Disc Wheel Variants | MG MGA

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MG MGA - Disc Wheel Variants

While doing a comprehensive brakes overhaul I discovered I have, and have for decades, 2 each of 2 types of disc wheels on my 1500. There are a couple of interesting (well to geeks) points here.

Firstly the wheel on the left is what appears to be a 1600 wheel while the one on the right is a 1500 one as per Barneys page WL100. But both sets of wheels come from February 1958 cars that I owned with coupe chassis numbers 44268 and 48247 and purchased by me in 1969 and 1972. Clearly according to factory change notes linked to WL100 both these cars should have the early 1500 wheel but one of them didn't by the time I got it. I certainly haven't gained any other wheels as keeping 2 sets (now down to the 5 on the car plus 2 spares) occupies enough space. I find it strange that one of the cars should have had at least 3 of its wheels replaced before I got the car. Is it possible some '1600 wheels' were fitted as early as Feb 1958? Anyone else heard of early use of 1600 wheels.

Secondly these photos show a bit of additional information to what is shown in photos with hub caps on page WL100. The 1500 wheel has 2 brake adjusting holes and different distances from the centre while the 1600 wheels have only one at a similar distance from the centre as the farther one on the 2 on 1500 wheels.

Paul

Paul Dean

Paul, -- The later style wheel was introduced in February 1959 at car number 63577. So your earlier 1500 car must have acquired a few exchange wheels before you got it.

Thank you for the photo of the brake adjuster holes. I have added it to my web page here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/wheels/wl100.htm

I have never documented the minor change around the brake adjuster holes that happened a bit earlier at Car No. 50270. See CSM MG218 here: http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/care/csm/mg218.pdf
I would like to document this difference, so let's see if someone has a picture of a steel wheel from an MGA produced before March 1958. In particular, a close-up of the area around the brake adjuster hole.

barneymg

I have a stack of disc wheels, let me have a look and take some photos tonight

Dominic Clancy

Barney

Thanks for feedback.

I find it very strange that anyone would have changed all the wheels on a car in its relatively early days but I guess it probably is the only explanation.

In terms of looking for pre March 58 wheels the 1500 wheels in my photo will be these as both cars are Feb 58. (I really can't believe both my original cars had had wheel changes before I got them all those years ago.)

Paul

Paul Dean

Can we get a close-up picture of the area around the brake adjuster hole in the 1500 type wheel?

barneymg

The inner tube inflating valve has also moved 180 degrees relative to the 3 hub cap lugs.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Barnet

Wheels are back on car now but will be coming off again when new drums arrive for front from Moss hopefully tomorrow or Thursday so will do then.

Before this work I had one of each type on each side but now they are in pairs on each side, so no originality geek can spot difference from either side. A little cheat I sometime use in my winter hobby of building historical railway models where you can have 2 sides of a coach in very different liveries from different periods of their long life's.

Paul

Paul Dean

Here is a succession of photos of the wheels in my cellar

Dominic Clancy

And finally 13

I think I need to get rudolf a few, anyone interested?

Sa

Dominic Clancy

As far as I could tell on a brief look, there are two types of wheels here, and only two.

Sorry about the poor lighting but the bulb in the boiler room was blown and I could only find a poor energy saving one to replace it. No LEDs down there (yet)

Dominic Clancy

Should read.

I should really get rid of a few.... how Rudolf appeared will remain a mystery of autocorrect.

Dominic Clancy

I am sure that somewhere there is a person called Rudolph with an MGA ....

Chris at Octarine Services

FWIW, the early MGA wheels were rubbish. The 1600 style were stronger, but still not ideal if you drive aggressively.

Think of 1500 wheels like you would 48 spoke wires. If you just tootle around town and off to a show or two, perfectly fine. If you drive hard or do the odd solo competition, you want 60 or 72 spoke wires and 1600 steel wheels (or stronger).

I used to run 5.5" TR-6 rims on my street MGA and ripped the centre right out of one with cornering forces. No doubt inherently weak design in both cases, combined with many years of flexing and fatiguing in street use.

Bill Spohn

Bill

That is why I now have alloy wheels and a pile of wheels in the cellar. I have already thrown away the cracked ones. Maybe a number if these should go to the smelter as well. Free to a good home (but you have to pay the carriage or come and collect)

Dominic Clancy

Barney

Here is closeup of 1500 wheel centre as requested although I suspect you have enough detail from Dominic's gallery.

Paul

Paul Dean

Loved the picture of your car Dominic, it kind of looks like I do after a long drive on a warm day. You know, cap pulled down over the eyes and taking a power-nap in the warm summer afternoon sun.
Only thing missing is a glass of cold beer😁.
Marvelous!

Colyn Firth

Off topic but Dominic's picture prompts it.

If some of you are not aware the MGA Register does a rectangular umbrella tailored to the MGA cockpit.

Steve

Steve Gyles

Colyn,, the cold one was in my hand when I took the picture

Dominic Clancy

This thread was discussed between 18/04/2017 and 23/04/2017

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