Interesting that this question comes up now. A fairly new member of our
local MG Club came up with a similar problem, but with the screws that
hold the heater box to the firewall shelf in an MGB. His screw heads
were torn up also.
The reason why many of these screws are torn up on MGBs is that the
driver pattern is not Phillips (as most people think), but Pozidriv.
The Pozidriv head takes a special screwdriver that looks a lot like a
Phillips, but has a curved planform instead of an angled one. Phillips
drivers will "cam out" of a Pozidriv screw, mangling the screw head in
the process. BMC/BL went to Pozidriv screws with the advent of the MGB
in 1962-3. You can easily spot a Pozidriv screw head by looking for
little "hash marks" radiating out from the corners of the cross shaped
recess, Phillips screws don't have this feature.
I believe the pedal box screws are pan head, 10/32 , 1/2" long. You can
substitute Phillips screws (easily available at hardware stores), but
you won't be original.
Snap-On is the only one I know who sells Pozidriv drivers (the screws in
question take a #2 size Pozidriv driver). By the way, does anyone know
where to get a #3 and a #4 Pozidriv screwdriver (either a handle style
or a hex bit type)? I will pay good money for one of these.
Cheers, PK
I believe
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