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MG MGB Technical - jack colour

Hi all what colour should the jack be for a 69 GT/

Many Thanks
Mark
Mark Dollimore

According to the Clausager book, a jack from a 64 car has an original King Dick type in red.
One from a 73 car in blue, and one from an 80 car in black.
D Linkson

Yes I am trying to determine when the colour changed from red to black could this have been at the start of the GHD5 series? Clausagers Production Changes section does not appear to reference the Jacks unless I have missed something.
Mark Dollimore

Mark, I found the flowing information on this web site

http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/King_Dick_Jacks.htm

King Dick - MGB

Description

The following is written by Tony Brown from Rougemount in the USA and is also reproduced in the Shelley database and the MG Experience Forum (http://www.mgexperience.net/phorum/read.php?71,2242859 ). Pictures also courtesy of Tony Brown:

"Clausager in his ORIGINAL MGB states that the original red painted King Dick supplied jack (AHH6538) was superseded by a stronger version also supplied by King Dick (AHH 6538)in May of 1973. In February 1974; a black Metallifacture jack(BHH5329)was supplied and continued until the end of production. No mention of any jack produced by Shelley for the MGB is given by Clausager. The Shelley jack is somewhat of an anomaly; finding its way into both the North American and CKD Australian markets, but being associated primarily with MK1 MGBs in both places. Examples of the Shelley jack have been found in North American MGBs until the British Leyland buyout in 1969 but are not reported by owners past that date.

The overall length of the Shelley Rollalift jack is 17 inches; measured from the base of the foot to the top of the gear housing. The King Dick screw-type jack is measured at 18 inches. The maximum lifting height of the Shelley and King Dick jack is 14.5 inches; the width of the Shelley jack foot is 6 inches and the foot width of the King Dick jack is 7 inches.

Both jacks feature round spigots that correspond to diameter of the jacking points found during the MGB production run. The length of the spigot on the Shelley Rollalift is 9 inches and corresponds to the 9.5 inch spigot found on the King Dick jack. A small pin protrudes along the centre of the spigot on the Shelley jack 4 inches from the end point. This perhaps served as a safety catch to position the jacking point on the monocoque properly on the spigot, and is not found on on the King Dick production model. The Shelley Rollalift spigot was painted red. The particular King Dick example was unpainted but cadmium plated. Clausager pictures a red model with a black painted spigot.

Both the Shelley and King Dick versions have wooden crank handles of lacquered ash. The Shelley Rollalift jack has an undrilled top; whereas the King Dick handle is drilled through the top and secured with a washer and cotter pin. Cranks are cadmium plated on these examples and attach directly into the gear head at the top of the jack which turns the worm screw.

A paper decal affixed near the top of the worm screw housing identified the manufacturer as Shelley and includes the British patent number 865130. The King Dick jack is reverse stamped as made in Britain by King Dick: BRITISH KING DICK MADE.

Jacks were stored in the boot in a Hessian cloth and jute backed bag with two cloth cinch ties. MGBs fitted with wire wheels had a knock-off hammer inside the bag or an octagonal knock-off wrench for the MKII models beginning in 1968. MGBs fitted with Dunlop steel disk wheels had a tommy bar and spark plug tube spanner and a lug wrench supplied to be stored with the jack inside the bag."

It has come to light that some Australian CKD kits were also supplied with Australian built APAC jacks. Details courtesy of Roger Taylor in Australia.

Applicable Vehicles:

MGB. For other MGB jacks see the Metallifacture, Metallifacture (Early) and Shelley databases.

Jack Handle Type:

Integrated
Andy Robinson

The Parts Catalogue gives a change point from BHH1264 to BHA5329 at car number 345042 i.e. Feb 74.

Clausager describes this as 'New black Metallifacture jack, common to both 4-cylinder and V8, introduced in place of previous King Dick and Metallifacture jacks'. Previously the 4-cylinder and V8 jacks were different.

Clausager also lists a change in May 73 at car number 317050 - 'Alternative King Dick jack of stronger design (BHH1264 instead of AHH6538); Metallifacture jack BHA5178 remains in use'.

The implication is that both King Dick or Metallifacture could have been provided on a particular car up to Feb 74, when a new Metallifacture jack replaced both of them.
Paul Hunt

Attached is a photo that I took this evening of the jack supplied with our 1974 MGB/GT, and it is also blue in colour. Looks similar to the Datsun (USA) blue of the same period.

Regards,

Larry C.

Larry C '69 Midget

Wow, thanks to everyone for the information. I appear to have a Shelley Jack but obviously uncertain if it was supplied with the vehicle. However, it should all be painted red and that is what it will be. Cheers all
Mark
Mark Dollimore

This thread was discussed between 16/04/2015 and 18/04/2015

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