MG Car Club of South Australia
HISTORIC REGISTRATION NEWS From .. Geoff Goode
H opefully helpful notes from your Historic Motor Vehicle scheme scribe .
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All country members are , as you are no doubt aware , as are the rest of us city dwellers , required under the HMV code of practice , to have your vehicle inspected every three years . The next inspection date is shown in red lettering on the top of the front page of your log book Why not come in earlier if this is convenient and have an inspection and replace your log book at the same time at the cost is only $ 5 , cost of a cup of coffee in most places these days ? It is club policy to not issue a new log book without an inspection , so continued use of the current log book to the expiry would require another inspection before a new log book could be issued – making the earlier inspection redundant . Clear as mud ? Also please note , Stat Decs are required only at the annual log book update period ( January to end of February each year ) when subs are due . Enough histrionics , some MGA owners have found it hard to keep their cool , in their cars that is . Various schemes such as removing every second louvre in the radiator grill or changing to a mesh insert , have been tried . However , it is this scribe ’ s contention that the only significant solution is to fit an electric fan immediately in front of the radiator . The reason is simple . When sitting in heavy traffic at idle or slow speeds in 35C plus degree heat , forced air flow at a much higher speed than a crank drive fan can produce , is required . Thus the electric fan , and it is allowed under code of practice rules as a “ non performance enhancing accessory ”. Something to think about before summer arrives as it gives “ peace of mind ” when caught in our ever increasing levels of traffic congestion . Just check the fan installation , making certain that the fan pushes air into the radiator core – easy to get it wrong as it is a 50:50 chance with electrics . One final issue worth mentioning as several owners have suffered . MGA1600 and MGA 1600 Mark 2 ’ s have front disc brakes with a serious design flaw . The brake pads are held in position within the calliper housing by a spring clip and a “ wasted ” pin . The pin shape locates the spring – except when driving on rough roads or when the spring loses tension or suffers corrosion on the “ fingers ”. If the spring and pin fall out , the pads can be pushed out when the brakes are used to stop the car in reverse . If a pad “ falls ” out , the calliper piston will hit the disc in the next application of the brakes . Considerable braking efficiency will be lost and quite possibly brake fluid will be pushed passed the piston . If this happens , complete loss of hydraulic brake circuit will ensue . On with the handbrake , if you have time . The solution is simple for safety sake ; wrap a fine galvanised wire ( say 1mm ) around the spring and pin and twist to hold it in place . Geoff Goode Club HMV Registrar