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MG MGB Technical - Replacement hoses

Hi guys, haven't been on the forum for a while, all has been well, now the proud owner of two 1967 MGBGT's had a hose bust on me recently, hose to heater from engine block, lost coolant luckily I was just getting into my road, so no damage.
My question is should I go for silicon hoses, anyone using them, who is the best supplier any good deals out there?

Also can you give me your thoughts on lightening my car, I'm thinking a modest sebring look, ie: removing the bumpers front and rear they are quite lumpy, also my steel bonnet and replace with either alloy one if I can get a good one or fibreglass.
Perhaps my wire wheels they are heavy, and replace with alloys.
Also under bonnet stuff I don't use, heater never use it, if I remove it, what do I do about heater hoses, how do I blank them off?
Sorry if this is a bit long, any help with ideas would be appreciated, when I went to Le Mans Classic last year you guys were really helpful with routes info etc.

Cheers

Jack.
Jack New Forest

The silicone hoses seem to be overrated and fail at the same rate as the stock units. I wouldn't bother with them. The steel bonnet weighs only 17 lbs. more than the aluminum one. For the $800 that a new aluminum bonnet would cost, you could do a lot of other improvements. As to bypassing the heater, simply connecting the output of one heater hose to the other is the easiest solution. RAY
rjm RAY

Hi Jack,
unless things have changed fairly recently I'd never suggest rubber hoses, or many other rubber parts or components that just don't last

for silicone hoses MGOC Spares or mine (fitted with round edge clips)are from Classic Silicone Hoses Ltd and I recommend them, they'll do without heater hoses too - http://www.classicsiliconehoses.com/

getting rid of wire wheels is always a good idea to me but you don't want to replace them with wide wheels and tyres or your weight saving and possibly pleasantness of handling will diminish

I'm not sure about fibreglass bonnets (are they available?) but a good solid fibreglass panel isn't as light as many may think

I'm not sure how much performance gain you'd get from your weight saving efforts especially if you carry a passenger, spare wheel, jack & brace, spare tools and parts, etc. - best performance enhancements are a full and proper service and set up of the whole car that's in good mechanical condition - and driver training
Nigel Atkins

my list of rubbish rubber to be wary of -

. track rod ends boots
. steering rack gaiters
. drop links
. axle strap
. fuel hose
. s/s braided fuel and oil hose
. coolant hoses
. ‘Kevlar’ water hoses
. door seals
. header rail seal
. suspension bushes
. wiper blades (elements)

ETA: I was typing my post as RAY posted - over here I've found rubber heater hoses to be rubbish but the Classic Silicone Hoses Ltd silicone hoses to be very good
Nigel Atkins

Thanks Ray all good stuff, hi Nigel thanks for your input, I'll check out the link you recommend, I think definitely dumping the bumpers will reduce weight a lot, but it does mean I'll have to fit Sebring fibreglass front and rear valances.

Ray I have one MGB with a steel bonnet and one with an aluminium bonnet there is a huge difference in weight.
Jack New Forest

I've had silicone hoses on both my V8's, one lot for 10+ years. Some from ASH (Auto Silicone Hoses), some from Viper in Telford and some from Clive Wheatley. No probs with any of them so far, BUT silicone quality can vary, as does rubber, depending on ingredients. Viper make their product on-site, but don't think they do model specific sets, unless it is a recent innovation.
The heater is useful sometimes as an auxiliary "radiator".
Allan Reeling

is there any real weight saving in removing bonnet insulation if you have it
Nigel Atkins

Hi Thanks for the info Allan, I'll check it out, Nigel I was not going to remove bonnet insulation, but put an aluminium bonnet on if I can get a good second hand one, they are a fraction of the weight of a steel one.
I like the look of MGA steel wheels with the holes, they look like the old Dunlop racing wheels, would they fit an MGB or are the holes different.
Jack New Forest

sorry Jack I meant removing bonnet insulation as an alternative to replacing the bonnet

steel wheels (although I prefer the look of them to alloy or wire) tend to be heavy, the spare wheel in my wife's modern car (15" wheel with 18/55/15 tyre) seemed very heavy when I last took it out of the boot
Nigel Atkins

This thread was discussed between 25/01/2015 and 26/01/2015

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