill http:/www.theautoist.com for the heater hose plate. Bet he has one in his graveyard...
Kim de B

Kim, Thanks for the info.

I have been "told" they are different and my experiments so far would indicate that one of them is correct, and one incorrect.

The one with the back piece to the left (marked 3/333) is clearly a warm-hot contol since it only has two detents, at both extremes. The knob is marked as clockwise to increase, but (if I understand it corrrectly) this would actually close the valve at the engine. (The shaft is marked "04")

The one with the piece to the right (marked 4/16) is clearly a screen-interior one since it has three detents, This one appears to be correct, but I don't know if the shaft length is right. (The shaft is marked "01")
P R Akers

PR,
If this helps, this is what the parts book has to say on the matter (I'll go ahead and include all the listings so that if anyone finds this in the archives it might help them. Note that my book stops at 9/1976 and so cars produced for the 1977 and later years are not listed):
RHD:
Heat:
BHA4326 Use prior to BHA5226
BHA5226 (c)G-HN5-360301 ON, (c)G-HD5-36101 ON, (c)G-D2D1-101 ON
Air:
BHA4327 All

LHD:
Heat:
BHA4332 Use prior to BHA4767 and BHH297, Prior to (2)
Air:
BHA4333 Use prior to BHA4767 and BHH297, Prior to (2)

Heat:
BHA4767 See note (2)
Air:
BHH297 See note (2)

Heat:
BHH269 (c)G-HN5-219001 TO 294250, (c)G-HD5-219001 TO 296000
Air:
BHH297 (c)G-HN5-219001 TO 294250, (c)G-HD5-219001 TO 296000

Heat:
BHA4797 (c)G-HN5-294251 ON, (c)G-HD5-296001 ON
Air:
BHA5011 (c)G-HN5-294251 ON, (c)G-HD5-296001 ON


Change points:
(2) (c)G-HN4-138401 USA, 153878 Canada TO 187210, (c)G-HD4-139472 USA, 154231 Canada TO 187840, (c)G-HN5-187211 TO 219000 N.America, Sweden, Germany and Norway, (c)G-HD5-187841 TO 219000 N.America, Sweden, Germany and Norway.

A few data points:
I've got a pair of controls here from a '72 US spec car. The heat control is stamped 4/05 and from the above should be part no. BHH269. Its shaft seems unmarked but it's 1 1/8" (30 cm) long. The air control is stamped 4/16 and should be part no. BHH297. Its shaft is stamped 01 and it's the same length. Both controls' cable mounting point to the right.

HTH!
Rob Edwards

Of course that's mm, not cm! Sorry!
Rob Edwards

thanks,

I suppose the good news is there was only two of each type for the RHD cars.

Unfortunately the Australian assembled cars don't use the UK car numbers, and I have no way to relate the Australian number to the number of the kit that was shipped.

The engine was definately made in 66, and the car was probably assembled late in 66 since the switch configuration was that of the 67 model year (the pull headlight switch above the dual gauge, and the windscreen washer pump beside the wiper switch.)


It sounds like air control is definately from a RHD car. Is the dash from the 72 identical to the 66?

P R Akers

This thread was discussed on 08/03/2003

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