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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 - Source for High Quality Repro Lucas Rotors

I searched our archives and didn't see a mention of this, so I thought I'd bring it forward:

At a recent MG show here in Tallahassee, Glenn Lenhard, the owner of Glenn's MG Repairs in St. Petersburg, mentioned there is a company in Dallas that is manufacturing high quality, exact copies of the Lucas distributor rotor for our cars (Lucas 400051). So I ordered two, one for the dizzy and one for the spares box in the boot.

They appear to be much better made that the one that was in my car, which was a repro from the usual source. They aren't cheap, though, at USD 19.75 each. The company is Kip Motors. They make spares for orphaned British marques. See:
http://www.kipmotor.com/Auto_Jumble/MG_parts.htm

Frank
Frank Nocera

I'd pay that price if it's at least as good (and reliable) as the original OEM parts.
Steve Simmons

Haven't heard of this source for parts before. He has other MGA items in his catalog, such as brake shoes and brake system rebuild kits. I wonder if all his stuff is high quality like the rotors, has anyone else out there purchased from Kip Motors?
G Goeppner


Thought I would pass along a photo of the rotor that came out of my car (left) and the Kip Motors repro (right).


Frank Nocera

Here's one that went bad on me,made in W. Germany,no other markings on it so I don't know who made it.Can anyone explain the cause and effect of the sickle shaped contact as opposed to the straight type? Longer spark?


gary starr

The sickle shaped contact does not give a longer spark. The type of spark is determined by the characteristics of the coil and the capacitor (condensor).
The sickle shape allows more flexibility in the position of the rotor. This is not of any consequence in a Distributor where the rotor is fixed in relation to the cam on the Distributor shaft. The points opening and the spark will always occur when the narrow rotor tip is pointed directly at the terminal in the Distributor cap.
Where a sickle type rotor is required is in a modern car where the low tension ignition signal is generated by a tooth on the crankshaft, or a sensor in a Distributor, and all timing advance is done by the car computer (ECU).
For example, if the ignition timing ranges from 10 degrees BTDC static to a peak of 30 degrees BTDC, the rotor must point at the Distributor cap terminal continuosly while the crankshaft moves from 10 degrees BTDC to 30 degrees BTDC. There is no Distributor advance mechanism.
This type of engine will not run with a narrow rotor tip.
When setting up cars of this type I have a Distributor cap with a piece cut away so that I can see the position of the sickle type rotor while I turn the crankshaft through the ignition advance range.

Mick
Mick Anderson

Frank
The 20 dollar part is identical to the 5 dollar part I have in my car - including the moulding numbers
dominic clancy

Dominic,

Sounds like you may have been able to get NOS Lucas rotors on your side of the Atlantic. If so, that's great news. The rotors I have ordered on this side of the pond have all been more or less like the one on the left in the photo I posted. What is your source?

Frank
Frank Nocera

That's NOT a Lucas rotor. Its an Italian made rotor with the rivet removed and replaced with injected ABS, which really isn't necessary. I sell a TON of these rotors and they're only $4. They don't have the mortality rate of the "Lucas" and other similar rebranded rotors. See the attached pic. The one on the left ios an original, the middel are my replacements, the right is the standard junk that's readily available.


Jeff Schlemmer

This thread was discussed between 30/10/2007 and 09/11/2007

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