MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

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 MGB Technical - Positive Earth (Ground) instruments

I want to fit an electric water temperature gauge to my Y-type. Can anyone confirm that early MGB's were positive earth and if so, up to when, and did they have an electric water temperature gauge?
Michael Nicholson

Michael,

First, the good news - early MGB cars were indeed positive earth - according to Haynes. However, here comes the bad news, I don't think that electric temperature gauges came in until the rubber-bumper MGBs - and all those were negative earth.

I suggest trying a different marque of car for an electric gauge - something pre-1967 might be worth trying. Perhaps an early mini - the posh ones with the additional gauges. You'd need to chose a car with a dynamo rather than an alternator.

Good luck

Peter
P L Hills

The electrical temperature gauges in the later MGBs and midgets are not polarity sensitive. They are, however, voltage sensitive so you will need to connect an electrical temperature gauge through a voltage stabilizer. You can either get one for the MGBs or midgets from Moss, or you can make your own by going to:
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/electrical/ Scrll down the left side of the page and click on instruments, then across the top click on stabilizer. The information there explains what a stabilizer is and how it works. At the bottom of the page, click on replacement for information on making your own stabilizer. Good luck - Dave
David DuBois

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2005 and 12/08/2005

MG MGB Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGB Technical BBS is active now.