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MG MGA - oil/temp gauge

I'm going to a British Car swap meet this weekend, looking for an oil/temp gauge for my 1500 coupe. My present gauge is some aftermarket one, I want a Jaegar gauge, matching the others and correct for the car. Since Jaegar supplied many makes and models of British cars, is there anything specific about the one fitted to the MGA I should look for? Are diameters different, depth of gauge, calibration, etc?

Thanks!
George Goeppner

Hi George. Look for a guage face with a style that matches your guages. (same colour scheme and script) Look for the Jaeger logo, Smiths is incorrect for the MGA. Do make sure that the flexible pipe for the heat guage is not kinked or broken. As a quick n dirty test, If you drop the heat guage bulb into a really hot cup of coffee, the guage should begin to move. (flea markets usually sell coffee) While it wont tell much about proper calibration, it should tell you if the guage works or not. Cheers. Glenn
Glenn

George, as far as I know all the dual gauges are the same diameter and will interchange. There were some with celsius markings and others with farenheit. Also some with only C-Normal-H. Any would work, but not necessarly be correct for your A. Unless you have to have the correct type gauge don't bother with one that has a damaged or missing tube. Rebuilding costs almost as much as a new unit.
Bill Young

George- Also look on the gauge face for these #'s GD 1501/01 for later 1500 thru 1600 mkII's.These were marked oil pressure 0-20-40-60-80-100 and temp 90-120-160-190-212-230. Earlier 1500 had diffrent gauges, GD 1501/00 and had less markings on them ie oil pressure 0-25-50-75-100 and temp 90-160-190-230. The Original MGA states the change was made at car # 14090. When I did my car only Smith units were available, so the company I bought it from made up new faces with Jaeger on them, out of which looks like paper, but as time has passed the face is fading, so watch out for one of these.I have since bought an original off ebay for 50.00 2 years ago, the only thing wrong is that the temp sensor nut is a little buggered up.It was listed under Jaeger dual gauge MGB, midget and Jag, so if you don't find one this weekend you can keep an eye out there. Every year lately I have to work when they have swap, so maybe next year. Do you ever get to the British car show in Palos Hills? If so I've got the Iris Blue coupe. Hope this helps and maybe I'll see you this summer. Gary
gary starr

George, if you don't find the gauge at the swap meet, there's one on E-bay that looks to be in good shape.
Bill Young

If the coffee's not hot, then hold a lit match or lighter under the bulb BRIEFLY. This should get the gauge needle to move.


Derek Nicholson

This thread was discussed between 24/02/2005 and 27/02/2005

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