Spares news from British Motor Heritage
BMH are remanufacturing MGB fuel tanks using the original tooling. The tanks are powder coated in black. The price is £62.50 including VAT. Details on 01993 707200 (tel) or 01993 707222 (fax).

Spares news from Frontline Costello
A range of lightweight aluminium radiators and petrol tanks for the MGBGTV8 and MGV8 Conversions is available from Frontline Costello in Bath. Contact Frontline Costello on 01225 852777 (tel), 01225 852292 (fax) or at frontline@mgcars.org.uk or visit the Frontline website.

Spares news from D&D Fabrications in Michigan
A US company is adapting Chevrolet S-10 rear axles for use with high powered MGBs. The axles are reduced in width, drilled to accept MGB wheels, and then fitted with spring pads and anti-roll bar mountings. The axles are brand new and not reconditioned units and are said to be strong enough to cope with even the most powerful V8 engines. For details contact D&D Fabrications in Michigan USA on 001 810 798 2491 or see their website at www.aluminumv8.com

Spares news from Brown & Gammons
Malcolm Gammons has sent details of some useful RV8 spares available at Brown & Gammons at Baldock. For contacts, see the B&G entry in the V8LIFELINE.

• New V8 oil filler cap part number 625038A finished in V8 grey. Only three on offer @ £30.00 each plus VAT.
  
  
• MGBGTV8 sump part number 603434 (original equipment). These are very rare now and we have three (new condition, old stock) on offer @ £50.00 plus VAT.
  
  
• R380 gearbox
  We have one new R380 gearbox with all new parts and it comes with a V8 bellhousing and gear stick assembly. Exceptional value at £1,110.00 plus VAT.
  
  
• Battery management units
  These units can be left plugged into your RV8 and keep the battery in good condition and fully charged. They have cunning circuitry which cuts out when the battery is fully charged and avoids boiling the electrolyte - ideal for periods when the RV8 is in the garage in cold weather. We have been selling them for 3 years and have sold 1,500 units. They now come with a new plug-in wire kit for easy fitting. Good value @ £39.95 plus VAT.
  See V8NOTE213 - now is the time to look after your batteries!
  
  
• Special offer - V8 cylinder heads!
  We have two pairs of new original equipment V8 cylinder heads priced @ £60.00 a pair including VAT.
  
  
• Special offer - near side front quarter light
  We also have only five original equipment specification old stock nearside front quarter lights with tinted glass, part number BHH761 @ £85.00 each including VAT.
  

All orders must come marked "for the attention of Malcolm" as these are very special prices for V8 Register members! We look forward to seeing you soon! Call us on 01462 490049.

Spares update from Clive Wheatley
This spares update is based on Clive's regular reports. A key theme in Clive Wheatley's reports is the need to take increasing care with checking the quality of replacement spares.

• Replacement radiators for MGBGTV8s and V8 conversions have been of variable quality lately and a better quality source of supply is being identified. Details will follow later in the Autumn.
  
  
• Replacement water pumps are available again from Quinton Hazel who have recently been produced as a pressure diecast unit with good seals.
  
  
• Rubber water hoses are another case where variable quality spares have been distributed. Particular care is needed as the quality is not as a good as the original equipment which was often capable of service for many years. It is understood that Unipart now only supply two hoses so it can be difficult obtaining the others. For example the demon pipes under the manifold, BHH 1082 (short) and BHH 1083 (long) are difficult, but if you have problems finding a replacement, contact a V8 LIFELINE specialist like Clive Wheatley or Brown & Gammons.
  
  
• Replacement crown wheel and pinions, sourced and produced last year by Clive Wheatley, have had good experience in operation and good stocks remain.
  
  
• Replacement V8 road wheels have been a regular topic over the years but increasingly there is evidence you need to be particularly careful when purchasing replacements. Some have had kerb scrubs knocked out and then rechromed and others claim to be "brand new original equipment". On the original wheels, the flat face of the distinctive chunky features of the alloy centres have fine machining marks across them. They were not highly polished as we have seen on some wheels claiming to be original equipment. There is no point paying a premium price for an inaccurately described spare. Another difficulty with poor quality V8 wheel refurbishments is poor air-tightness of the rivets fixing the steel rims to the alloy centres, so choose your wheel supplier with care.
  
  
• R380 gearboxes are beginning to be fitted as replacement equipment in original factory produced MGBGTV8s. They can be supplied at sensible prices - just contact Clive Wheatley for details of availability and supply contacts on 01902 330489 (daytime) or 01902 337294 (home & fax).
  
  
• Starter motors. Finally a useful replacement starter motor is available for the MGBV8 produced by Nippon Denzo which is half the weight at 2kgs and takes half the current when compared with the original equipment. John Targett (BRG 1022) uses one on his full race MGB Roadster which he campaigns in the USA and has found it has proved reliable. The unit is available at £175 plus VAT (Jun 00). Go to Nippon Denzo Starter for more details.