Crap to Cream, MGB wiring, dogs breakfast, non-standard it is coming out. New wiring loom to go in.

[@charlesfarran8942]

Hi Marty, When i refurbished my heater box , i removed the welded "L" bracket on the top & welded a bolt through the top of the box & drilled a hole through the bracket . It then made it easier to refit the box without hitting the lip at the top of the firewall / hit the brake line in my car & then bolt the bracket onto the top of the box & then screw it to the firewall. Cheers Charles

[@CrapToCream]

Message received and understood, thanks for the heads up the last one I did I fitted an upgraded heater core it was actually cheaper than the standard one.

[@charlesfarran8942]

Hi Marty, Glad that the eye op appears to be successful. The lower console appears to be as fitted to 1973 North American models (per a picture in Clausager.Per Clausager, from 1970 on the N A models a warning buzzer was fitted as a reminder to drivers who left the key in the lock & opened the driver's door. This early approach to warnings was clearly developed. Rick Astley, in his book "MGB electrical systems" describes the warning system as follows :- The Sequential Seat Belt System : This system is intended to warn the driver in the event that the seat belt is not latched when it also detects the presence of a driver and/or passenger, the door is closed,the key is in and the car in gear. In order to do so a module looks at the status of a number of connections & switches. When necessary it lights a dash warning lamp and /or runs a buzzer. Because it needs inputs from so many devices including door, key, & seat pressure sensor as well as the seat buckle connectors, it is extremely unreliable & has been disconnected by most owners of cars to which it was fitted. The author knows of nobody who has managed to get the system working reliably for any significant time & so refers anyone wishing to attempt it to the excellent description of the system in "The Complete Original MGB published by Robert Bentley"." Good idea to dispense with the buzzer module altogether! Wiring diagrams for the various years & markets of the MGB can be downloaded for free from Auto-wire - go to www.advanceautowire.com. I suspect you will have to modify the new instrument part of the harness to facilitate the positioning of one or more of the main instruments & possibly the switches! Are you going to use the opportunity to pull out the heater box & refurbish it , whilst the engine & gearbox are out.,(much easier than doing it with the engine etc. is in place - speaking from bitter experience)? Good opportunity to refresh the paint work in the engine bay with most items removed - or is that mission creep!!!!! Have fun. Charles

[@CrapToCream]

Gee whizzer Charles you are an encyclopaedia of information. Thank you very much. Re the heater, yes that’s coming out, also just found the pedal box held in with Tek screws so some work to do here. Painting like electrical stuff isn’t really my strongest area, however electrical is a bit easier to work with having good wiring diagrams etc, might have to contract the painting out IF I do it, I was only going to overhaul the engine and fit a supercharger, now I’m into rewiring, seat upholstering and interior trim. Talk about creep……😂😂😂😂

[@CrapToCream]

Hi Charles, I remembered I bought the Rick Astley electrical book on your recommendation when I was rebuilding my 1977 MGB, great book very useful.

[@stevegnome]

looks like a christmas decoration!

[@CrapToCream]

Brilliant, 😂😂😂, you are so right

[@user-jal99]

Looks like a US spec loom converted to U.K. The US had specific central government and state requirements too. The fairy light chain looks like another adaptation for the RHD dashboard instrument lights. Using those connectors is poor! On the subject of seatbelt warnings they were mandatory in the US.

[@CrapToCream]

Great thank you for the confirming my suspicions, certainly is a wealth of information and conversation starting. Cheers Marty

[@David-wy9jl]

For sure, it's a US 1974 spec. FYI, the factory later came out with a revised Pektron unit which I thing is the one you have with the white dot. The reason they came out with the newer version was because if you placed a heavy package in the passenger's seat, the car would not start if the seat belt was not used. The later version of the unit bypassed the car not starting feature. In the US version, there is a white flat round switch which was molded into the bottom of the bottom seat cushion which was pressure activated. I have a US 74 and it has this. In 1975, a new simpler Pektron switch was used. There is also an addition switch in the A pillar just above the door light switch which was also used in conjunction and had a blue push button. Some MG enthusiasts in the US have bypassed or removed the unit, deeming it crap.

[@poppydogz]

Jesus 🤔and i thought mine was bad.. I did find a aftermarket alarm harness behind the break boaster though..

[@CrapToCream]

Not sure where you are located but I had a lot of trouble getting my MG over the pits inspection, mainly due to electrical issues, I would fix something like the side lights, go back and then the demisting fan would suddenly stop working, as soon as I had got Rose over the pits I decided to change the loom out, and what's more I'm going to put a later loom in so the dash is easier to connect to than the earlier wiring loom where the dash is integral to the loom, no doubt that will come with challenges in itself.