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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Heater Control Valve

When converting from MG to GM engine, you lose the heater valve that bolts to the engine.

Has anyone found a handy substitute cable operated valve that you can mount on the firewall somewhere?
Bill Spohn

Try a MK1 Golf/Rabbit one, it's plastic, sits in the hose pipe and doesn't need to be bolted down, which means you fit it anywhere.

Andy
andy

Thanks Andy!
Bill Spohn

I found one from an American Motors product which mounts with a pipe thread the same as the tube from the engine. If clearance in that area is a problem, an adaptor is easy to fab up from regular copper plumbing tube and fittings.
Bill Young

Or use the valve from a Triumph which is the same as the MGB except it is mounted on a pipe. This can be plumbed into the heater bipass line from te water pump to the heater.
Jim Stuart

After much effort I made a very neat adaptor for my MG heater tap (which I was very smug about) so it would go on the Rover Mannifold.

I had to replace the heater tap 3 times in two years.

These taps depend on a thin rubber diaphram. Apparently either the orrigional design is not up to dealing with V8's, or recently manufactured items have inferior rubber. This is what my supplier claims and to his credit he supplied the last tap free..
Should the rubber perish (three times now at $65 each!) you've got coolant every where. Actually it's not as bad as that as because the rubber diaphram deteriates gradually you get a dripple, which slowly gets worse. Seems to be good for about 6 months before the first drip appears.
So don't waste time and money trying to adapt the MG tap.
I went to the local auto supply and asked for an "in line cable operated tap" and got something that looks exactly like the RV8 tap. It cost $58 Australian, including tax.
Packaged by JAYAIR Part No. HA4008
It also has a sticker on it 'Made in Mexico H38C-2211-030 0441-07 '. Which indicates it could be got cheaper if you phoned around a bit.
It is of the Ball valve type (no rubber to perish). Be aware that it must be fitted the right way around with the cable attachment pointing away from the engine/water supply. Other way around it lets a dribble of water through to the heat. Guess how I found this out!. Right way around it works perfectly so far. I used half inch hose and a brass stepped down hose fitting for the mannifold.
That heater tap was the last orrigional MG bit on the engine!
Still good more than a year later!
Peter

This thread was discussed between 29/11/2005 and 01/12/2005

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