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MG MGB GT V8 Factory Originals Technical - Hot Interiors

Recently acquired a 73 V8 GT.

When running at normal temperature, it is impossible to control the amount of heat coming into the car via the footwell vents.

Adjusting the heater controls for temperature or direction has little or no benefit. Understand that there is a bulk head flap which can be operated from within the car - does this aid hot or cold air flow?.

Basically I would love to know how to make the interior cooler, espicially with this recent spell of hot weather.

Any hints or tips would be most welcome.

Many thanks


David Gannon
Gannon at home@aol
David Gannon

mmm... tell me about it!! 'Twas unbearable today.

Thankfully I'm fortunate enough to have a major leakage of air through front of the sunroof, which seems to cool the head rather effectively..... but I'm sure there's a better solution.

Am learning the meaning of ironing out the bugs ... my petrol pump gave up on the way back from Silverstone, right in the middle of the roadworks on the M40. I don't think I've ever caused such a tailback!!

Never mind, I've now had 2 (whole!) consecutive days of trouble free motoring from the car!! :o)
Guy

David,
The flap you refer to allows outside air into the car via the fresh-air vent just fore of the windscreen. On later cars, there are two holes ~1" diameter cut through the posterior bulkhead wall beneath this vent that allow occupants to enjoy fresh air through two face level vents on the dash of these cars. One simple option would be to replicate these holes on your car and use a later model dash with the ducts and vents. These holes are easy to see, reach and measure on rubber bumper cars as the 'shelf' just under your outside inlet vent is not present on later cars. If your really hot and bothered, it may be possible to mount a small squirrel cage fan motor in line somewhere behind the dash and wire in a switch. I'd be interested to know if anyone has done this. Sweating works to a degree also.
Angus
Angus

Hi David,

I agree with you on the heat thing. On Sunday when I got in the car at 2pm the wheel was painful to the touch. My solutions, with marks out of ten for effectiveness, are as follows

Wear shorts. 8
Turn the heater off. 8
Open the footwell fresh air flap using the operating rod above the passenger's feet. 5
Open the fresh air face vents. 5
Open the windows. 6
Turn the quarter light all the way out so that it points forwards and directs outside air directly onto your chest. 9

And the all time number one way to be cool in your MGBGT V8 - drive it in January.

I like the idea of installing air conditioning. The MGR V8s had it, but the cockpit installation looks a bit intrusive to me. I'm sure I could put together a less bulky "fug stirrer" setup in the glovebox space. The condensor would be underslung on the front valance and the pump could go on the opposite side of the engine to the alternator. Then I'll want electric windows and power steering.... Hang on this is a sports car, maybe I should just buy a BMW and join all the other "normal" people on the south circular. Still like the idea of the air con tho'

Anyway this is all pie in the sky because by the time I've got all the current problems with my car sorted out it'll be autumn!!

Phil
Philip Shingler

The flap referred to doesn't control the air coming through the face-level vents each of which has its own volume and direction controls but controls fresh ('cool' being a relative term today) air flow from behind the console - sort of knee-level ventilation.

Check the heat control really does turn the hot water flow off by switching the heater fan and feeling the inlet and outlet pipes. After a while they should cool down, it's a bit of a fiddle to adjust, easier done at the control end. Check the air direction control is moving the flap at the bottom of the heater box, it is visible if you remove the little plastic hoods each side. Check the felt strip on this flap has not come unglued and is blocking air flow. Check the wiring to the heater fan motor by reversing the connections at the bullets by the fan, one way gives obviously better air flow than the other.

I dunno, young people today - "It's too hot in the summer", "It's too cold in the winter". When I was a lad there was ice from top to bottom of my bedroom windows in the winter - on the inside - "and it never did me any harm".

PaulH.
Paul Hunt

Morning Paul,

WRT "Young people today" - I own an MG, how much more of a masochist do you want me to be?

Phil

philip shingler

Own two and nothing else, like me???
Paul Hunt

I own one and a bicycle will that do?

Phil

Philip Shingler

How about 1 MG, 1 motorbike, AND a bicycle....??

(i won't mention the other car, it's for sale... mmm, ok I will mention it.. does anyone want to buy a VW Polo G40 [supercharged 1.3 - very quick... much more so than the V8 in it's standard MG tune] ???!)
Guy

The type of weather you are having is 80% Normal during the year here in Ca. It does help to use a winshield (Wind screen)shade of a good quality to keep the rays of the car while park and a soft tint on the windows.
The other is to insulate the car, this is very effective. All of this is after you check your heater controls in the car.
Two years ago while driving my GT-V6 to Vegas from Ca.for an event with temps of 107 degrees and who knows the temp on the road, I used a 3 inch flex hose from a dryer. I stop at a applience store and purchase it, it did work. Plus a small sprayer with water for my face. ofcourse hot weather is only temporary in your part of the world.
r/ Bill
Bill Guzman

A little more air flow through the "knee vent"(Sorry, don't know what it is called)can be had by putting a rear window air deflector from a 4 door kit over the intake on the cowl over the vent. (the thingy the keeps rain out when your window is down a bit on non convertible cars)
Also, on mine, I took a piece of sheet metal, galvanized roof flashing, and rivetted it between the transmission and tranny well leaving air space between the metal and the tranny well. This seems to have diverted a lot of the heat off the tunnel. In retrospect, I wish I had insulated it before I wedged it in there with some of the adhesive backed stuff, but it did help.

Good luck,
66B Pizza Guy
Sean Squires

Paul, Phil and Guy,
Can I join the masochists club too ? I deliver pizza in my '66 B 600+ miles per week, in Florida. BTW, the MG is my only transport !

Sean
Sean Squires

Sean - just make sure you use plenty of anticipation and don't brake too hard ...
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 18/06/2000 and 23/06/2000

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