I iTi M*I NEED THAT

YESTERDAYPicture this: It's 8:00AM,and you're about 90miles (rom thesiteol the National British CarDay (the event you've been waiting lor, lorsix months). The friendly, but not so helpful,station attendant has Informed you that hecan't help you ("Naw. we don't carry ennyparts fer those kina cars eny more... whutkina car izzat ennyway?"). You know how to ,lix it —all you need are the brushes for yourLucas generator...the problem is that youneed them NOW.In your wallet is that littleplastic card MossMotorssent you withyourfirstorder. You callthe tollfreenumber.Ten '•minutes later your order is Inprocess —UPSpicks itupabout4:00 intheaiternoon. Thatnight the package ison ajet on itsway across jthecountry. Earlythe next morningthe local jUPS office decides which driver will deliver |it.andbythatafternoon you areback onthe Iroad.

Thatnight the package ison a jet on its way across

the country.

Reality? Yes.withour newNextDayDeliveryService,wecan get you what you need,andgetItto youovernight. Magic? No,|ust hardwork. And it isn't just for those roadsideemergencies either. Wchave allstarted on aproject,onlyto find that something totallyunexpected has come up...like a fuel pumpthat won't, or a distributor that can't. We'veailscroungedparts locallywhenwe neededsomething right now, but a lotof these partsaren't available locally any more, and sometimes the prices havebeen a bit high.Now.yougetwhatyouneedfrom Moss, andgetitfast.

How does it work? Like most orders, Itstarts with a phone call. Once the salesper-

Conlinued on page 6.

UPDATE ON MGBBODY SHELLSThe goodnews is that British Motor Heri

tage Isnowcranking out MGB bodiesat therate of 10per week! Theyhave also by now-completed their 200th new body. A fairnumber of born-agaln MGB's have beencompleted and are now back on the highways and byways of England.

The bad news is that there is still a backlogof orders due to the overwhelmingly successful English launch in June of this year.British Motor Heritage leeis that in view ofthe tremendous amount of very favorableTV and Press coverage received that theymust at least partiallysatisfytheUKdemandprior to satisfyingnewexport markets.

Allbodies produced to date arc strictly intended for RHD use and do not Include anumber of minor, yet necessary, holes, clipsand brackets which are required (or LHDapplications. This was a conscious decision

Continued on page 6

WAREHOUSE OVERFLOWSThis is the largest buy-out from any source

In Moss Motors history. The buy-out fromJaguarCarswarehousesInLeonia. N.J. andBrisbane.CA Is allowing us to see just howfar we can bulge the rafters in our warehouses, just how many 'pieces of eight' wecan shelve without goingtreasure blind.

Closeyour eyes fora momentand Imaginea football field, say, the Astro Dome, andcover that astroturf with box'upon box ofparts. Imagine rowsofparts that will finallymake your Triumph, MG. Rover 3500 orAustin Healey run smoothly, that will addthat classic stripe to your TR7,or sun visorstoyourSpridget,oragrilletoyourTR6.Mostof all,imagineparts that willsignificantlyimprove our ability to serve you. Just think:youneedit.youorder it,youhaveit the next

day. (Ofcourse using our NextDayAirservice will make this all the more possible...).

So far we've only gotten through the Brisbane shipment, which is the smaller of thetwo we've received. This alone is 5278 different part numbers with some of the quantities being very large. We are expanding ourproduct ranges accordingly.

The acquisition ofsuch a large Inventory isjust another indication of how dedicatedMoss Motors is to getting all the parts youneed, when you need them, as quickly aspossibleinorder to makemaintenanceandrestoration ofyour Britishcars as stress freeas we can.

Everything that we could fit Into our existing inventoryhas been converted to MossContinuedon page 4A.

Just a few of the new pans obtained i r recent buyout

AUSTIN ROVER

»DC5S FKLZASt

MTV XUST1X »OVr.» PA*?S D irniwrio*. ™w ""f

Owners of idh 500.000 classic but easingBritish eporte can at* In the US-such as

should find parts ewjre readily avails:.:- in

Internal"?!"?"ill noicarefully chosen new USfranchlaed distributors.

If.BUr.fi. working in \

organiiation t-'nipart

This r»va follovs the daInc. to cease hendllnj I

rulnllne business aress

within the same coxpany.

la ion by Jaguar Car*!.»•• parti tl-.rcugr. its

a logical fiavalopuwntJaguar aro r.o longar

laro."parts Inventory heis belno purchased by noiiSotornVc".;.!-

Mover Croup's Parte Direnoes. David Lansdo.no.

equipment specification •Ill becos* easier

IN THIS ISSUE

Vanishing Cars (page 2)More Tech Tips (page 4)It's A Puzzle, (page 4)Winter Sale! (page 4B)Laguna Seca '88 (page 4H)Factory Bulletin (page 5)Rebuilt Bargains (page 6)Cars For Sale- (page 8)

MOSS MOTORING PAGE

Km^s^snmiHi

Moss Motoring Is published byMoss Motors, Ltd.Editor. Laura FJtherington

Although we make every effort toinsure the correctness of technical

articles, Moss Motors, Ltd. assumesno liability for the accuracy, safety,or legality of these contributions. Alltechnical material should be

weighed against commonlyaccepted practice. Any opinionsexpressed in this newsletter arethose of the authors and do not

necessarily reflect the opinions orpolicies of Moss Motors.

MOSSMOTORINGIs © 1988 Moss Mo

tors, Ltd. All rights reserved. Editorial Office: Moss Motors, P.O. BoxMG,Goleta,CA93116 (805)908-1 (Ml

CONTRIBUTIONS INVITED

Contributions are greatly appreciated and every' effort will be madeto use appropriate material. Itemsfor consideration should be mailed

to: Moss Motors, Editorial Department, P.O. Box MG, Goleta, CA93116. We regret that we cannotreturn any material. We also reservethe right to accept or reject anymaterial on whatever grounds wedecide; we reserve the right to editor change any material to suit theneeds of our publication, withoutprior notification to the contributor."Letters to the Editor" will he ac

cepted for publication providedthey arc accompanied by a name,address and phone number.

Contributors whose material isselected (or publication in Moss Motoringwill receive Moss Motors GiltCertificates in the followingamounts:

S75.00 GIFT CERTIFICATES

Technical Articles. Marque Reviews,Histories (cars, race teams, etc.) andPersonality Profiles$40.00 GIFT CERTIFICATES

Book Reviews. Club Article Reprints(humorous or general interest)S20.00 GIFT CERTIFICATESTechnical Hints, Tips, Cartoons, Humorous Anecdotes, Puzzles andPhotos

PricesSale prices are valid from11/7/88 through 1/1/89.Highlight pricesare validthrough 1/1/89.

Say cheese, it's photo contest time.

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 2

WHERE HAVE ALLBy Chris Nowlan

Have you noticed that there doesn't seem tobe as many old sports cars on the road asthere used to be? Remember when. In anyAmerican town, on a nice summer day. yousaw British sports cars buzzing around withtops down? So where have all the sports carsgone? The junkyard scroungers know ourbeloved cars aren't winding up there as thepickings these day can be slim Indeed. Manyowners of the older, more valuable examples feci their pride and joy is too valuable to actually drive, so they trailer them tothe occasional show and otherwise passaround odd wallet photos to impress theirfriends.Have you noticed the want ads for sportscars in the local papers and publications?"Wanted: MG's Austin Healeys, Jaguars andTriumphs, all years, all models. Cash available. Highest prices paid." The truth is thatBritish sports cars and other old Interestingcars are being exported from our shores bythe hundreds and thousands. Most of theseads represent American agents for lorclgnenthusiasts and entrepreneurs who arebuying our cars at an alarming rate. This Isparticularly true for the West Coast and SunBelt states, where foreigners find our rust-free examples irresistible. Our cars aregoing to Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Aus-

GOODBYE

We regret to announce that our Moss Motoring Editor Bob Goldman has left our employ.His abilities with computers and love ofdesktop publishing have drawn him awayfrom us. He has decided to go off on his own.to greener pastures, bigger and betterthings. Bob in his time with Moss has workedIn our warehouse, worked as a knowledgeable and helpful salesman, set up and managed our New Jersey distribution center,worked in catalog development and, for thelast few years, has been the driving forcebehind Moss Motoring. His personal knowledge of these cars we love, his writing style,and his wit will be missed on these pages. Wehope to be able to have him as an occasionalcontributor. We wish him well!

All correspondence to Afoss Motoringshould be sent to our new editor, Laura Elth-erlngton.

Chris KeplerGeneral ManagerMoss Motors

SPORTS CARS GONE?

*•*'

tralla. etc.. the list goes on. A visit to thedocks in LA. Is reminiscent of the 50's. onlynow the rows of cars are going, not coming.What does all this mean? It means that if the

trend continues, in a few short years thereWillbe far fewer old sports cars available forcurrent and future generations to enjoy. Itmeans that prices will be driven up due tolack of availability. It means that the bestrust-lree examples won't be around anymore, perhaps at any price. It certainlyseems that the overseas Investors and en

thusiasts actively buying In this country areonly indirectly driving up prices as the available stock dwindles. Generally, thesebuyersare only interested in buying at "wholesale-

LETTERSDear Mr. Grant:

Thank you for your superb assistance inshipping the parts for my TR-3A.The FederalExpress driver was walking up my drivewayat 8:30 AM Saturday morning. My faith InMoss was restored and the Triumph was onthe road Sunday afternoon.Your help cannot be overstated. With thefew decent weekends left before winter in

Minnesota it was critical to have those partsthat weekend.

Again thank you for your help. I know problems do happen and one day usually doesn'tmake much difference but It did in this case,

i remain a Moss customer.

Sincerely,Raymond James ThomeBrownsville. MN 55337

(Ifyou use our Next Day Delivery Service, youcan ask for Saturday delivery. UPS doesn'tdeliver on weekends, so we use Federal Express. There is an additional SI0.00 charge.-Ed.)

prices and can well afford to pick their preysince the anxious buyers back home are notnecessarily very discerning, and any unusual vehicle is quickly snapped up. Any significant profit in this international trade isusually realized by the middleman, not theactual sellers nor ultimate buyers.Moss Motors has seen this shift for some

years and ships an amazing amount of product to the far flungcorners of the world daily.Our UK operation is now serving more earlysports car owners in the UKand Europe thanwe previously thought existed.What can we do about it? Perhaps not a lot.After all there is nothing Illegal or evenimmoral about selling old cars to anxiousenthusiasts in foreign lands. Perhaps it'seven appropriate that old cars fall Into thehands of those most willing and able topreserve them regardless of where they live.But personally. I'd rather sell my sports carsto a fellow local enthusiast as I already missthe sight of hundreds of neat old sports carsright here In sunny downtown Goleta. Imissthe chat with the XKE owner at the local

supermarket or the friendly dice with theHealey owner on the way up local mountainroads. I miss the prospect of stumbling intoone more sports carat a super bargain price.Ah well, If1ever get to Japan, maybe...

Dear Moss Employees,Thanks for all your help In restoring myMGB.Ordering from you was a real pleasureand everyone was very' helpful.Thanks again,Clyde HollorStatesville, N.C.

Dear Sirs,Thanks for the excellent 3-point harness. It'sexcellently made and fits beautifully...in my '67 Sunbeam Alpine'. You can bet I'll letpeople know about this find, as I haven'tseen a single Sunbeam supplier that carriesthem.

Want an easy way to foil car thieves? Pop thebonnet, pop open the distributor and putthe rotor in your pocket/purse. How's thatfor easy protection?Thanks again.Lance Rockefeller

E. Greenwich, R.I.

.

SO YOU WANTTO BUY ONEOF THESE CARSby Craig Cody

Here at Moss Motors, we get frequentrequests from people interested In purchasing one of the types of cars we workwith.They want to knowwhat to look foras far as mechanical weaknesses, bodyand structural problems and, "most desirable" models.

i will make this a kind of "generic" rundown because each car has differenttrouble areas and It would take too longto cover specifics on every model. A few-quick guidelinesare in order though. MGT-series have wood framed bodies which

"Just needs a little clean'inup to make it a show car."

are prone to rot after all these years.Make sure the body Is sound. TriumphIRS cars have rust problems In the frameand the differential mounts are prone tobreakage. Inspect the rear of the framecarefully. Big Austin Healeys rust everywhere. Look for large amounts ol bondoalong the bottom of the fenders and sills.The sills on an MGB are structural (part ofthe car's basic frame). If you can seethrough the rocker panel and the metalbehind it, you're looking through part ofthe frame. Jaguar engines are almostunburstable. but all Jag parts are costly.Take along a Moss catalog and price list,they will give you a guide to the availability and cost of parts which must be replaced.

Some models may be more desirablethan others. How docs one describe de

sirable? Well, there are a lot of factorsInvolved, such as rarity, number produced, etc. The bottom line however, Iswhich car stirs your soul. People will sayno matter what car you buy, that youshould have gotten something else. Buthey. you're the one signing the check.The nomenclature "rare'' or "desirable"seems to he doing nothing more thandrive up prices and make It expensive (orthe average person to buy and enjoy a

The bottom line however,is which car stirs your

soul.

car. So. IIyou see what you want, and (eelcomfortable with the price, that is reallyall the desirability you need.

O.K.. so you have decided what type ormake and model you want. Now, whatcondition (i.e. how many pieces is it in.one. or three thousand?) Is it what youwant? Some people want a perfect turnkey car, others want a project. Youshould consider your budget (a projectcar always ends up costing more thanyou thought it would) and allow yourselfa comfortable cushion for a few extras.

Continued on page 6.

I THINK MY CAR IS CHEATING ON MEby J. Dawson Gieger

'Good morning" Isaid to my Bugeye, as 1filledthe cat's water dish.

She said nothing."Have a good night?" I queried."Was a little chilly," she answered, "andplease tell that feral cat you feed to stay offme. It left footprints everywhere."As you can guess, things were not hunky-dorybetween us. She was always like this when Ibrought her home from Randy's heated garage. This time she had spend three weeksover there. It was worse than ever. I was sure

she and Randy were having an affair.You see, when I first got her, I took her to thismechanic named Randy. She really lookedbad. Years of being ignored showed, especially being parked In there next to all thoseneat Austin-Healeys, Jags, MG's and a Lotus.Randy was not too impressed with her. He putIn a new transmission and quickly shoved herout the door. I think she took that as a chal

lenge. She was used to people oohing andaahlng when they saw her, not treating her asa common car.

It wasn't long before she had reason to goback to him. Nothing major. But then she hadreason to go again. And again. Pretty soon shewas spending an awful lot of time over thereand, each time she went, she came back looking better and better.I was not suspicious but I found myself stopping in there unannounced and at differenttimes. I never (ound him working on her, yetthings were getting done. Finally, one day Iasked him, as casually as I could. "Randy, 1never see you working on her. When do you

...each time she went, shecame back looking better

and better.

get all this done?""Oh." he replied, "I work on her at night."Ifroze. My mouth went dry. His words echoedin my ears."At night, at night, at night."This Gestalt flashed in front of me:

The radio playing, everybody gone, just thetwo of them, with him lying under her, reaching up and touching parts of her that I didn'teven know existed. The incense of Castroleverywhere, the clink of wrenches, muffledconversations, dizzy moments of silence,giggles, sharing, caring, just the two of them,huddled there together until all hours of thenight.Ihad to get out of there. It all made sense now;she never broke when she was out o( his

reach, but she always needed something soshe had to be over there. Then she alwayscame home In a 'distant-mood' and I (ound

little things he had done for her — at nocharge! But, if there was any doubt, it disappeared a week later when she (ound a way tospend three weeks with him. She spit all thelay-gear bearings out of her new transmission.

That upset me. I wanted to have it out withher. there and then. I Imagined how the conversation would go.Iwould say, "You seem to be spending a lot oftime with Randy, is there anything going on?"She would say. "No."I would continue, "it seems funny you arealways finding reasons to go over there. Doyou like being there?""It's okay."'Okay, is that all it is? For 'okay' you sure finda lot of reasons to run to him. some ol themare not even real, like the time you told meyouwere overheating and I took you over and It

turns out your gauge is lying. You knew that,but you had me take you anyway, just so youcould see Randy."Icould see her tense up, beforeshe answered."Ail right, if you must know, I do enjoy beingthere. Randy knows how to treat me. Heworks on me and makes me feel better. He

really knows his way around a British car.Things are exciting at Randy's. Things arealways happening, cars in, cars out, phoneringing. Here, nothing happens, 1sit here forweeks without you even looking at me, andthen when you do take me out, where do wego? To some dull club meeting or a short tripto the store. Big Deal!Wow, that snapped me out of that imaginary

conversation. She could be harsh, if shewanted to be. But, she could be right. MaybeI wasn't fulfilling her needs. Maybe it would bebetter for her If we parted. 1 don't have thetools or knowledge to do any skilled work onher.

That's how 1 felt three weeks ago but, whileshe was gone, I really missed her. I wentshopping for a factory hardtop (or her. Theyare really hard to (ind. Luckily, 1(ound one justtwo days ago. I put It on her last night. Sheliked it.

1 told her about an all British car tour to

Vashon Island sponsored by the TyeeTriumph Club planned for the following day.I purposely hadn't invited a female of thehuman persuasion, I (ell we needed the timealone. Maybe In a romantic setting like anisland, we would (Ind each other."Well, Bugeye, are you ready to go?" I askedthe next morning as I loaded the picnic basket. She didn't answer but her smile Indicated

that she was.

As we drove along Alki Beach, she saw a lerrycoming out o( Elliott Bay."Is that what we are going on?" She asked."One just like it," 1answered."Gee, they are big!"'Haven't you ever been on one?""No, where will they put me?""See those portholes, just above the waterline?"

'Yes."

"Well, you will be right in there, surroundedby all your cousins (rom England.""I'll like that." She said.

"How is your new transmission?" '"It (eels good. Will there be a lot ol British carsthere?"

"1 don't know."

We drove on, nearing the Alki lighthouse,where the road curves and then goes rightup to the water's edge. The wind was calmso none o( the waves were making it overthe curb.

"Dawson," she said softly."Yes."

"Do you like me?""Yes, very much." 1replied."Do you like me because I am British or doyou just like me?""Both," I replied, as I checked traffic."Have you owned other British cars?""Yes, I have.""Did you like them very much, too?"That got my attention. When a female starts

talking to you like that anything can happen— a rod through the side, a hole in the radiator equal to Mt. St. Helens, a wheel passingyou. I had to answer her carefully. I thoughtfor a moment, then said, in a quiet voice, as 1studied all the gauges.'Little Bugeye, listen, we are on a nice pleasant drive here. All those things are importantbut they are In the past. Sure, we will talkabout them, but now let's just enjoy themoment.

I could tell by her well-thought-out "okay-that she had put whatever thoughts she washaving out o( her mind and had settled in toenjoy the day.The tour was to leave from the FauntleroyFerry Dock on the 10:20 A.M. ferry to VashonIsland. Fauntleroy is located about threemiles from Alki Point, the birthplace of Seattle. The three mile drive along the beach Isone of the prettier ones in Seattle.We were both now quiet and on our bestbehavior as we inched along this scenicroute. When we got to the dock, there werealready thirty to forty British cars there withtops down and balloons up. It looked veryfestive. People climbed out of their cars,talking and laughing. Many of them gave usthe 'thumbs-up' as we drove in. I guess theyliked her new factory hardtop, too.

I got out and milled around. As 1 passedback by the Bugeye, I noticed a spot on her.I leaned over to get a better look. It was a catprint. As I released my focus, I could see my(ace reflected in her paint, the cat print now-looked as If it were on my face. I understoodhow she felt. I straightened up and lookedaround. No one was watching so 1 wet thecomer of my shirt with my tongue andContinued on page 7.

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 3

TRICKLE REBUILDBy Chris Nowlin

Most British sports cars are suffering fromyears of hard use, but with a little TLC theycan be restored to their original splendor(ornear enough for government work). You cando it through a 'frame-up' restoration, or'trickle' rebuild, rebuilding your car a bit attime. British sports cars of any year, makeand model were engineered to be (un todrive and when new they all provided tight,responsive, rattle (ree and reliable motoring.

Frame-up restorations can be extremelyrewarding but certainly constitute a majorcommitment of time and (Inanclal resources. On the other hand, 'trickle' rebuilds can be carried out as a series ofweekend projects withnear Instant gratification as each sub-system Is rebuilt and roadtested. Most mechanical assemblies, withthe exception ofengines and gearboxes, canbe rebuilt over the course of a weekend. By

tackling mechanical systems one at a time,amazing progress can generally be madeover a short period ol time without takingout a second mortgage. The logical sequence with most models Is the same: startwith front suspension, followed by steering,rear suspension and brakes, including thehandbrake. Tearing into your doors caneasily restore easy action to window winders and put a quality accent back into the"clunk" of those doors. Once your car reallydrives and handles as It should, it may takemore and more self-control to stay home onweekends.

In the ten years and 10,000plus miles I'vedriven my 1967 MGB-GTas everyday transportation. I've rebuilt virtually every aspect.The car looks very respectable, Isextremelyreliable, but most Important, It's fun todrive. After all. Isn't that what British sports

car motoring is all about?

Heard anyInteresting techtipslately? We're interested Inpublishing new andexciting hintsandtips ifapplicable. Send your tech tipcontributions totheEditor, and, ifwe can use them,you'll receive a $20.00giftcertificate.

None the less, when theydo get old and tiredand suddenly stop functioning, there mayyet be hope! Try lightly tapping on the sideof the pump with a lighthammer or wrench.This will frequently shock your SU back tolife. Kthis (ails, remove the plastic end coverand clean the points. Sometimes, manuallyseparating the points with the ignition onwill also be necessary. 1(this succeeds Ingetting you to your destination, make plansto rebuild or replace the pump as soon aspossible, as these temporary (ixes won'tkeep you going Indefinitely.

Fused circuit shortThis is not uncommon— every time you putin a new fuse, it blows before you have achance to (igure out where the problem is...Next time, replace the (use with an old turnsignalHasher (one that works).Attach thetwo leads of the turn signal flasher to thecontacts where the (use normally sits; the(lasher will click on and o((. which gives you.a chance to sort out the problem withoutgoingthrough a box of fuses or burning upthe harness.

Q.WaHI'-OCar overheating ?Don't assume that removing the thermostatIs goingto help. Moreoften than not it willmake the problem worse. Thermostats,asldelrom limiting water (lowto the radiatorwhen the engine is cold, control how fastwater goes through the radiator. This maynot bea bigdealwiththe car sittingstillandthe engine idling,but once you get going,the(aster you go, the (aster the water goesthrough the radiator. Unless you slow thewater down, it does not lose enough heat asit goes through the radiator, and the car willoverheat. 1(your car overheats, (ind out whyand lix It. Sooner or later it will cost you

money.

0-«;i-i--C3Fan BeltNext time you poke your head under thehood (bonnet, sorry) check your (an belt.Now check the lactory workshop manualand readjust it Ifnecessary. We see an awfullot of cars with fan belts tuned to the key olE.This will cause you to wear out the generator bearings, the water pump, and in extreme cases will split the two piece rivetedcrank pullics found on the MGAand TR2-4A.

Fuel pump leave you stranded?SU fuel pumps have, perhaps unjustifiably,earned a reputation lor poor reliability inspite of the fact that most original pumps(unction (lawlessly (or a great many years.

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 4

QmiialaC5Checking your distributorNext time you pop the cap on your Lucasdistributor, take a moment to put a fewdrops of oil on the screw under the rotor—there are holes under the screw and the oilwill lubricate the cam bearing. While you'reat it, lubricate the advance mechanism andthe breaker point pivot. Use light engine oil.Ifyouare out ofgrease, a drop on the breakercam lobes won't hurt.

PUZZLE By G.M. JardinUnscramble the letters to form autorelated words. Then, take the circledletters and unscramble them to form the

answer.

Clues:

SOAC CX3ZD

GISREN un

ITAAS a i lx

OGNARM CUT 15

ROMSRI Olil

Answer: "Good News' -optional clue

MillAnswer on page 7.

This issues' columnist in his award winning MC TC.

PRE-TOURING INSPECTIONby Norm Nock

WATER PUMP - Hold the fan blade at tipand move it fore and aft. there should be nomovement or looseness. Look (or a rustystain or a coolant leak from the hole in the

bottom ol the pump.COOLING SYSTEM - Check the accuracy o(

your temperature gauge against a thermometer inserted in the top of the radiator,with cap removed and car idling. Any temperature readings over 195° F (except Inextreme conditions) on the gauge, whiledriving, should be investigated to avoidoverheating and engine damage. Replaceboth radiatorhoses every spring.check condition of heater hoses and i( hard or mushyreplace them.

GENERATOR - If your generator starts tomake a grinding sound, the bush and/orbearing are badly worn. This is often causedby a fan belt being adjusted too tightly.Thebelt should not be "twangy" tight, it shouldhave a little looseness.

BATTERY-Check that the specific gravity

o( your battery shows at the fully chargedmark of 1.280. If not, charge the battery andcheck the specific gravity again. If it has notreached the fully charged state, replace Itbefore it causes you a "no start problem."

OILLEAKS- Ifyour car leaks oil every timeyou park your car. don't assume it couldonly come from the engine. Check the transmission level. Also, water/antifreeze cansometimes look like clean engine oil so besure and check the coolant level. Don't forget to check the engine oil as well. Keep aclose watch on your fluid levels and avoid an

. :-.;u-:*' I-—

BigHealeys louring theAutumn countryside. Photo: Sharon Horzmnnn

expensive overhaul.BRAKES - This is a major safety Item and

should be checked regularly by a qualifiedmechanic. Pulling, soft pedal, no power,locking, grinding or squeaking are some olthe reasons to get your brakes checked (orsafe operation.

CLUTCH - Clutch engaging when loot isalmost off of the pedal could be a sign of aslipping clutch. A soft pedal Is usually ahydraulic problem. A clutch pedal that ishard to push down and a slipping clutchcould be caused by the flexible hose going tothe slave cylinder being partially restrictedInside, limiting the flow of fluid. Wear between the clutch pedal arm and the mastercylinder clevis pin could cause grindinggoing Into first and reverse.

DRIVING OVER 6.000 FT. - At high altitudes, your engine will have a 3% per 1.000feet decrease In power and the Idle will beslower. If you do not drive regularly above6,000 feet it is not necessary to change yourcarburetor adjustments or the Ignition timing. Ifyou live at these high altitudes checkwith your local mechanics who will adviseyou about how to change your Ignition timing to suit the altitude.

REGULAR MAINTENANCE-Checkingyourcar regularly for potential problems andkeeping it tuned-up will help to preventproblems on your tour.(Although this article was written with theAustin Healey in mind, most categories arerelevent to the average Britishsports car.-Ed.)

MY TR2-

I LOVE HER,SHE HATES MEBy Bruce Foster

I am the proud owner of a red 1954 TR2 -long doors, aluminum bonnet with insiderelease, no cowl vent, all the goodies. Iwanted very much to drive her to TriumphMarque Day in Goleta this year, but we havea love-hate relationship-l love her, she tiatesme.

I should have seen the handwriting on thewall on Tuesday before the Saturday showwhen the brake side of her master cylinderfailed on the way to the car wash. Weskipped the wash and I nursed her homegingerly applying her hand brake so as not tosculf her rear tires.

I extracted her master cylinder Tuesdaynight and rebuilt it Wednesday night, stilldetermined to make the show. Not wantingto drive the 240 miles from my home toGoleta untested. 1 drove her to work onThursday. Quite pleased with the results ofmy labors, I drove her into town for lunchand back to work with no problems. Hebrakes and clutch seemed to work as well aswhen she was young.

Then came the trip home. At the first stoplight, about a mile from work, we stopped foroniy a moment. I slipped her gearbox into

yy*y^5WT*

KalhyFleury'sTriumph TR2.

first, negotiated the right hand turn, thenwent for second gear. Something broke andthe engine raced slightly before I could release her throttle as we gently coasted to astop at the curb.

After performing some quick drivetraintests we determined that her clutch, gearbox, and propeller shaft were working properly. She seemed to have developed paralysis In her hind quarters. Preliminary diagnosis: something fractured within her rear axlehousing.

From a nearby business I phoned a coworker to tow us back to our place of business. Wethought ifwe were careful we couldhook the chain onto her bumper support

Preliminary diagnosis:something fractured within

her rear axle housing.

bracket. After all, it was only a mile. All wentwell until we turned off the main road ontothe side street. There we had to ease across

a storm drainage gutter. I'm sorry, but theold girl's brakes didn't work as well as thetruck's. The chain went slack. When the

truck pulled forward the chain snapped tautand bent the left side of her front bumper.The damage was not severe, but she thoughther bumper was perfect before and she wasunderstandably upset.

1hate to leave her alone at work overnight.1knew she would be frightened and lonely,but she understood 1 had no choice and she

agreed.The next day, Friday, I had lost most hope

DONALD HEALEY HONORED AT PALO ALTO, CA. ALL BRITISH MEETBy H. Richard Bush

Record crowds came to honor the late

Donald M. Healey at The Tenth Annual PaloAlto British Car Meet on September 11.Thousands admired the over 870 cars on

display varying in condition from restoration projects and daily drivers to show winners. Healey-built cars abounded. The

British sportscars,bigcrowds, andfun inthesun. Thewinner! (Above insen.)

of showing her off In Goleta. 1took the dayoffwork to tow her home and lind the actualcause ol her paralysis. If there was anychance at all for her, I was going to try.

I borrowed a two-wheel towing dolly frommy boss. We pushed her rear end up ontothe dolly to tow her backwards In order tonot do more damage to her ailing hindquarters. After securing everythingwe started offtowards home. I watched the front; she

watched behind.

About 1 1/2 miles from work we stopped tocheck everything over again. This was allnew to us. this towing business. All seemedsecure on her right side, so Iwalked aroundto her front, which laced rearwards, andchecked the holddowns on tier driver's side.As I walked back towards her front, I noticed

the knock-off was gone from her led frontspoke wheel. My heart stopped as I realizedwhat had happened. I rushed around to herright front wheel - that knock-off was holdingby only one thread. The TR's wheels aredesigned to tighten by forward motion. Sheisn't supposed to travel long distances backwards. We both felt we were lucky we didn'tlose a wheel and cause much more damagethan a bent (ront bumper.

I unhooked the dolly (rom the truck, droveback to work to get some help. We jacked upher front, removed her front wheels, andswapped her splined hub adapters side forside. When we replaced her wheels andtightened her knock-offs, she was ready for arelatively uneventful tow the rest of the wayhome.

As soon as we reached home, my wife andson helped push the TR Into her garage.After we swapped the front wheels back itdidn't take long to find the reason (or nopower to her rear wheels was a broken axleshall on the right side. Everything elselooked fine, but my hopes of driving to theSaturday show were dashed - no spare axleshaft to transplant.My wile and Idecided mybest bet of obtaining an axle shaft was to goahead and go to Triumph Marque Day andleave the TR2 at home like we did last year.We arrived (my wife and I. not my TR and I)about 12:30. First I checked with the peopleselling used parts - no axle shaft. So we wentinside the showroom and placed our partsorder. I was Informed that the TR2 axle shaft

was no longer available. Heavy sigh!By about 2:30 the awards had been given

lor the people's choice car show and thecars began to clear out of the parking lot.Luckily for us, some of the people who haddisplayed their cars stayed a while longerand the people selling used parts still had toload up their unsold wares. Through conversations with these friendly and helpingpeople, we developed some possibilities fora replacement axle shaft (or the TR2. So farnone of those possibilities have turned intorealities. She's still on jack stands in hergarage, but we're hoping that her convalescence will not last much longer. She's getting so restless.

As (or Triumph Marque Day, Ihave a wholeyear to convince theold girl that you can stillbe beautilul even if a (ew of your parts arenot original issue.Brucewill receive a gift cenificate forhis contribution.

BuyoutContinuedfrompage I.

six-digit numbers. We also have receivedparts for some models for the first time, butbefore you dial to order, read on.

The time necessary to researcli and produce a new catalog, much less several, Is toolong to make interested customers wait. Toexpedite the use of these new parts, we havetransferred a considerable portion of ourbuyout stocks to Moss Jaguar, Ltd., In SantaBarbara, and added a toll-free order phone!The number is (800)444-6914, and is good allover the U.S. and California.

PHOTO CONTEST

REMINDER

There's still plenty of time to take out yourcamera and snap several exciting, uniqueand (estive photos (or the Moss annualphoto contest. Keep In mind that the photosmust be British car related, and ourdeadline

Is December 31, 1988. Keep those photoscoming!

Austin-llealey Pacific Centre won the ClubParticipation plate with 70 Big Healeys in attendance, second place going to the SpriteGroup with 54 Bugeyes and Sprldgets. Alongwith the Jensen-Healeys and the non-member cars there were over 130 Healeys including a very rare Silverstone.

The coveted People's Choice Award waswon by Wayne Bier's Incredible redtrimmed, black '56 TR3. Wayne finished itspristine restoration at 8:00 the morning ofthe show. Long distance honors went to PaulAsgeirsson who drove his clean '67 MorrisMinor for Portland, OR.

The largest In California to date, this eventattracted cars as diverse as a Cad-Allard, anearly Morgan trike and an '89 Jaguar. Nextyear's Meet Is scheduled for September 10.1989 In Palo Alto and our 7th Annual event at

Woodley Park in Van Nuys.Richardwill receive a gift cenificate forhis contribution

EVENTS

CALENDARWe are interested in publishing your ma

jor British car events in our quarterly eventscalendar. If you would like to list an event inthe Moss Motoring, please send a short description, including date and telephonenumber. We will list as many events as possible in our available space. Send your entries, attention: Moss Motoring Events Calendar. Our next deadline closes Dec. 31,1988.

Rebuilt Engines

These MGA engineshave been rebuilt inEngland to the highest standards and aresold outright, no core required. They arecomplete less water pump, flywheel,starter, generator, carburetors and valvecovers. (Early 1500 engines with lowstarter mountcan be identified by theirabsence of the #280-015 rubber starterdrivecover listedon page 27, #25 of ourMGA-1 1 catalog.) A limited quantity ofthose engines have just arrived fromourEnglishRebuilder. Allengines are warran-teed for 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Early 1500 041-100Late 1500 041-102

1600 041-103

1600MKII 041-104

SI 595.00$1595.00

SI 595.00$1595.00

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 4A

-v;

: .

MONTEREY HISTORIC RACES

1988 LAGUNASECAA photograhic essay by Jamie Pfeifer

Down the "corkscrew".

John Willbum leads with his Triumph powered1959 Peerless Le Mans.

MOSS MOTORING PAGE4H

— ••.:•:•:-:.--— •——:-'. mil ./^-:4^J:'.

James Alder drove his 1952 Jaguar XK120 race carall the way from Reno, removed his hubcaps, tapedhis headlights and raced..Just like they did in theold days.

At Moss drives the VonNeumannMGTD specialThe.heaviesonIhepregrid Howmanycarscanyou (featured inOctober I9SS Road&Trade).identity?

The 15th Annual Historic Races were held August 19-21.1988 at Laguna Seca Raceway inMonterey. "Salute to Maserati" was the theme of the weekend, with plenty of red cars anddignitaries such as Sterling Moss, Carroll Shelby and Phil Hill in attendance. For those of us(rom Moss that ventured the 200 miles north for the weekend, It was the rare British sportscars that really made the event special. Those of you with the opportunity to attend nextyear, shouldn't miss the fun. 1989 is The Year of the Aston Martin.

TROUBLE SHOOTING THERUNNING-ON CONTROL VALVEBy David R. Lewis

The running-on control valve (R-OCvalve)is fitted to MGB's manufactured after 1973. itIs located on the right (passenger) side ofthe engine compartment near the firewall,forward of the vapor cannlster. It is controlled by an oil pressure switch mounted onan oil line lying flat on the firewall shelf nextto the vapor cannister. The valve shutsdown the engine by causing a massivemomentary vacuum leak in the intake manifold as the ignition is switched off. The oilpressure switch momentarily grounds thevalve which, when activated, dumps additional air into the manifold and effectivelyprevents residual fuel from Igniting withinthe engine. The valve operates electro-mag-netlcally. IIIt stays on for more than only thefew seconds as the engine shuts down. It candrain a battery in no time.

Even il all other emission equipment Is tobe removed (rom the MGB, this valve isworth maintaining because It prevents potential damage to engine bearings andvalves caused by runnlng-on (dieseling) asthe engine tries to run backwards. Running-on is caused by the modern lower octanefuels. Keep the valve. Its presence does notconsume additional fuel or harm performance in any way. while at the same time itoffers worthwhile protection.

Check the operation of the R-OC valve withthe ignition off and key removed. Removethe slide connector (slate/yellow wire) fromthe oil pressure switch. Ground the connector. You should hear the valve operate. Ifyoudo not, use a test light to see that the slate/purple wire connected to the top of the valve(terminal^) is hot. If it is not. the problemmay be In the running-on control valve lineluse (fuse with a slate wire on one side, slate/purple wire on the other). Trace backthrough the circuit to find the problem.Note: l( the ignition is on, the line will not behot.

If it is hot, reconnect it to the valve. Checkto see that the other valve terminal (#2) haspower, if It Isn't hot. the valve (Part "367-110) must be replaced. It Is not repairable. IfIt has power, reconnect it and check theconnector at the end ol the wire where It

plugs into the oil pressure switch. If the endconnector has power but does not, whengrounded, activate the valve, the R-OC valveis stuck and must be replaced.

Check the oil pressure switch (Part #141-715) with the engine off.

To test the switch you must reverse thefunction of the test light. Usually a test lightlead Is grounded to search for hot terminal(the #7 fuse terminal in the fuse box is a goodchoice). Now when the test light comes onyou know you have a ground.

Test the base of the switch. The lightshould glow as it is grounded well. Nowcheck the male connector on the oil pressure switch. The light should not glow as Itshould not be grounded. This terminal isgrounded only when oil pressure is In thesystem, as it runs and shuts down. If It doesglow, the switch is faulty.

A faulty switch need not always be replaced. Most ol the time the switch can becleaned. Oily vapors coat the inside of theswitch alter a period ol time and it becomessticky, slow or Incapable of operating. Usually the switch sticks in the closed (maleterminal grounded) position causing therunning-on valve magnet to operatecontinually when Its action should be only momentary.

Remove the valve to clean it. Squirt some

MGB engine compartmentshowinglocation ofrun-on valve.

carburetor cleaner in the bottom hole of

the valve. Shake the switch and continue

cleaning until It rattles. Reinstall and checkwith a test light connected to a hot terminal:with the engine off the male switch terminalshould be dead (neither hot nor grounded).With the engine on. it should be grounded(hot, as the test light is on a hot terminal).PROBLEM

Wire to R-OC valve hot at terminal #1 (SP-wire).SOLUTION

Engine ofl- NORMALCONDITIONEngine on- fault In Ignition switch.PROBLEM

Wire to R-OCvalve dead at terminal #1 (SPwire).SOLUTION

Engine on- NORMAL CONDITION''Engine off- blown line-fuse, bad wire, trycleaning line fuse contacts.PROBLEM

Terminal #2 (SY wire) on valve dead whileterminal #1 (SP wire) is hot and connected.SOLUTION

(Engine off) clean terminal and connectormake sure wire connected is SP and hotfaulty valve, replace.PROBLEM

Terminal «2 (SY wire) on valve hot, butconnector at oil pressure switch dead.SOLUTION

(engine off) clean terminal and connectorreplace wire and connector.PROBLEM

Oil pressure switch reads grounded.SOLUTION

Engine on- NORMALCONDITIONEngine off- clean switch or replace it.PROBLEM

Oil pressure switch reads dead (neither hotnor grounded).SOLUTION

Engine off- NORMALCONDITION.David will receive a giftcertificateforhis contribution.

Door Hinges

VeryeaHyTriumph door hingeswere castironand have been since replaced by ihofactorywiththe laterstyle steelhinges.Thisisa factorysupercession and iscorrect forall early TR2sand TR3s.

Right Top 803-460Left Top 803-470Right Bottom 803-480Left Top 803-490

S13.75$13.75SI 2.50S12.50

OPENING YOUR TR6 HOODTHE HARD WAY

Next time you have the hood (bonnet) upon your TR6, take a good long look at the release mechanism, it sits up there behind theengine, well out of harms way, and, as someof you have found out, way out o( reach if thecable breaks.

After talking this over with a couple of TR6owners who have gone through this particular test ol character, it became clear that

there is a way out of the dilemma short olselling the car. While there may be Individual variations in the technique, the "accepted" method seems to be the only logicalapproach. If your cable does break goahead—look through the grill, crawl aroundunder the car, and try and figure out an easyway to get the hood open. When you give up,try this:

1. Remove the glove box. carefully.2. Remove the hoses that feed air to the

defroster outlets, and the vent hoses. Aslong as you have them out, check them forcracks.

3. You will find that the heater hoses are in

the way—so remove them. Before you do,lay a flat pan like a cookie sheet In thepassenger's footwell. Drape some plasticover the trans tunnel so the coolant from thehoses drips onto the plastic and is collected

Remove glovebox securingscrews as indicated by

In the pan. If the hoses are old (who everreplaces them before they need to?) replacethem with new hoses.

4. Find the heater control cable and thechoke cable. They run through a grommet Inthe firewall, and this grommet also blocksthe "emergency hood release hole." Forcethe grommet out of the way.

5. Get out and stretch. The next part isreally fun.

6. Since the engine compartment is reallydark, a small flashlight with a "gooseneck" ishandy. You can feed it through the hole and

Sprite-Midget

Sun Visors

These high quality black vinyl padded sunvisors are a great addition to any Sprite-Midget. Reproduced to factory specifica-lions, twoofournewvisors will add orig-ianalityas wellas shieldyoureyes from ihedirect glare of the sun.

RH Visor

LH Visor

233-340

233-350$18.95

SI 8.95

Inside location ol healer & choke cablegrommet.

see what you are doing. II you don't haveone ol these, put It on your Christmas listand have a sympathetic helper hold atrouble light up in the engine compartmentfrom underneath the car.

7. Ifyou hold your head Just right you cansee the bottom of the release lever. From thehole you're looking through, it is "up" and alittle toward the driver's side ol the car. Thehood release cable pulls this lever to theright—toward the passenger's side of thecar (or it did until it broke) and this is the

Choke cable

& healer control cable

lever you have to move.8. You need a long, stiff metal shaft—by-

sticking it up through the hole at an angle,you can put the end of the shaft against theleft side of the release lever. The trick is to

pry against the edge of the hole, forcingyour end ol the pry bar to the left. Thismoves the release lever to the right. Move itfar enough, and the hood will pop open.

While it can be done in about an hour, thisprocedure is not what I'd suggest for fun ona wet and rainy night... so check that cableevery time you check the oil. I'd be temptedto run a second release cable from the leverdown to a point under the car 1could reachwithout too much trouble. II anyone hasdone this, we'd like to hear from you.

Note: Variations of this have appeared allover in various newsletters. We think creditshould be given to Steve Dever, Ralph Dor-win, and Tom Dillard, as well as those whofiguredthis out in the firstplace.

Top Frame

Those English hand madereproductionsare fully paintedand are readyto install.They do not includethewoodentop bow(#453-250), wing nuts I.S406-200) ortop peg sockets (#406-920).

406-890 SI 95.50

NOBODY'Z PERFECTFactory and dealer Service Bulletins con

tain a wealth of valuable and interesting information often not (ound anywhere else. Inthe "interesting" category are admissions ofmistakes, solutions (?) to problems, and apervading feeling ol optimism that the problems addressed had been solved. From ourcurrent viewpoint, it is truly hilarious that a"Confidential Service Memorandum" wasIssued on July 12, 1963 which read:

MGB DOOR PANEL CRACKINGIIa sharp edge has been left in the corner ofthe door window aperture at "A", it is possible that a crack may develop as shownshould the quarter ventilator mounting become slack.

Thiscondition maybe rectifiedby brazingorgas-welding thecrack, with a fil

let ol weld in thecomer at "A" to

prevent any re

opening of thecrack.

Action has now

been taken In

production loeliminate this

possible weakness.

call a properly running engine.Ever Joked about certain Inaccessible

parts on a car which must have been Installed by elves with 10" long lingers? ATechnical ServiceBulletindated May1,1968illustrates such a case in describing the"Recommended Procedure lor RemovingSpeedometer and Oil Gauge" on 1968 andlater MGBs:

TO ALL DISTRIBUTORS AJVD DEALERSRe: Recommended Procedure for Removing Speedometer and Oil GaugeMGB, MGB/GT, 1968 Models OnDisconnect Battery.Remove both skirtings from under faciapanel, remove (our screws from radio console and pull forward. With right arm fullyextended, remove right angle drive from

speedo head. Remove all bulb and

holders fromspeedo.Remove right handspeedo securingknurled nut and leg.Turn speedo clockwise and remove

other leg. Note:ground wires on leg.Remove speedo asabove and tachome

ter. Using a 1/4" A.F.:socket 1/4" drive!ratchet, remove twosecuring nuts fromgauge-remove gauge.

This bulletin endswith the note: "A

technician with a

small enough handmay be able to reachboth oil gauge securing nuts by removingthe tachometeronly". Said technician would almost

have to be the mythical elf. and double-jointed, at that!

Haveyou ever wondered which way thecrankshaft thrust washers In your MG aresupposed to be Installed? IIyou refer to anolder (pre-1963) factory workshop manual,you will be told to (it them with the oil

Was this a

prank played bya soon to be re

leased dis

gruntled employee? Did Engineering forgetto tell production? Whateverhappened (ordidn't happen),MGBs right upto the end of

production in1980 seem tosuffer the Infa

mous "crack ol doom"— the same doorskincrack which the factory said they took careol back in 1963.

Note thecomplete reversal infactory instructions Ina five year period.Jor a car that had been on themarketfor twelve years.'

Wehave all heard and created jokes abouthow pollution-controlled vehicles were"designed to run poorly", or something tothat effect. Well, this has long been known, *"*?**'ac,n?towards ,he ^crank) bearinS-but not openly admitted by automobile 0nthe'st of March. 1963 they finally wisedmanulacturers. "Technical Service Bulletin"2 A 1 9 from British Motor Holdings (USA)Inc., dated August 1. 1968clearly states:

TO ALL DISTRIBUTORS AND DEALERS:Re: Backfiring, High R.P.M.Under Closed Throttle

AH Sports Cars Fitted with ExhaustEmission EquipmentYou may have received customer complaints ol a momentary backfiring conditionoccurring on the above models aj high engine R.P.M. under closed throttle conditions.Immediately after the clutch pedal is depressed, when upshiftlng alter a heavyacceleration or downshifting at high R.P.M.S, oneor two sharp pops occur lollowed by a diminishing rumble In the exhaust system.This is caused by a very small amount ofmixture being ignited In theexhaust system 0ur ,hanks l0 ^ mhelm Me,lnubletlmola.prior to thegulp valve opening at thishigh hvm our Research and Product Development de-R.P.M. and isconsidered normal on manual panmem. for compiling these "special"factory but-transmission vehicles with air injection. letins.

There you have it. Backfiringbeing considered normal does not describe what I would

up and Issued the lollowlng memorandum:

CRANKSHAFr THRUST WASHERSMGA

MGB

These should be fitted with their OILGROOVES AWAY FROM THE BEARING

and not as described in the relevant Workshop Manuals, which will be corrected, inthe near future.

The Factory also had a hard time decidingwhat type of oil should be used in "their"gearboxes. Most of us know that MGAs andMGBs "must'havc engine oil In their gearboxes.Let'stakea lookat what"theFactory"had to say in the memo Illustrated In thecenter ol this article'.

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 5

Yfmsm«ss£g

Next Day AirContinuedfrompage I.

son writes up the order, we have the parts"pulled"— everything on the order is collected and set aside in a special holding areain the warehouse. If we're out of anything,we'll call you back and let you know at thattime —'Usually within an hour of placing theorder. IIwehave everything, or ifyou want usto ship what we have, the order Is enteredinto the computer system. We do have abackup system that allows us to processNext Day orders even i( a' power failurecripples our computer. While the shippingdocuments are being prepared, we carefullycheck the order (or completeness and accuracy (like our regular orders) before It Ispacked. Once the shipping documents arcprepared, the order is ready to go. UPS picksup the Next Day packages every afternoon,and they guarantee that you'll have the package the next day.

There are a few limitations. The order must

be placed by 9:00 AM California time. Thisservice Is available only to customers in the48 states, and the orders must be prepaidwith a chargecard. We ask that you limit theorder to 15 to 20 items. We can arrange lordelivery on Saturday, but this costs an additional S10, and is not available in some remote areas ol the country. (II we can't arrange (or delivery' on Saturday, we'll let youknow.)

So what does it all mean? You now have a

choice: regular UPS ground (7-10 workingdays), UPS Air (3-4 working days), or NextDay Delivery. The cost (or having any ordershipped Next Day can be looked up on theshipping chart in the current Price Update.Because of the time difference across the

country, and because we're open from 6:00AM, getting that order in by 9:00 is not aproblem. So the next time you need it tomorrow, call us. If we have it. you'll get It. Guaranteed.

Body ShellContinuedfrompage I.

on the part of BMHIn the hopes of discouraging the unofficial, premature export ofMGBbody shells. As such, Moss Spares UK,LTD.,has sold every single body they couldget their hands on, but have been unable toship a single body to us here In the States.

We are hoping to receive our first shipments by April 1989. but with additionalslippagerlnltial supplies may not arrive untilJune 1989. We continue to accumulate a con

siderable list ol customers Interested In

these bodies and would encourage anyoneinterested to get their name on our list asthese people will be notilied as soon asthese bodies become available.

Racing Sidedraft Carburetor Kits

Looking for a bargain on a Britishsports car?Checkout the "classic-lied" ads on page 8 ofthe Moss Motoring.

Designed forcompetition, SK Racing Carburetors will give your Brilish sports car theultimale in performance. Allkits come complete with manifold(s) andlinkage. SK RacingCarburetors feature externally adjustable accelerator pumps and float levels, and utilizethesomemain,air and idlejetsas theDCOE.If your competition plans include o carburetedengine,letourSKSidedraftCarburetorKitsmake you a winnerl

SK ManualSprile-MidgetMGA 1600 & MKII,MGB 1963-74MGB 1974 l/2-'80TR3-4A (Dual SKConversion)TR6 1973-76 (Triple SKConversion )Austin Healey 6 Cylinder (Triple SK Conversion)(Except early 100-6BN4with 2 porthead)

Buying one of these cars

212-825 $4.95621-700 $314.95621-710 $329.95621-720 $314.95621-730 $629.95621-740 $929.50

621-750 $1225.00

Continuedfrompage 3.

This ties In with judging the soundness ofthe car you want to buy. A reputable sellerwill be happy to provide you with receiptsfor major work that has been recently completed and perhaps even let you talk withthe mechanic who performed the work. Wequite often hear horror stories from peoplewho have bought what was supposed to bea "ground up" restoration. It is puzzling exactly what was ground up to do it, so thoroughly check out "restored" cars. We haveseen cars described as restored that have

plastic filler an Inch thick over rusty panels.A magnet will tell a lot of tales about what isunder the paint. Structural soundness cannot be judged by standing back and looking.You must get under the car, crawl aroundand get dirty. Remember that undercoat canhide a lot of evils, so don't be afraid to pokearound with a screwdriver looking lor

rusted panels and frame structure. Of particular interest arc sills and rear suspensionmounting points. (The latter particularly onIRSTriumphs.) Repair of IRSmounts can befrightfully expensive. On front suspension,look for bent A-arms and uneven tire wear.With the front wheels off the ground, spinthe wheels and listen (or wheel bearingrumble.

The engine should be checked over including a compression check and visual inspection for fuel, oil, and coolant leaks. A"listening test" is a good Idea. What to listenfor? Tappet noise, even Idle, fan belt noise,water pump and alternator/generatornoise. When you first (cold) start the car.check the oil pressure and then check againwhen it is hot. Low oil pressure can meanmajor problems, particularly an indicationof bad bearings. Ifyou hadn't planned on an

engine overhaul, avoid the car.Now it's time for a test drive. Check out

clutch action for smoothness, there shouldbe no clutch "judder"; It should engagesmoothly, with engagement/disengagementoccurring toward the top ol the pedal. Withthe car in neutral, engage and release theclutch a lew times and listen to the transmis

sion. Is there bearing noise? When driving(rom a standstill, does it clunk or makenoise? A clunk can be as simple as bad u-Jolnts, or it could Indicate a worn rear end orworn IRS hubs.

All of the above pointers are great for the"do-it-yourselfer", but no matter how mechanically adept one is, IIthere is any doubtas to the soundness of a particular car, gethelp!Even IIit involves paying a shop, a littlemoney spent now may save hundreds, oreven thousands later.

Rebuilt Components from MossWe offer a growing line of superior quality rebuilt components. Buy a complete, ready-to-

install unit, and send your core back to us for your refund! There's no need lor expensiveshop time, special tools, or the wait of do-it-yourself rebuilding. Every Item we offer has beenrebuilt to the highest standard olquality-and that's reflected in our 12month, unlimited milewarranty.

MGB EnginesApplication Part No. Price Core Charge Alter Refund

MGB (1963-'64) (3 main) 041-105 S1747.00 $175.00 $1572.00MGB(1965-'6T) (5 main) 041-106 S1695.00 $175.00 $1520.00

MGB(1968-71) 041-107 S 1572.00 $175.00 $1747.00MGB(1972-74 1/2) 041-108 SI 774.50 $185.00 $1589.00MGB (1974 1/2--80) 041-109 SI 774.50 $175.00 $1599.50

MG & Triumph GearboxesApplication Part No. Price Core Charge Alter Rclund

TR3A (from TS50001) thru 041-431 S725.00 $75.00 $650.00

TR3B(TSF series)TR3B (TCF series) and TR4 041-432 S695.00 $75.00 $620.00

(all synchro gearboxes)TR4A 041-435 $725.00 $100.00 $625.00TR250/6 (TR6 thru 1972) 04M33 $729.50 $75.00 $654.50TR2-3 (to TS50000. o/d*) 041-137 S725.00 $85.00 $640.00TR3A (from TS50001) thru 041-438 S725.00 $85.00 $640.00TR3B (TSF series, overdrive*)MGA(late 1500 - early Mkll) 041-402 $795.00 $60.00 $735.00

(10 spline first motion shaft)MGB (1963-'64; 3 main) 04M04 S795.00 $60.00 $735.00MGB (1965-67) 04M05 $925.00 $65.00 $860.00MGB(1965-74) 041-406 $755.00 $90.00 $665.00

MGB (1975-77) 041-107 $695.00 $60.00 $635.00

•Overdrive units and adaptor plates not included.

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 6

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY:

AH cores must be returned to our Goleta, CA warehouse.

Triumph i.R.S. Hub AssembliesApplication Part No. PriceTR4A thru TR6 (each) 041-550 $239.50

Differential and Axle AssembliesApplication Part No. PriceTR3 (10" brakes) 041-507 $995.00(from TS13046to approx. TS56376)TR3A-B (9" brakes) 041-501 $829.95(from approx. TS56377)TR250andTR6 041-505 $695.00

Rebuilt SU Carburetors (Sold PerPair)Application Part No. PriceMGA 1500 (AUC784) 041-701 $349.50MGB 1968 (AUD625) 041-705 $325.00MGB 1969 (AUD326) 041-706 $329.50MGB 1970 (AUD405) 041-707 $345.00MGB 1971 (AUD465) 041-708 $344,00MGB1972(AUD493) 041-709 $337.50MGB 1973-74 (AUD550) 041-710 $329.50TR2(AUD721) 041-730 $425.00TR3-3A(AUC768) 041-731 $364.50(banjo fittings on float lids)TR3A-4 (AUC878) 041-732 $359.50(push-on fittings on float lids)TR4A(AUD284) 041-734 $375.00

Core Charge After Refund

$50.00 $189.50

Core Charge Alter Refund

$200.00 $629.95

$100.00 $595.00

Core Charge Alter Refund

$65.00 $284.50

$45.00 $280.00$45.00 $284.50

$45.00 $300.00$50.00 $294.00

$65.00 $272.50$75.00 $254.50$110.00 $315.00

$80.00 $284.50

$75.00 $284.50

$70.00 $305.00

CheatingContinued from page 3.

quickly wiped the print olf.We loaded onto the lerry, (ifty-seven cars,

all British and all very good looking. Therewere Triumphs of all kinds, several differentLotuses, MG's, some beautiful Austin-

Healeys, a Morgan, and a vintageJaguar, andone Bugeye — us.

As we steamed across Puget sound, weheld a driver's meeting on the forward deckof the ship, the Seattle skyline behind us andVashon Island with its secret, twisty pavedroads in front of us. It was beginning to looklike a very good day. We were to caravan allover the island, taking some roads that onlythe people who built them knew about.

Wewere running one of those secret, tight,twisty roads when all of a sudden the cars Infront of me, a Lotus Seven, a Lotus Elan, andAustln-Healey 3000 and a Morgan, stoppedand turned around. Iquickly realized we fivehad lost the main body ol cars.

The others' speeds increased dramatically as they tried to correct this error. Ididn't particularly like this. Here, I had beenlooking lorward to a nice leisurely drive. Butnow I was laced with a choice; let them goand be lost forever or try' to stay with them.I decided to try to stay.

I revved up higher before I shifted as wewent into the first corner. I could see that

this got Bugeye's attention. We were on avery tight course that required no more thanthird gear. Good thing, or the superiorhorsepower of the others would have beenoverwhelming.

1started selecting my line through the corners carefully, picking up speed. As we exited one corner, we touched dirt. Bugeyeyelled, "Slow down, are you trying to get usboth killed?"

"It's okay," I yelled back. I was lull on thethrottle as we touched the apex of eachcorner, then hard braking as we entered thenext corner.

"Slow down!" yelled Bugeye. "There aretrees and canyons everywhere."

"It's okay.""Dawson, you don't want to die. Think of

your Job, your house, the other British carsyou have owned."

I could see she was really scared, maybeeven thinking she was In the hands of a

Do You Own One?Spitflre/GT6

Austin MarinaRover 3500

Jaguar XK or VI2

If you do, read on...Thanks to our recent Austin Roverbuyout (see front page), Moss Jaguar, Ltd. can now supply many ofyour parts needs. With a new toll-free order phone and last mail service, America's No. 1 Jaguar dealer isjust what you need. This operation isseparate from Moss Motors, soplease make a note of their phonenumber for parts not covered byMoss Motors.

JAGUAfTLTD.

800-444-6914Call Toil-Free In Continental US

Foreign or local 805-96SO741

jealous, crazed lover, so I yelled back, "It'sokay, i used to race sports cars."

"You never told me that."

"never came up." 1answered, as we cameout of a hard left-hander, then full throttleInto a sweeping right-hander.

It was starting to come back to me. 1 gotsmoother as we went on. I could sense her

starting to help as best she could with herskinny tires and soft suspension. As weworked together, she became as predictableas possible. At times, she even felt like someof the formula cars I had raced. Then I

started to 'heel and toe' on the down shifts.

"What are you doing?" She asked breathlessly.

"Heeling and toeing.""1 have never had that done to me. It (eels

good."We ran this way (or about two miles. Each

corner — we got better. Working together.Trying. Succeeding. We couldn't gain on theother cars, but they couldn't get away. Wehad become quite a team.

Finally, our little group closed up to themain body ol cars. We slowed down to jointheir tall.

It felt good to relax and snuggle into herseat. Myheart rate was coming down, as washer temperature. We drove along quietly,with the sun in the ocean sometimes blink

ing at us through tree-lined canyons.Then she said, "That was wonderful. Did

you enjoy It too?""Yes."

"I never knew you raced. Did you do itlong?" "Seven years."

"The way you drove, I bet you won everyrace you were in."

"Hardly. I won a few.""I have always wanted to be a race car.

When I was at the factory, they built theSebring Sprites. Igot to see them. Areverenthush fell over the factory as they rolled themthrough. 1 was very envious. Sometimes Ifantasize about racing. 1 have this favoriteone where 1am at Le Mans, up against theJaguars and the Porsche 962's. It has been ahell ol a race, Iam on the last lap, and leading.1 am leading because they have had mechanical problems, but they are closing in onme fast. The crowd Is cheering and goingcrazy because they can't believe that thelittle Bugeyed Sprite Is going to win the race.Then on the last corner, one of my tiresblows out and rips off a suspension part. Gasspills out and 1catch fire but I won't stop. Iam smoking and burning. Sparks are (lyingand the others are closing on me but I keepgoing. Ibeat them to the finish line by Inches.The crowd goes wild! Pretty silly huh?"

"Not at all," I reply. "1 have fantasies likethat, too."

"You do? That is neat. Sometimes Ichangethe location or what happens on the last lapbut I never change the ending."

"Wouldn't be yours, if you did."The cars In front of us were crestinga small

hill. As we came over the top we could seethe other cars stretched out for over a mile.

Local residents stopped to watch us go by."Do you think we will do things like tills

again?" Bugeye asked."Yes, I think so. Ienjoyed it very much. Did

you?""Yes, especially the last part." She blushed

a little and added, "I really like being heeledand toed."

We were both silent for a while, just thepurr ol her exhaust. Then she asked suddenly, "Dawson, you won't ever sell me, willyou?" Suddenly the brake lights and turnblinkers ol the cars in front ol us Hashed.

"Hold on," 1 said, "looks like we have ar

rived at our lunch stop.""Oh. It Is beautiful," she said.

SPORTS CAR GALLERY

Richard Gesner of California shows off a before and after shot ofhis 1952 MG TD.Richard will receive a gift cenificate for his contribution

Welcome to Sports Car Gallery, a newquarterly section where we will feature amemorable British sports car photo ineach Issue of the Moss Motoring. Pleasesend your photos to: Editor,Moss Motoring Sports Car Gallery '

The picnic site was a gently sloping pavedparking area ending at a boat-launchingramp. Off to the right was a grassy, treedarea with picnic tables.

"Quick, where do you want to be parked?"I asked, as the cars moved to lind spots.

She looked around. "Over there, with that

red Healey. The one with the right-handdrive. 1came over with her and the others on

the ferry. They are a fun group."I nosed her in carelully so that conversa

tion would be easy, got my picnic lunch andheaded toward some friends on the grassyarea. As I left, I overheard "... he doesn't workon me, but he used to be a race driver." Itsounded like Bugeye. I glanced over byshoulder. AHher Irlends were staring at me.It was embarrassing.

As I took a bite ol my sandwich, 1 lookedover at her. She looked so small and cute. 1

thought, maybe Ishould get her some racingsuspension parts. Tires, too. Randy wouldprobably put them on her but that didn'tmatter. I think from now on she will look

upon Randy as just someone who gets herready lor me. One thing lor sure, tonight Iwould put a blanket on her to keep her warmand protected.J. Dawson will receive a gift cenificate for hiscontribution.

Puzzle Solution:Con 7.from page 4.

©f£A£?nSer

ta^A®OSIGSTMONMOR

Unscrambles to Moss Motoring.

CM. Jardtn will receive a gilt cenificate for hiscontribution.

TR3

DZUS FASTENER

TIPBy William W. Froehner

Washor

7/16" Ho« hoad bolt

In order to install the grommet lor theDzus fastener In the hood or bonnet of myTriumph TR3,1successfully used the above-illustrated method that I devised. This

method worked beautifully and Is far lesslikely to damage the surrounding paint thanother recommended methods that involve

using a hammer to llare the grommet. Oneadditional comment though, between steps4 and 5, a tapered rod, such as a drift pin,may have to be used to enlarge the holeslightly to allow the Dzus fastener to passthrough.William will receive a gift cenificate for his contribution

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 7

i'j&i^figM®<jj

CLASSIC-FIED ADSWe accept advertisements for British Cars only: no parts ads please. One timeinsertion is S35.00. Publication is quarterly, the deadline for the next issue isDecember 31.1988 Wesuggest you place your ad well in advance, and please limitit to 50 words or less. Cars which arc realistically priced have a better chance ofbeing sold. Due to space availability, ads received near the deadline may be heldfor the next issue. Late ads will run in the next issue unless the advertiser specifiescurrent Issue only. Please send typewritten copy, include your name, address andphone. Payment must be sent with ad.

1960 Bugeye Sprite: New black paint,carpets, tan canvas top, tires, battery,generator. Roll bar, Simpson 4-pointseat belts, maniflo headers. Rust-tree,Southwestern car. $3,750. Call David

(213) •134-2226,evenings.

Austin Healey 3000 MKIII: Completelyrestored to show condition, 2 tone,candy apple red and white, original interior, overdrive. S9.500, or best offer. Call

(201) 453-3023 or 3664. Ask for Drew.

1968 MGC/GT: California car, no rust, license 68 MGC/GT. New BRG paint, newscats/carpet. Runs line, nice car, lostinterest. S2.835. Bob DeLong, 1627Benlta Marie Crest. Redlands.CA 92373.

(714) 792-5171. evenings.

1961 Daimler SP-250: 2.5 liter hemi-

head V8, 140 (no kidding) horsepower,four wheel disc brakes, fiberglass bodied roadster. Car is disassembled in

preparation for restoration. Frame hasbeen sandblasted, primed and under-coated, front suspension 90% restored.Body sandblasted, ready for fiberglassrestoration. Second body and frame,numerous spares, some new parts. Songoing to college, must sell. $5,000, OBO.Bruce Martin, 505 Balmoral Rd.. WinterPark. FL 32789. (407) 628-8342.

1965 MGB: Good running condition,clean interior, top in good shape. Whitewith original wire wheels, good tires(even the map light and window washers still work). Pictures available.51,500. Leonard Lopez, 5801 MagnoliaAve., Whittier,CA90601, (213) 699-1138.

MGBGT

Headliner Kits

These long sought after kits include fullycovered A & C post pdnels and rear deckcover panel. Our tan vinyl is genuine factorymcterialas fitted from 1968 on and isonly slighiiy different from the original1967 stylegrain. Our gray and Ian fabricheadliner kits are a deluxe option that,combined with one of deluxe interior kits,will make your MGBGT look better thanever beforelGray Vinyl 643-900 $199.75Tan Fabric 643-905 $229.95Gray Fabric 643-915 $229.95

MOSS MOTORING PAGE 8

1951 MG TD: Ground-up restoration.Black with cream interior. Located in

Midland, Texas. SI 2.000. Tom Barr, P.O.Box 198. Midland, TX 79702. (915) 685-0115.

1980 Limited Edition, black MGB:Verygood condition with 32,000 actual miles.$6,000. (208) 336-3499.

1968 MGB: Body w/3 convertible topframes: 2 rigid,w/1 rag, 1 retractable W/rag. Removeable hardtop w/detachablewindow. 2 rear ends, 9 spoked wheelsw/tires & chains. 5 main engine fromMGB-GT w/trans. Block punched .060over w/new pistons & new, balancedhorizontal split rods. Isky Cam (T-32grind), crankshaft cross-drilled & hardened, large SU carbs., tow-bar, partstank & engine stand plus many extras.SI ,500. Write to: Frank Michaels. 3326 E.Anaheim St., Suite 121, Long Beach, CA90S04.

1958 MGA 1500 Coupe: White with redinterior, 60 spoke wires, excellent condition in and out. Runs great... Last roadtrip- 3L MPG Hwy., garaged, non-smoker. R.T. Palsgrove, Oak Harbor,WA 98277, (206)675-4809.

MGC roadster, MGC GT: both in goodrunning condition. California cars withwire wheels and overdrive. 510,000 for

both or will sell separately. Will supplyphotos on request. John Ilaines. 338C E.Carson St., Carson, CA90745.(213)834-9254.

1967 MG Midget, British Racing Green.90% restored: 1971 MGB, Mustard Gold,excellent restorable condition; 1973MGB GT, Black Tulip, excellent restorable condition. Plus set of wire wheels

and parts for 1970 MGB. Hoping to sellas one package for S4500. Will sell individually. Jeffery Rlnek, 100 PerrineRoad, Monmouth Junction, N.J. 08852.(609)799-4763.

1980 MGB: BRAND NEW and in heated

storage since new. Only eleven actualmiles. Medium blue color. One of the

very last cars made. $20,000. JackCrane, 5610 Woodcrest Drive. Minneapolis, Mn. 55424. (612)927-8126.

NEED ACATALOG?

Moss offers you a full line o( completeand comprehensive catalogs. Beautifully detailed illustrations of each carmake finding the parts you need easy.Tech tips and accessories also aid youin the restoration, maintenance andenjoyment of your British classic. Clipout this coupon, check the box for yourcar type, and send it to Moss Motors,Ltd., P.O. Box MG. Goleta. CA 93116 fora free Moss catalog. (Don't forget tospecify a catalog by checking the appropriate box.)

MG TC-TD-TF

MGA

MGB

TR2-4A

TR250-6

Austin Healey

100-4, 100-6,3000

Jaguar

XK120-140-150

TR7

Sprite-Midget

EE=H:

• MGT-20• MGA-11• MGB-03• TRI-02• trs-oi• AHY-04

• JAG-07

• trz-oi• SPM-01

Moss Motors, Ltd. PO Box MG,7200 Hollister Ave., Goleta, Ca. 93117

Dated Material-Please Rush

HOW

TO ORDERBy Mail:P.O. Box MG,Goleta, CA93116

By Toll Free Phone:

800-235-6954"I USA exceptCalifornia

800-322-6985California Only

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658473TEIIXtt

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Goleta, CaliforniaMoss Motors, Ltd.P.O. Box MG, 7200 Hollister AvenueGoleta, CA93116 (805) 968-1041General Office, Mail <£ Phone Order Processing.Showroom. Main Warehouse & Distribution Center

Santa Barbara, CaliforniaMoss Jaguar, Ltd.614 Chapala StreetSanta Barbara, CA 93101(800) 444-6914Pans Sales Counter & Distribution Center forBritish Cars not covered by Moss MotorsCatalogs

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