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V8 Column for January 2003
published in Safety Fast!

This month we have more new registrations, a reminder of the V8 25th Anniversary Year 2003, and a recent workshop note.

New registrations of Abingdon built MGBGTV8s have come in from Barry Holmes (Glacier White 0129) from Kent, Graham Roach (Glacier White 0303) from Surrey, Maurits Clement (Teal Blue 0565) from Holland, Hywel Phillips (Flame Red (1508) from South Glamorgan and Colin Wotley (BRG 1866) from Avon. Registrations of MGBV8 conversions have come from Jan van der Meer Blaze 3005) from Holland, Stephen Mosley (Teal Blue 3072) from Sussex, Thomas Rosser (Harvest Gold 3073) from USA, Joerg Huesken (Black 3074) from Germany, Jim McGlynn (Tahiti Blue 3076) from Essex, Ian Quarrington (Flamenco Red 3077) from Cambridgeshire and Charles Clark (Damask 4246) from New Zealand. RV8 registrations have come from John Mantle (Le Mans Green 0255) from Kent, Jeff Lee (Nightfire Red 0333) from Australia, Peter Radford (Woodcote Green 1032) from Hampshire with a car previously owned by Derek Baker, Stephen Poppy (Oxford Blue 1341) from Somerset and Alastair Grieg (Oxford Blue 1750) from East Lothian who reported his RV8 was on the high seas returning from Japan.

The V8 Register 25th Anniversary Year 2003 is underway and full details are available on the V8 website - just click the Rolling V8 Calendar link on the Homepage for the date and location of each event, and details of the event and contacts. In many cases there is a link to a further webpage with details of how to find the event. The focus of the V8 25th Anniversary 2003 celebrations will be on a programme of events in the week before the Club's annual International MG Weekend meeting at Silverstone. With this advance notice we very much hope we shall see many of our overseas friends. If any member does not have access to the web, just call, fax or write to Victor Smith for a copy of the Rolling V8 Calendar.

The fifth volume of the RV8 Workshop Notes series has been completed at Note 160 and the series has already several notes in the working draft of Volume 6. An updated set of the volumes, including a copy of the working draft, is available on CD at £20.00 (UK) and £25.00 (overseas) - all cheques payable to "V8 Register - MG Car Club" and sent to Victor Smith. For members who have previously purchased the notes on CD, see the website for details of a discount for an update CD.

RV8 Workshop Note 158
RV8 coolant filler plug - worth changing to the brass plug
David Boniface (Oxford Blue 1589) in Tokyo describes how his plastic plug failed and suggests that preventative maintenance could be a wise step. (Nov 02)

I know that this subject has been discussed on the V8 website bulletin board quite recently (see RV8 Workshop Note 150 for details), but I think that a reminder, especially for those members without the benefit of several years experience of the V8, would not go amiss and might save someone from scalding themselves.

Last night, just as I was parking my RV8 in a car park, there was a bang from under the bonnet accompanied by great clouds of steam. After waiting for it to subside a little I opened the bonnet, dismissed the car park attendant who was nearby with a fire extinguisher, and saw that the plastic filler plug had blown out leaving the threaded part in the pipe. A couple of phone calls established that I was not going to get a new one that evening (it was by then 8pm) so I had to leave the car overnight. This morning I bought a new plug, popped it in, filled up with water and coolant additive, and all was well. The new plug cost about £2.60, I had some coolant to hand but the car parking cost £33!!

I think the failure of the plug was caused by two things - first the plastic material deteriorates over time and second I probably overtightened the plug. So the lesson is use a screwdriver to tighten it and a spanner to undo it. I could have been badly scalded if I had been leaning over the engine when the plug blew out. The lesson is to buy and fit a brass plug.

Footnote from Erik Jeffery (Woodcote Green 1457) who contacted us saying "in response to your question about the part number for the brass plug mentioned in Keith Rowson's note, I have the answer. The original part was ARA2404L but some suppliers supersede to KTP9401 or use ARA2404. It was originally a Land Rover part used on Range Rovers, Defender V8s and Disco V8s. The parts generally available now are a reproduction but the quality is fine. The price is about £4.00 to £5.00. I had the same problem on my MGBGTV8 radiator and found the plastic plug quite appalling. Keith's note has reminded me to change the one on the RV8 - thanks for that!"