MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Rocker cover bolts?

Where is the best place to get new rocker cover nuts and bolts? I'm buying a new aluminium rocker cover and want to replace the nuts and bolts that secure it down.
MD Rice

Brown & Gammons is quite near you in Baldock.
Art Pearse

Excellent I'm going to see them on Monday. Will they sell the bolts then?
MD Rice

Ricey,
don't be spending your money on bling until you've been frequently using the car all year round for 12 months as you could well need the money for expected and *unexpected* servicing, maintenance and repairs - if the car hasn't moved much in 4 years you are going to have to drive it through it's faults and to prevent further problems and sort the ones it has ASAP

if you have a ali rocker cover don't buy a chrome oil filter cap for it stick with the plastic vented (and filtered) standard oil filler cap as they're better breathers - don't buy the plastic oil filler cap from B&G either, I did expecting it to be £4 like the ones from MGOC Spares and when I got home I found B&Gs are £10 for the same thing

and don't buy any products with rubber in from B&G or anywhere else unless they can guarantee at least 12 months life without the need to change the parts - track rod end (boots), steering gaiters, fuel pipe, etc.
Nigel Atkins

The car is off the road at the moment and I'm giving it the tlc it needs whilst also improving a few parts that look tired. Once it's complete and passes its MOT then it's going to go to an MG specialist for a proper service.
MD Rice

I was given an alloy cover as a xmas present, when I fitted it the rockers were hitting it. I put two cork gaskets to raise it, but they weeped oil. I put the tin cover back on.
If you have the MGB logo K&N Air Filters, I think the alloy cover kooks good, but with OE pans, the tin cover looks best.
c cummins

I have the MGB logo k&n filters on mine.
MD Rice

The rubber washers around the 2 rocker box bolts are service items but are usually ignored. They go squishy and people then tighten the cover up to try to stop leaks and distort it. FWIW most ali covers do not have the locating lip to take the gasket, so you need to glue this on first (and the cover and gasket are rarely the same shape). They look good but are a pain for leaks. Yer pays yer money etc!
Michael Beswick

frequent driving of it is one of the best things to improve it

an MoT states it meets a minimum standard to be road worthy (to one, trained, person's opinion at one moment in time) it doesn't say the car is running that well or is in good condition

having the whole car (regularly) fully serviced, maintained and repaired couple to frequent use should get the car to a good condition and make it reliable and even more fun to drive

good on you for starting on the right course, I'm sure you'll benefit from it sooner rather than later
Nigel Atkins

B&G will sell the bolts (and rubber washers). Check the bolt threads-mine were naff but it was probably a one off. You may also have to enlarge the holes in the clips that hold the "metal pipe with a kink in it" to the top of the rocker box.
Michael Beswick

My rocker cover came yesterday from MGB Hive and it has everything I need so don't need to buy the bolts. But thank you everyone for the advice. And for putting me onto B&G who are only 10 minutes down the road from me.
MD Rice

This thread was discussed between 08/06/2013 and 11/06/2013

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG MGB Technical BBS now