Bits you can't get

[Jasper Gilder]

I'm soing some work with a motor engineer at present. He's quite interested in starting to build/rebuild engines and engine parts that are currently a problem to get. Can't do casting, but just about anything else. For example just repaired/rebuilt the competely shot (so it seemed) rocker shaft for a 1950's BMC 6 cylinder

I'm interested to find out what bits are hard to get, get rebuilt - let's start a list.

[snuffle]

Internal parts for a 308 distributor.
Not available, or so I was told.

[Major Fallout]

A few years ago it was Lotus Twin Cam front cover / water pump assemblies.

[lowdrag]

The "Unobtanium" list. A great idea, but engineering-wise we in Jaguar world are pretty well catered for I reckon. I am sure you will get a lot of comments from elsewhere though. Good luck.

[Bull1t]

Probably none left in the UK but in NZ people have trouble getting 2 stroke engine bits for Suzuki Fronte's...Doubt thats wuite what you were meaning though

[a8hex]

Nothing to do with classics but at the moment I can't seem to find a set of normal steel wheel bolt to put some winter wheels on the Mrs' MB. Being an idiot I forgot to order a set when I bought a set of wheels. The wheels are different to the MB ones. The guy who sold me the wheels has promised me a set... twice but I'm still getting my earoles bent by SHMBO. Argh!

[Lotus 50]

Major Fallout said:

A few years ago it was Lotus Twin Cam front cover / water pump assemblies.

I think you can get pretty much everything for the twink these days (including new blocks, cylinder head and front covers) - provided that is you've got deep enough pockets!

[Billy Hunt]

It's hard to get a heater valve for an MGB that doesn't start to leak 2 weeks after fitting

[iva cosworth]

Just about anything for a Ford over 5 years old.

[na]

Billy Hunt said:

It's hard to get a heater valve for an MGB that doesn't start to leak 2 weeks after fitting

I believe Ashley Hinton has some original tooling, bits from him that I've bought have been good including the only heater tap not to leak

B tap on his ebay site - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGB-MGB-GT-MGA-TVR-1800-...

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/ah/

ETA: buy that one as the next is £2.50 more expensive, i.e. £14 against £16.50

ETA: probably help even more if I spelt Ashley's name right

Edited by na on Saturday 19th November 15:50

[LordBretSinclair]

Thanks Nigel, very useful info.

Back on topic - rear light clusters for the MG RV8, unique to that model. I used to have 2 sets

[Billy Hunt]

na said:

Billy Hunt said:

It's hard to get a heater valve for an MGB that doesn't start to leak 2 weeks after fitting

I believe Ashley Hinton has some original tooling, bits from him that I've bought have been good including the only heater tap not to leak

B tap on his ebay site - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGB-MGB-GT-MGA-TVR-1800-...

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/ah/

ETA: buy that one as the next is £2.50 more expensive, i.e. £14 against £16.50

ETA: probably help even more if I spelt Ashley's name right

Edited by na on Saturday 19th November 15:50

Would have been better if I'd asked before I bypassed the heater valve!

Thanks for the info

[na]

I think you know my coolant/heater cleaning riegme

[slomax]

Air filter to carb 90 degree flattened elbow for the citroën gs. You can get elbows, but not flattened and not oval shape for the solex carb. PITA

[alfa pint]

New header rails and windscreen frames for MG Bs.

Clutch master and slave cylinder bits for our MG 1300 - they make 'new' versions in plastic, but struggling to find an old school one. Or at least one that works.

[na]

alfa pint said:

New header rails and windscreen frames for MG Bs.

in the MGOC paper 2011 accessories catalogue, page26 item V541 MGB Header Rail £110.35

also MGOC-SPARES > MGB > HOODS / HARDTOPS > HOODS / HOOD CARE (MGB)
item 11 - Header rail BHH496, £110.35 Including VAT at 20%

I know this because I noticed they've missed of the Midget header rail

you can get it from other suppliers too - unless the info is out of date

ETA: link not working so removed

Edited by na on Monday 21st November 11:48

[Lucas CAV]

On this note - what is involved in getting a windscreen made up?

I presume that you need a "donor" screen to copy or can it be measured in some way??

[socorob]

Many bits for series 1&2 Sunbeam Alpines. The later series that match the Tigers you can still get just about everything for, but the earlier ones lack support. Some things are the steering column surrounds, and the "hockey stick" trim pieces that go on the door on the S2.

[mph]

Lucas CAV said:

On this note - what is involved in getting a windscreen made up?

I presume that you need a "donor" screen to copy or can it be measured in some way??

I had a screen made for a one-off car. We made a "screen" from aluminium sheet and then the manufacturer made a buck from that.

If you have a donor screen they should be able to use that - but it will be very costly if they have to make a buck.

[Lucas CAV]

mph said:

Lucas CAV said:

On this note - what is involved in getting a windscreen made up?

I presume that you need a "donor" screen to copy or can it be measured in some way??

I had a screen made for a one-off car. We made a "screen" from aluminium sheet and then the manufacturer made a buck from that.

If you have a donor screen they should be able to use that - but it will be very costly if they have to make a buck.

Does the donor screen survive the process?