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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 MGA - Dollar Exchange Rate

With the UK economy bouncing back, the pound to dollar rate is getting quite interesting with it just shy of $1.70 to the pound. A year ago it was almost down at the 1.5 level. I was just wondering if Moss Europe is likely to start adjusting some of the prices of its US-based merchandise. I was thinking particularly of high end items such as its supercharger (I assume it is made in the USA?). Anyone care to offer me guidance as to what exchange rate would be needed to make it worthwhile for me to buy an item like this from the States, have it shipped across, and cover the import duties?

Steve
Steve Gyles

1. Don't buy from Moss but use one of their agents who offers large discounts standard on the Moss list prices. US readers will no doubt have their favorites but I use LBC. You can save a lot here.

Shipping an SC cost me 300 USD in January.

VAT is 20% in the UK, so that will have to be paid regardless.

But then you have to ask what is the warranty situation- I don't believe moss uk is legally bound to honour the guarantee from the USA as it is a different entity.

The calculation is easy.
Current uk price with vat is 3000 GBP = 5100 USD
Current us price is 4195 - % from agent + 300 shipping + 20 % vat = 4650 USD if you assume a 15% agent discount.

Dominic Clancy

I wonder if we could negotiate a discount for two supercharger kits Steve?
Its a project I am planning to do over the next year or so and you will probably now understand why I have been playing around with different types of cooling fans.
I may well have to change my cylinder head for a lower compression one and also a less hot cam before I start but it's looking like it will be a really challenging retirement project for me.
Cheers
Colyn
c firth

Do superchargers qualify for Moss' discounts that they offer from time to time - VAT-free, or -15%, etc?
Dave O'Neill2

Colyn. I'm interested. See where we end up after some research. I'm a novice on the subject of compression requirements, but as I understand it the Moss supercharger has variable boost so presumably you can adjust to the existing compression ratio? - or put a thicker gasket in!?

Dominic. Thanks for the heads-up. I'm now in contact with USA suppliers to see the figures.

As an aside, and in due course probably the subject of a second thread thread I suspect, we all have different requirements on things like superchargers, depending on our engine types. I need to research the requirements for the 18V in the MGA.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve & Colyn,

Buy me a ticket on the QEII and I'll hand deliver them to you!

Bayard
Bayard DeNoie

Bayard

Not sure where you are hoping to travel, but the QEII was withdrawn from service in 2008. It might be a casino by now so I will happily buy you an entrance ticket if you are prepared to deliver to the UK!

PS. The latest ship is just the Queen Elizabeth.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the update - it would have been a long swim!

Bayard
Bayard DeNoie

Steve
I'm planning to take my cyl head to Peter Burgess over the winter so he can tell me what I need to do. I think more chamber volume is a must and so maybe fitting a spacer plate or a thicker gasket will be the way to go. Not certain how reliable these would be though with a supercharger.
So probably a new head, new cam and then there is the issue of my 3 bearing crank?
Should I be looking for an 18V motor and start from scratch?

Some interesting (and expensive ) times ahead I think Steve!

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Colyn
c firth

Colyn

Have you considered lower compression pistons?
Dave O'Neill2

I never even thought of that option Dave, it could work out far less expensive than a new head and probably more reliable than a cylinder head spacer too.

Thanks

Colyn
c firth

This thread was discussed between 07/05/2014 and 08/05/2014

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