British-Cars.org

Welcome to the DMR Site for British Car Information.

Recommendations

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 GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - New headers/clearance problems

Just put new D&D supplied ceramic coated headers on my Buick 3.5 to replace rusty old ones. Bling, bling. Very nice.

However, no gain w/o pain.

Due to differences in shape of old vs new headers, I then had clearance problems (too close) on steering column and passenger side inner fender wall. Installed motor mount shim (additional to one already there) on driver's side. Clearance there from steering column then almost tolerable (1/8"). Still too close(er) on passenger side in spite of previous hammer induced concavity to the limit relative to the shocks on the other side of the sheet metal. Headers 1/16" from passenger side fender wall and rubbing/whacking there on acceleration.

When I add another shim on each side, all clears okay EXCEPT the hood when it is closed. Just by a little bitty bit, but the hood is aluminum and, well, I don't want to get into dimples in that stuff. If I put a new flat air cleaner cover on vs current slightly domed one, hood then (just) clears. But then the choke plates, when using the choke (not used very often), fouls the bottom of the air cleaner cover.

What to do, what to do?

Remove or cut off part of choke plates?

Suggestions, experiences please.

I suppose i could just send out the original headers, that fit fine, for jet hot coating or equivalent (another $200 +/-) but my yankee heritage and the moths in my wallet object to the added expense above and beyond the purchase of the new D&D headers.
David Hawkins


Not for the reasons you stated... but I've been driving my Buick 215 powered MGB for about 15 years with choke butterflies removed. The car just doesn't seem to need them. The (Edelbrock) accelerator pump provides enrichment for starting, and the engine gets to temp very quickly.
Max

After another afternoon under the car, I think that I have got it all to work for the time being, at least until the motor mounts start to sag with age.

I made up a slightly thicker than normal motor mount shim and put it on the passenger side. Put an additional one on the engine side. Now I have about 1/4" clearance on passenger side and a fat 1/8" over the steering column. I found a fairly flat filter cover that had a slight upward step in it (vs one that I tried before that was flat but that had a downward concavity in the center) and which did not interfere with the choke (although I don't like its looks). This let me cut about 5/16th off the filter cover center stud and now all seems to clear the hood/bonnet.

Will keep the old headers in my (growing) parts bin for possible fall back use.
David Hawkins

Try removing the choke plate for starters. You certainly won't need it in the summer & a few extra squirts with the throttle in the cooler time of the year might be all you need to get by. Barrie E
Barrie Egerton

This thread was discussed between 29/10/2007 and 01/11/2007

MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join this live forum now