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MG MGB Technical - Metal Dash switches for Windshield Wipers and Hazz

Ignoring most of the advise I found in the archives, I converted my 68 pillow dash to a 67 metal dash. The work was not as difficult as I expected. It has been however very time consuming.

I've done the following
1. Rerouted the dash wiring harness to the appropriate locations
2. Installed the 67 parking light and headlight switch
3. Converted the headlight High/Low beam switch to the floor mounted switch
4. Converted the turn signal switch to a 67 switch including dip switch for headlights
5. Installed the heater fan switch
6. Installed the dash light switch
7. Installed the correct starter switch

Now for the problems. I'm hoping someone from the UK or someone with a non US spec car can help.

1. I'm looking for a 2 speed windshield wiper switch for the metal dash. In my research, It looks like the cars sold in the UK went to a 2 speed wiper motor about the same time as in the US --1968. Can someone give me a part number and supplier for this switch?
2. I have an electric windshiled washer pump. Is there a metal dash switch that operates the electric washer pump? If so, what is the part number and supplier.
3. Finally, Is there a metal dash switch for the roadside hazzard lights? Part number and supplier please.

If I can get these, I should have my car back on the road by the end of this summer. The 1st time in several years.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cris
Cris DeYoung

Sounds like a great project. I hope you've documented it and taken photos for us!
Steve Simmons

Chris,
if you go to https://secure.visav.co.uk/avshop/products.asp?getcats=true&page=4&cat=24&scat=80&sscat=&sword=

you can see the range of Lucas switches available. I have done the same as you: converted my '69 B originally sold in the US to metal dash. The neccesary switched are easy to find in europe. Only the spring return switch wasn't originally used on MGs, I still have to get that for my washer pump.
I hope you will be able to find someone close to you who can sell you the switches. If this proves difficult you could try one of the cobra replica sites ( www.ffcobra.com ) as a lot of these guys use Lucas switches.
HTH,
Rufus
R Pool

Brown and Gammons in England has a good web site that shows switches for MG dash. They would have all of the European models in stock.
http://bg.mgcars.org.uk/index1.html?o=108370288525024

You also may try to new Moss Europe site. Similar to the US site, only has parts for the UK models.

http://www.moss-europe.co.uk/MossUK/
Jim Lema

Chris,
1) 2-speed windshield wiper switch:
The real thing is part # BHA 4786. I got my from Seven Enterprises for about $27.00(before they moved to California).
http://www.7ent.com/index.cfm

Alternatively you can use a 3-position headlight switch, available from your local Land Rover vendor for about $10.00, part number 1H9077L.
http://www.britishpacific.com/

2) Electric screen washer switch:
I used a momentary-on (as long as you push it in) Ford starter switch that I bought at Pep Boys. It fits in the same hole as the original manual pump, but is chrome or stainless instead of black. Sorry, no part number.

3) Hazard light switch:
I don't know if there is one of those made especially for the '67 MGB, although if you find one, you could mount it where the (probably non-operative) reostat for your dash lights currently resides.

~Jerry
Jerry Causey

I don't believe a 2 speed motor will work on LH drive cars. I have a 66 and I gave serious thought to the 2 speed motor as well but the RH drive cars mounted the motor on the LH side and it's 180* out.

Use RainX
Mike MaGee

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll start contacting the suggested suppliers
Cris DeYoung

Cris: I think Jerry has got the right idea. Get a standard Lucas 3 position toggle switch.
I am also planning a metal dash swap for my 69 and have been gathering parts. I intend to keep my stock steering column and modify the dash panel to use the RHD V-8 instrument panel binnacle. This will allow me to fit a metal dash over the wider column, keep the right hand stalk for the wipers and washer, and reuse the 80mm diameter gauges, and the stock fuel and temp gauges.
In place of the lame instrument panel rheostat I will use a 2 inch Smiths oil pressure gauge in between the speedo and tach.
For switch gear I am going to use a combination of MG and Rover 2000TC switches. The light switch will be a Rover light switch, which will go where the OD switch is on the extreme left. This minimizes rewiring since the stock light switch is over there, plus the Rover switch looks very similar to the crooked OD switch. I got a handful of new and used Rover switches from Ebay.
I intend to use the RHD early MkII radio console, which looks just like the older style, but will fit the MkII tranny tunnel. I really like the octagonal speaker grille.
My vintage Blaupunkt AM/FM/SW will move up into the metal dash, as will the cigar lighter (power point for the cell phone) and the hazard warning switch, which is a Hella switch common to Volvos, VWs and such in the late 60s, early 70s.
The trickiest part will be to create a "fillet" panel that will allow me to bolt the early dash to the LHD MkII body. I want to avoid any permanent cutting of the body, so that all mods can be reversed someday. I have an extra Pillow dash from which I intend to cut away the top inch or so with the captive studs, and weld this to a piece of an early dash top, cut to match the curvature of the MkII body.
Paul Slice

Dang! The post above got attributed to Paul Slice, but it was actually from me. The BBS is playing silly buggers again.
Andy Blackley

RHD cars have the wiper motor mounted on the RH side, not the left.

There are two types of 2-speed wiper motor and switch, only the roadsters had the early type some time between 64 and 67, the GTs had the later type from inception and the roadsters from 68 on. However the early toggle headlamp switch (eight connections) will work for both types of wiring.

Electric washers on UK cars were always operated from a column stalk.

Hazard switches were always rockers on the UK MGBs.
Paul Hunt

Try the website indicated below.

They list almost any switch you might need.
Good luck.

JR
http://www.s-v-c.co.uk/
JR Ross

Nice link JR. It gave me another idea: maybe one of those Lucas push button switches could be wired to a hidden garage door opener under the dash. My 69 has no sun visers (nor will it) so the garage door opener is always floating around the cockpit.
Andy Blackley

This thread was discussed between 04/05/2004 and 09/05/2004

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