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MG MGB Technical - Side/Flasher Lamps

Having discovered that my near-side side lamp wasn't working, I had a look and found that the bulb wasn't earthing properly. I also found that I couldn't remove the bulb.

I removed the lamp unit and eventually got the bulb out, after soaking it overnight in a well known penetrating fluid.

The inside of the bulb holder was quite corroded, and when I removed the corrosion from the back of the lamp unit, I also found that the holder for the indicator bulb had some holes in it.

At this point, I decided it was probably best to replace the lamp unit.






Dave O'Neill 2

I looked in my box of NOS parts and found two lamps, which I had bought many years ago.

On inspection, I found that neither of them had the correct mounting studs. In fact, one had no studs at all, just holes, but in the wrong place.

Also, one has a separate earth connection, but the other doesn't.

One is in a Lucas box with the number '54984'. Googling this number suggests MGB and Triumph Spitfire. My 1980 Lucas parts book covers Spitfires from 1970 onwards, but doesn't list this number as applicable. Unfortunately, it only cover MGBs from 1975.






Dave O'Neill 2

I also have a couple of pairs of what I believe are US-spec MG lamps, but they don't have bulb holders for the side light.

I don't know whether to try and fit studs to the NOS lamp which doesn't have any, try to fit a bulb holder to the US lamp, or persevere with a repair to the original, although having tried to clean up the bulb holder, the earth connection is still a bit hit and miss.


Dave O'Neill 2

I would use the new units and just drill new holes in the wings to match the studs.
Chris at Octarine Services

I hadn’t thought of that option.
Dave O'Neill 2

As I like a challenge, I decided to fit studs to one with no studs.

Took me ages to find a square drill bit.





Dave O'Neill 2

That's basically what I did with a number plate bolt where the stud sheared off, using a cheese-head screw and filing a square on the lower half of the head.

New holes in the wing? Perish the thought!


paulh4

BTW, I found with new front units that when bolted to the wing the chrome surround cut into the paint, and I've seen cars at shows where that has happened as well.

I put nuts onto the studs first to hold the light unit and hence the trim away from the paint, and used extra foam pieces between the light unit and the body to fill the gap.
paulh4

I'm more confused than ever, now.

I've had a look on ebay at both the lamps that are for sale, and also various front wings. They generally seem to have the mounting studs diagonally opposed, not in-line like mine - and the US-spec lamp that I have.

It would appear that they changed at some point. I would be interested to know what other people have on theirs. Easy to check by looking under the wheel-arch.

Here's a wing that I saw on ebay.


Dave O'Neill 2

Offset on my 73, although the wings are of unknown age. Both old (attached) and new (32 years ago) light units and foams are the same. Wings have both sets of holes.

Only one light unit in the Parts Catalogue, but that's not conclusive. I wonder if the change occurred when the lights moved closer to the grille in 1969?

Looking at the lenses and surrounds and their in-line screws, offset for the light unit is the more logical to keep them apart, the inner pair would be very close.

Looking again at the first of your May 3rd pictures it would seem that is a 'universal' light unit with provision for studs in both places. Not unreasonable.



paulh4

Paul

You could be right about the change point.

This is from a Moss listing for a '62-68 wing.

The aperture is also a different size and shape.


Dave O'Neill 2

That's interesting, I was Googling for images of a Mk1 wing but couldn't find any.

I'm surprised the change was as late as that given there is only one light unit listed in the Leyland and supplier (Moss and B&G) catalogues.

Incidentally I realised I misconstrued when I wrote about a 'universal' light unit. However one with loose studs to fit where needed would seem a good idea! I'm surprised this problem hasn't cropped up before.
paulh4

I'm tempted to ring Moss and ask if they have a lamp to fit that wing ;o)
Dave O'Neill 2

Ditto!

Incidentally when fitting new units to my 73 I found that the chrome surround was pressed against the paintwork, which it hadn't with the old ones. I could imagine the edge cutting into the paint, and I'd seen that on a concourse example at the Classic Car Show. I ran a nut onto each stud first which spaces it away from the wing, but that left a visible gap to the wing as the sponge pads are not thick or dense enough. But two (as I recall) additional ones per side sorted that.
paulh4

Paul

I see you've updated your website.

For completeness, I re-used the studs from my original light unit. They pressed out very easily.

Looking at the Moss image of the late wing, it would appear that the holes in that are in the wrong place. They should be where the yellow crosses are, as per the red wing that I posted earlier.


Dave O'Neill 2

I'm also confused by the idea that the light units position was moved to centre up the side light with the headlight for Europe as this was not done on the midget. As far as I can see the Midget remained with two lights, indicator and side, neither centred to the headlight.
Nigel Atkins

Although the height of the Spridget lamp was changed, at about the same time.
Dave O'Neill 2

Lowered ready for the slim front bumper?
Nigel Atkins

Yes, in anticipation.
Dave O'Neill 2

Re the Moss wing - well spotted. I've long held the view that manual drawings are only representative and supplier photos generic, but in this case it looks like Moss have flipped the image of a right-hand wing. If I flip it as per the attached it is correct for the right-hand side, going by my 73.

As for the studs being in-line originally, Clausager says that some markets required the indicator and parking lights to be the other way round. I dare say that happened from time to time when it shouldn't have, which is perhaps why they changed it.



paulh4

This thread was discussed between 03/05/2020 and 06/06/2020

MG MGB Technical index

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