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MG MG Y Type - YA Wiring Loom

I am about to purchase a new wiring loom for my YA (UMG 284) which is currently under restoration.
I have decided to go for an original look cotton covered version but would like to know of any
worthwhile modifications that could be incorporated in the loom during it's manufacture.
e.g. Should I add Flashing rear lights or flashing brake lights. The car is RHD and based in the UK.
If anyone has any experience with a new loom and mods I would appreciate your comments.

Thanks
Alan
Alan Gladding

When restoring my car I chose not to add "non original" additional lights for indicators, rather I chose to flash the parking lights (front & rear) all that this required was to extend the 4 parking light wires, and the number plate light wire, (as it needs to be permanently lit regardless of whether the tail light is lit or flashing) all the way back to the dashboard rather than just one of each of the front & rear. This allowed me to fit 2 relays and flasher units out of sight under the dashboard to enable flashing of the parking lights.

This modification also removes 2 joiners from the outside of the car where they are exposed to dirt and moisture and are likely to premature failure.
Phil Stafford

Alan - my preference faced with the same choice was to keep the car as original as possible -- the Cotton covering is vital for the right look, and I avoided any add-ons. The set-up is MoT-proof and works fine: My loom was from Autosparks and was more original (per the wiring diagram in the manual) than what I took off the car!
Tim Griggs

Alan, I agree with Tim. Go for the Autosparks loom (www.autosparks.co.uk). Their looms are spot on and their technical assistance (to a non auto electrician) is brilliant. Also, they are well able to add supplementary looms such as both semiphors and flashing indicators at the manufacture stage, so you do not have the "add-on" look. Go to their website and place a RFQ (request for quotation) by email. You should get a reply from Debbie by return next working day. Very good, very efficient, and very reasonably priced! I think I paid about £120 but that was about (two years ago)for cotton braided. If you want to know anything else drop me a line, I'll be pleased to hear from you. I am also a MGCC Y-Type Register Committee member.
Paul Barrow

As an alternative to using the side and tail lights as indicators, as Phil suggested, which wouldn't be very easily seen in daylight, what about the compromise system used on MGAs and early Minors?

A Lucas box of tricks (sorry, can't recall the part number) which you can tuck away under the dash) flashes the brake light on the appropriate side at the rear, and the 21W filament of a standard stop/tail lamp in the sidelight (lampholders are available for around 8gbp each). The unaffected brake light stays on if you are braking and indicating at the same time.

This system worked fine in my TC, and I'll use it in the SA (one day) and probably in a Y-type if I ever find a suitable one.
Kevin Poole

I am not sure if what Kevin is suggesting....flashing the brake lights is legal in the UK. It certainly isn't in Australia. Flashing the taillamps was used in most 1950's vehicles before separate turn indicators became mandatory on motor vehicles. Regardless of whether you were to use his method or flash the parkers, you would still have to have additional wires installed in your loom when it is fabricated to allow for either lamp to be selected to flash. The people who fabricate looms here are happy to accommodate such requests and I assume this would be the same in the UK.
Phil Stafford

This question gets checked every year when I get the MoT for my 1500 MGA (with flashing brake lights). It is still legal in the UK.

I'm always amazed at the designers putting flashing brake light indicators into the MGA from new. As a system for putting flashing lights onto an existing car it is satisfactory.

Many modern drivers don't seem to understand that it is a signal and not dodgy wiring.
dan

This thread was discussed between 16/01/2001 and 19/02/2001

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