> At 06:21 PM 10/19/05 -0400, Gordie Bird wrote:
>
> >No, it actually covers the end of the starter and attaches to the
> >tunnel and protruding into the cockpit. The later A's had what was
> >termed a high starter which necessitated the cutout on the tunnel
> >and hence the rubber boot.
>
> After Mike L wrote:
> > > > Trying to figure out what is this MGA part - Moss 280-015,
> > Cover, starter drive.
> > > >
> > > > Looks semi circular, possibly rubber in the pic. Anybody know
> > what it does or where it goes?
>
> I don't think that was exactly right, but I don't have the decisive
> answer myself either. Maybe we can encourage
> Kelvin Dodd to let us know exactly what that Moss part is.
>
> Starting with late production 1500's in January 1959 the starter
> position was higher, which required putting a substantial bump in the
> right side toeboard and tunnel. The "bump" on the tunnel is sheet
> metal, fabricated as an integral part of the tunnel, with a
> corresponding notch in the toeboard.
>
> My better "guess" might be this part is a sheet steel piece used to
> modify the early tunnel for later specification if you need to
> install the later gearbox in the earlier car. As drawn in the Moss
> catalog it appears to be rotated 90 degrees out of position, or it
> would otherwise match the contour on the side of the (1600 type)
> tunnel (shown in the illustration).
>
> The other "starter drive cover" I'm familiar with is a sheet metal
> cup with face flange and a few machine screws to attach to the back
> of the bellhousing to cover the starter inertia drive where it
> protrudes through the gearbox case. I believe early production cars
> did not have this part, and later ones did, but can only guess where
> the transition point might be (maybe mid 1500 production). Most MGA
> will be missing this part, as it tends to get smashed on the tunnel
> if you try to R&R the engine and gearbox as an assembly. My car has
> never had one, at least since I bought it in 1977. In the most
> recent 200,000 miles of use I have never had any problem with getting
> a rock caught in the starter drive or anything getting into the
> bellhousing (and I drive on plenty of gravel roads).
>
> Barney Gaylord
> 1958 MGA with an attitude
> http://MGAguru.com
I sent Barney a pic of the part in question, 280-015, the tunnel with the
metal 'hump', and the cutout toeboard. It is the rubber boot that covers
the sheet metal protrusion in the tunnel that is required due to the starter
position. I'll be ordering a new one as I found mine pretty smashed in the
bottom of a box. I'm counting on mine being installed by spring. The body
is due back from the painter in a week or so and the block/head/crank back
from the machine shop next week. I've got a busy winter ahead of me!
Safety Fast!
Gordie Bird
'62 MGA
'67 MGBGT
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