Scott,
I'm relativley new at this myself, and no expert, but get the Moss Motors
Catalog and use them both. But don't use them directly (ie don't call Moss
or VB directly to order). There are many authorized distributors who order
from Moss or VB in mass quantities and get discounts which they pass to you.
I've found that sometimes the VB is cheaper than Moss, but if the part is
the same quality, Moss will meet or beat the VB price (through your chosen
middleman). I use the British Parts Connection run by Dick Berger(very
knowledgeable and will give you advice and guidance on the phone) in Bangor
Maine as well as the Little British Car Co run by Jeff Zorn (and a few
others). I also have ordered from Tom Rocke in California who has a
junkyard with old and new stuff in it. Although he recently sold off most
or all of his Bugeye stuff--not that you will care about that. Write me
back and I'll give you all of these numbers, because I have to look them up
and will forget to send them otherwise. The reason I say use the VB is that
they list all of the nuts and bolts, etc. Moss is reluctant to do this
because they think that people who own these cars will go to the hardware
store and get them that day and probably a little cheaper. This is fine if
you have an example of the bolt to take in, but not if something is missing
completely (unless you want to get nut and bolt guides and spend all day
figuring out what goes where--but be careful, sometimes modifications have
been made and the original size nut/bolt won't fit). The one time I had a
part Moss wouldn't match VB's price on, I ordered it from VB and it turned
out to be a plain-old, ordinary zip-strip. On a lot of items you will find
that the new, cheap, plastic reproductions of the old stuff just doesn't
satisfy. For these occasions, you'll need to search for NOS (new old stock)
or used in good shape. Hope that helps and hope that if you already knew
most of this stuff that someone else on the list was helped by it. Sure
wish I'd discovered the list/the club/some of my AH/MG friends before I
ordered a new wiring harness directly from Moss (for $300). The list can
feel free to flame me if I am off my rocker. If there is a better (or at
least complimentary) manual out there than the Haynes (like maybe a complete
idiot's guide), I'd sure like to know.
Ryan Marro
1960 Bugeye ('74 Midget Engine/Trans)
>From: "scott putnam" <ultrawildcat@hotmail.com>
>Reply-To: "scott putnam" <ultrawildcat@hotmail.com>
>To: spridgets@autox.team.net
>Subject: books and catalogs
>Date: Sun, 22 Oct 2000 15:03:26 GMT
>
>hi everybody,
> so far i have the victoria british ltd.catalog,the midget/sprite haynes
>manual and the leyland 1500 workshop manual. any other suggestions on
>essentials?
> the phantom troublemaker
> and his boxes of 1977 parts
>_________________________________________________________________________
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________
|