You may have seen my past rants about chrome parts that do not fit, crappy
grilles that are nowhere near right for the cars, new bumpers that donbt
have
the original contour and rust sitting in sealed bags on the shelf.
More recently the fiasco of offering so-called performance parts b float
bowl spacers b that offer no performance at all and whose intention seems
to be
totally misunderstood by the vendors.
Apparently past rants about them offering MGB sway bar kits for MGAs that
came nowhere near fitting (links totally unsuitable) had some effect b
there is
now a caveat in the catalogue that some modification may be required b this
shows that they do listen.
Latest fiasco b I am reconditioning a dashboard for an MGA. These dashes
use
several push-pull on-off switches. After 50 years, some of them no longer
push-pull, or some that do no longer have the little spring loaded pin that
holds the plastic knob still working. (Hint b take the smallest drill bit
you
have and drill a hole directly opposite the pin. You can then push a very
small
drift into the hole and work the pin in and out after spraying it with
penetrating oil b saved a couple that way. Or get some TR style that are
open in
back of the hex and you wonbt have the problem.)
Anyway, Moss offers a replacement switch under part number 162-100. I order
one. The chrome bezel is much too large b 0.862b as opposed to the
original
0.750b . OK, I figure this should be simple, I can just reuse the bezel off
the old switch. Nope b the new Moss switches have a different thread than
OEM.
So much for that brilliant idea.
OK- I figure Ibll use the larger bezel model until I can find an original,
so I go to fit the new switch to the dash. The holes are bDb shaped, so
the
switch canbt turn and the retaining pin hole stays hidden at the bottom.
Only
one little problem b the new Moss switch, offered in their catalogue as a
direct replacement, will NOT fit in the hole in the dash as the threaded
shaft
is oversize, at 0.385b instead of 0.370b . Enlarge the hole? Gee b I
somehow
misplaced my bDb shaped drill bits.
I suppose I could try and enlarge the hole with a rattail file without
losing the locating flat, but frankly, why the hell should I have to when the
part
was offered as a direct replacement? It will be going back and I will find
and recondition another original part just so that I donbt have to butcher
my
dash.
Moss, you get a bDb on this one. Please guys, get with it. You are IMO
the
best show in town b but try a little harder not to screw your customers up?
Maybe even offer the parts you sell up to an original car once in awhile just
to see if they come even close to fitting? I expect better than this.
Bill
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