Conference terri::cars_uk

Ok, I'll start.

Dick (TSGDEV::) Waite, that's in Maynard.

Recent aquisition as an Xmas present for my wife is a 1953 MG TD. She is
planning to do some vintage class racing/hill climbing with the car. Also
in the barn is a 1957 MGA. Bought from a fellow Deccie as a parts source
for a 1960 MGA which I subsequently sold. New owner was not interested in
the '57 so it sits quietly rusting away. It did provide a fuel pump for
another fine British car I own so it's paid for it's space in the barn.

    Wasn't there a time when MG's were an 'extremely popular' topic
    within this notes file ?  Resulting in lots of new topics, rather
    than replies to existing topics.  Also gained the conference a
    reminder something like "All MG notes in 1266" ???
    
    Anyway, that was a while ago, there was probably enough interest then.
    
    Going on recent [non-] activity in this conference, it may not be
    worth the trouble of starting another motoring related conf...
    
    If you do, good luck with it anyhow.
    
    J.R.

    Gil Davis
    
    Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
    
    *Sorta* proud owner of a Jaguar XK150, but I would gladly join
    an MG notes conference.   I was looking for an MGA when I bought my
    Jaguar 7 years ago.  My wife still wants to get a drophead MGB
    sometime... I would love to read your stories MG owners..
    
    Once while in high school, I worked with another fanatic to replace an
    MGB clutch.  We started at 7 AM, pulled the engine, replaced the
    clutch, and were back on the road at 11 am. (Same day).
    
    Let me know if this conference flys....
    
    Gil
    

    
    Just doing finishing touches to part owner 1967 1275 MG Midget Mk III
    
    If only we could sort out the bloomin' engine! ;^)
    
    Steve (IOSG::FREER or Stephen Freer @ reo)
    

Been doing a bit of rewiring under the dash on my TD. (what a rats nest of
broken, rotted, disconnected wires...) Anyway, there are three lights in a
TD dash that indicate respectively; turn signals, fuel warning, and ignition
warning. None of them were working when I started this little project.

A few questions for anyone who has T series experience:

1. What is the "ignition warning" light supposed to indicate? I can see why
   it doesn't work now but I'm not sure how to tell when it is working
   properly.

2. Anyone know why the light sockets have nichrome wire resistance coils
   wound around them? I suspect it's to use lower than 12v bulbs but why?
   The dash lighting bulbs are all 12v so why not the idicator lights?

3. A parts catalog I have lists an indicator light for high beams. However,
   none of the dash diagrams I've seen show where it goes. Anyone know? I
   gather it was only on late run TD's (which mine is). Interestingly, though,
   the TF diagrams don't show it either.

Any help will be appreciated. 

>>1. What is the "ignition warning" light supposed to indicate? I can see why
>>   it doesn't work now but I'm not sure how to tell when it is working
>>   properly.
    
    I recently asked for questions on the use of this lamp (for my Jeep)
    and got some explanatory answers that may be of use.
    
    I don't know for sure which note it was under, try 616.L etc.
    
    J.R.

    Alan Legerlotz  ZKO, Nashua NH USA.
    
    Mine's a 1974 Midget.  Its within 200 of the last chrome bumpered ones
    built.
    
    Right now its in piles in the garage.  I last drove it on November
    30th.  Since then I've removed the engine, gutted the interior (I
    bought a new interior kit at Brown & Gammons when I was over your way
    in November), stripped 99% of the paint and I'm going to go wild with
    the suspension.
    
    Lots of aspects of this project are going better than expected.  I have
    found no rust or rust repairs for instance.  But then again, other
    aspects aren't going as well as expected.
    
    What I'd really like would be a '58 or '59 MGA, or of course a TC, TD,
    or TF.
    
    Cheers,
    -Al
    

    
>    What I'd really like would be a '58 or '59 MGA, or of course a TC, TD,
>    or TF.
    
 Have I got a deal for you!  I've got this '57 MGA in my barn.....needs lots
 of everything but it's CHEAP, plus lot's of extra parts.

 Send mail if interested...no reasonable offer refused!   

>>1. What is the "ignition warning" light supposed to indicate? I can see why
>>   it doesn't work now but I'm not sure how to tell when it is working
>>   properly.
    

Well I figured it out, finally. After many hours poking around under the dash,
I managed to get all the lights/switches working. The 'warning' light comes on
when you switch on the key and stays on until the generator (dynamo) turns fast
enough to produce a charge. Actually this is exactly what most modern cars do
but since the TD also has an ampmeter, I was surprised to see a light as well.

    
    Jack Creamer
    Charlotte, NC USA
    1972 MGB
    
    It's been a while (obviously) since I've been in CARS_UK.  
    
    Hans, did you decide to start a new conference??
    
    

Managed to get the TD ready for driving school/race last weekend. Everything
went according to plan, knock on wood, and I had a great time. Car ran
faultlessly, driver struggled a bit but made it through. See Racers file,
vintage racing note for details.

At one point there was a picture session set up for all MG's racing on Sat.
(T series and A's only). A quick count showed close to 20 total, about
evenly distributed between T's and A's.

      Not sure where to put this but since it concerns an MG, this looked
    like a good place.
    
      This past weekend I was looking at a 1938 MG TA that is for sale. The
    car was purchased by a friend of mine some years before he passed away
    and was in the process of being restored. So far, the full drive train
    has been done and most of the body work is complete. About all that
    needs to be done is to re-assemble the car and replace the top,
    interior, and some small bits and peices. 
      So much for the background, now for the question. There are a couple
    of pictures of the car in England before it was purchased by some one
    in New York and delivered here in the mid 60's. The plate on the car is
    DTD 708. Is it possible to find out where and when this MG was
    first registered in England?
      Any help on this is appreciated.
    	Al Wagner 

    I'm sure you can get this information through British Heritage. The
    number is in this conference somewhere.
    
    Laurie.