Gentlemen,
Thanks to a few of the listers on the MG site, and a local fellow coming
forward with a truly original early car (even original paint) I've
determined the following:
1. Bonnet to hinge fasteners were body colour. I must assume because
Abingdon removed the bonets for mechanical assembly purposes, these
fasteners must have been reinstalled, the bonnet final adjusted, then touch
up paint must have been applied to them.
2. Bonnet latch cup, striker pin and spring and all related bonnet latching
parts were all body colour, though of course the paint was obviously pretty
scarce further up on the striker pin.
3. Though fitted during final assembly there is clear evidence on at least 2
different cars ('66 and '67 both GHN3 series cars with 18GB engines) that
the coil mounting plate was painted engine maroon colour.
4. The copper heater feed pipe running along side the left side of the
rocker cover was left bare copper with a clear zinc plated steel wrap over
clip holding the pipe to the forward bolt screwed into the inlet manifold
boss immediately forward of the diaphragm gulp valve.
Thanks to all concerned for sharing. As I proceed with this car and the
careful research required, I'm finding how many errors there really are in
Clausager's "Original MGB" book though I'll be the first to say that it has
to be the best book out there right now for restoring an MGB.
I have a copy of the original factory parts book dated January 1968 which is
what's really keeping me on course. I simply couldn't do without it.
There are those of you out there who repeatedly tell me that "it doesn't
matter, no two MG's were built quite the same, as long as it was completed
and got out the door." I find in applying careful research and reading the
fine print in the parts books, there were specific change points for even
the smallest piece, and it was carefully documented.
The real truth to the matter seems to be more the case of people over the
years substitutuing parts from different cars, from the junkyards, and the
local hardware stores to keep them on the road over the decades.
Now to wade through it all and try to correct things all these years later,
it becomes a challenge, but a truly enjoyable one.
Rich Chrysler
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