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MG MGB Technical - Dashboard & Panel Light Qs

May seem like a dumb question but.... since I have never actually turned the lights on in my 69B roadster (bought it then proceeded to disassemble and restore ground up), do the instrument / panel lights come on with the main lights? I see there is a switch on the side of the steering consul labelled "panel light" in the manual.

The reason I am asking is that I have converted my American LHD to a RHD and have put in the early english steel dash into which I now have to try and fit all(most) of the American switches etc.

Also, The Light switch (for the english dash)I have seems to be a one position pull on type. Does this mean the park lights are linked to the headlights or is there another switch I should have?

I have a handfull of lucas toggle switches. These vary in the number of terminals on the back but still have only 2 switch positions. Are these rated for different currents. ie should i worry about if i use one type for the blower or the lights?

As an aside, are these the switches people frequently seem to have troubles with?
Innes Bint

Yes, with the first position of the main lighting switch, the 2nd position turns on the headlights. This was the same with the pull-switch.

The switch on the side of the column (a rheostat on other years and markets) separately switches the panel lights off/dims them.

Toggle switches variued from a one-size fits all with lots of terminals in the early days to more specific functions with fewer terminals later.
Paul Hunt 2

aahhh. in that case, the one position switch i have for the lights is obviously wrong. it must be a map light sw or similar.

thanks paul
Innes Bint

Innes,

Pardon me for going off-topic, but your "signature" picture raises some eyebrows. I had an idea for a "stretch GT" several years ago - promptly rejected by The Navigator - but your car looks really handsome. Any chance you can honor me with some "full-size" pictures of your car and maybe even a description of the challenges you encountered along the way? Has this car been featured in any of the MG magazines? If it has, I can't believe I missed it. If it has not, it certainly should be!

Cheers,
Allen
Allen Bachelder

I was wondering when anyone would notice!
Innes Bint

See my post- i went through the same thing with the gauge lights on my 69 GT. the column switch is off/on for the gauges. i spent a long time figuring it out!!!!!
don g

Indeed. The map light switch (far end of the passenger side by the light) was a single pull on/off. This didn't have any markings as far as I can tell, whereas the lighting switch did - originally a cut-through circle, then a lamp symbol. And just to confuse things even further there were two further single-pull switches for the heated rear window on GTs!
Paul Hunt 2

This thread was discussed between 14/11/2007 and 16/11/2007

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