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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - A+ head heater tap re-instatement.

It's a crap thread title I know but how easy is it to drill out the plug in the head that stops the use of the heater tap as used on earlier heads?

I'm putting a 1275 engine in a Frogeye and would like to have a similar heater tap control.

Would the fact it doesn't have the head bypass hose effect the water flow?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Just drill through the bit in the casting.
The threads next to it should be taped already so you can just bolt on the tap.

No bypass hose is a good thing just make sure there is a hole (6mm) in the edge of the thermostat so coolant can flow while the engine is cold
Onno K

Is it cast iron or just a pushed in plug?

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

I think it's all one with the casting.
David Smith

Any idea what thickness I should expect to have to drill?

I don't want to turn it into a 10 stud head!!!!

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

About a 1/8" of an inch when I did mine

I just tapped the web in with a small chisel but drilling is certainly head friendlier

Anyway, not very deep
Bill1

Thanks Bill and all other contributors. I did it ok and it is about 3mm thick. Quite easy to drill with regular use of a vacuum cleaner to keep everything clean.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

Careful here, don't forget you will need to tap the hole. I think it is BSPT either 1/8" or 1/4" can't remember. Taps usually available on Ebay.
Cheers John
HALL JOHN

My A+ head had the fixing holes already tapped John, I think it was part of the drilling process when readying the castings.
Bill1

Yes, the holes were already tapped. All good now and brass tap installed easily. It turned out easier and neater to do this than to figure out how to connect the heater to a Maestro (A+ series) extended thermostat housing due to incompatible connections. Tiny on Frog heater, massive on Maestro thermostat housing.

Rob
Rob aka MG Moneypit

This thread was discussed between 04/04/2014 and 06/04/2014

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