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Re: General info in MGA 1600

To: british-cars@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: General info in MGA 1600
From: flarsen@uclink.berkeley.edu (Flemming Larsen)
Date: Tue, 4 Jan 1994 22:47:49 -0800
WARNING: Some LBC content included in this message!

On Mon, 3 Jan 94 20:31:24 +1100, Tim Marsh announced:

> Have recently purchased a 1961 MGA 1600 Roadster.

Lots'a stuff deleted   [FL]

> Bruce Marsh


Congratulations, Tim and/or Bruce! (reminds me of a Monty Python sketch:-)

My first LBC was a 1959 MGA 1600. It was the first thing I purchased
after college and I have many fond memories of making payments on that car
and trying to keep it running at the same time. I actually learned how
to rebuild and adjust SU carburettors and rebuild starters while I owned
that car.
Unfortunately, shortly after I got married (But honey! Where are we going
to put the baby's seat?) the MGA was traded in for a Volvo Stationwagon.
A few years later (after the divorce lawyers were paid off), the Volvo was
traded for a Lotus Seven, a Triumph TR6 and a 33' sailboat, but that's a
different story.

Anyway! I still have an old faded photocopied version of a very excellent
book on the MGA, called "Handbook for the MGA" by Piet Olyslager MSIA MSAE.
It was published by Sunday Times Publications, London in 1963, and may (or
may not) be available at your local public library.

In that book, Piet Olyslager MSIA MSAE writes:

Valve timing: When checking valve timing, adjust the valve rocker clearance
to 0.060in; this is necessary to bring the opening position of number one
valve to TDC.

Inlet valve opens 16 deg. BTDC
Inlet valve closes 56 deg. ABDC
Exhaust valve opens 51 deg. BBDC
Exhaust valve closes 21 deg. ATDC

Valve clearance: The valve clearance should be adjusted when the engine is
hot. Running valve clearance, 1500cc engine: 0.017in; 1600cc engine: 0.015
in. Valve clearance for timing: 0.060in.

The same book mentions competition seats available (UK, April 1962) as an
option for UK Pounds 9.2.2

List price for the 1600 roadster model:

UK Basic: UK Pounds 663.0.0
UK Total: UK Pounds 940.0.0
USA: $2485.00


Enjoy!

- --Flemming "MY wife never bought ME a floor jack for christmas" Larsen





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