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MG MGB Technical - Engine Bay Photo

Does anyone have a clear photo of a Mk1 engine bay...empty, if possible.

I am trying to reinstate part of the bulkhead on my car, which was removed during its time at SU Carburettors.

As you can see from the attached photo, it is the corner of the bulkhead where the steering column would pass through on a left-hand drive car.

I have acquired a piece from a '73 shell, but it seems to be different, so it would be useful if I could see what it should look like on the Mk1.

Dave O'Neill2



here's one from my 66 Roadster.

David

D Yates

Sorry, this is brain dead!
You have a car with very special provenance, and you are going to a lot of work to destroy that very bit of history?
A pox on thee!

FRM
FR Millmore

There is a possibility that I will need to convert it to lefthand drive at some point. As it stands at the moment, that is impossible.

While I am restoring the engine bay, it seems like a good time to reinstate it.

It was originally lefthand drive when it left Abingdon.

Do I return it to original specification, keep it as it was when SU finished with it - low compression engine with single HIF6 and 4-sync non-OD 'box - or have it how I want it?
Dave O'Neill2

Perfectly valid to change it if you need to be LHD.

But, as a record of the mods it has survived, not necessary to make it dead standard. I think such cars should preserve something of heritage. Even if you create something entirely new, that is also valid. Still think something of the stages should be saved.

Last SU spec sounds pretty boring, but what required the cutaway? That might be interesting - looking turbo/blowerish! What accounts for the giant rathole in the inner wing?

FRM
FR Millmore

I don't know why they performed the butchery on it.

When I acquired it, it just had the single carb. A large cardboard box contained the spare plumbing, air-pump etc., but I could not see any reason for the holes.

There was a nicely dished plate covering the hole in the inner wing, held in place with self-tappers. I had considered welding that in oplace, but I think I will just tidy up the edge of the hole and refit the plate with some small nuts and bolts.
Dave O'Neill2

I would have thought that the part where the steering column would pass through would be the mirror image of the RHS (drivers side) based on the left and right hand dashes and steering assemblies being mirror images of each other.(Unless for some strange reason the geometry on LH and RH drive cars are different!)
David's picture seems to back this up.
The lower section appears to be original??

John
John Minchin

David

Thanks for the photo.

It certainly gives me an idea of what to aim for, but I probably need to see a later car to see if it is identical.
Dave O'Neill2

No going back!

I finally got around to cutting out the dished infill.

Dave O'Neill2

It is your car and you can rebuild it to whatever standard you like. As it left Abingdon is perfectly valid, and beatiuful isnt a word you would use for the way they left it.
All I could find was this one which isnt much help. I will take a few more of the modified areas and post tomorrow. I'm not going to remove the engine for clarity thought :-)

Stan Best

Thanks Stan, but I don't need any more photos now.

Things are progressing...

You can also see where they hammered the tunnel in when fitting the 4-synchro 'box.

As far as SU were concerned, it was just a workhorse which had a job to do.

Dave O'Neill2

This thread was discussed between 19/02/2012 and 08/06/2012

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