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Valve Cover Plates and Decals

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jbowlby

jbowlby

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Im having the Valve Cover and Air Cleaners from my '73 Midget and a few other parts powder coated this week and have a question.

A while ago I ordered an MG and Patent Plate from VB (page 52 in the fall catalog) Should I put both on? I vaguely remember a blue BL sticker on the LH side.
I also have new Cooper stickers for the Air Cleaners is the correct color yellow?
 
Jim,
I found a bit of a Pandora's box when researching this a couple years ago. There are some resources out there, but they seem to conflict.

Horler (Original Sprite & Midget) has photos on page 100, 102, and 103 of under bonnet decals on an original '73 Midget. This was my primary source. Both the MG plate and the patent plate had already been afixed to my valve cover when I bought the car; I did not alter them.

The Coopers decals on the air filter cans appear to be black in the very small engine compartment photo in the original dealer brochure (10/72)for the '73 model; you can view it here (center/bottom):

https://www.raysmg.com/Web Images/Edited/MG/Advertising/Brochures/MarkIII/10-72/page3.jpg

If you look closely, you can also see what appears to be the blue sticker on the valve cover. I did not use one.

The Coopers decals I could locate came in blue, so that is what I used. Also, I used a photo that was incorrect in their orientation and duplicated the error on my car. The decal should be placed so that it can be read from outside the car, ie., facing the engine from the driver's side fender. Mine are pointed inward. I have that on a list to correct when I pull the cans off for respraying. You might want to be careful not to use a super glossy black powder coat on them...looks good, but not correct.

The two heater stickers are relatively easy as are the firewall warning sticker (just visible at the top/left in the photo below) and the radiator warning (just visible at the bottom/right in the photo below). The tough one to get is the big silver smog sticker that goes on the upper left flat of the front cowl; you can see the location in the photo here:

https://www.raysmg.com/Web Images/Edited/MG2006/P1010004.jpg

That sticker is only available from the guy in Florida that sells exclusively through Ebay. He's hard to get in touch with and doesn't do Paypal or cards...check only when I bought mine.

If I can take any more photos for you or help otherwise, feel free to PM me.

Ray
 

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Franklin is also a good show.

October 3-5, 2008 Franklin, TN. - Nashville British Car Club Show
All British car show. Friday 6:30pm-9 reception, Saturday 8am-4 show, Sunday 9am drive. 3-awards classes with Premier class of last year's award winners. Pinkerton Park location on hwy 96W off I-65. Contact: Ray McCrary . Phone: 615-331-0169. Email: 1939MGTB@comcast.net. Website: www.nashvillebritishcarclub.org.


October 31-November 1, 2008 Chattanooga, TN. - Southern British Car Club
OCTOBER 31 THRU NOVEMBER 1, 2008 Chattanooga CHOO-CHOO, Chattanooga www.southernbritishcarclub.net Contact: Perky Long. Phone: 423-614-8897. Email: sbcc@wildblue.net.


Rik
 
jbowlby said:
Thanks Ray! Were getting ready for Chattanooga, will you be there?
Click to expand...

Afraid not, Jim...though I would really like to see the two of you again.

Between grandkid's B'day and end of season football/soccer games and oral surgery (wisdom tooth removal) the next month is pretty much a goner.

Ray
 
That would be great! Valve Cover (top view) and air box decals (for the color) 73&74 should be close.
 
Jim,
I'm going to put up several photos here that I think will be of help to you. The first is a high res scan of the dealer brochure for the '73 model; it shows most of the stickers including the blue one on the valve cover. The others are of an original '73 that was offered on Ebay. It was stock and had original stickers in place.

Hope this helps,

Ray
 

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Correction...

The stock '73 photos were actually of a car I photographed a couple years age...I believe in Spartainburg, SC at the Euroautofestival.

What I've noticed in researching this topic is that the export cars and home market cars are tagged differently. AND, there is a lack of consistency in both the inclusion and placement of the stickers.

Ray
 
Thanks again! Yes I noticed in Horler's book pg. 100 the picture on the top of the page is most likley a 71 vintage (green engine?) with both plates on the covers and yellow air box decals. The lower picture is a 73 with the blue BL sticker. The air box decals say "uni part" instead of "cooper". Both cars are RH drive from the location of the throttle cable.
Have you ever seen the blue BL sticker for sale?
 
Jim,
One would ASSUME the BL sticker advertised by Moss is the correct one...but I've not ordered one and cannot verify that. You might try the Tech Support line to be sure this is an appropriate sticker for the valve cover.

The item I'm referring to is #4 here:

https://www.mossmotors.com/Shop/ViewProducts.aspx?PlateIndexID=29053

Be sure this is not the aluminum/silkscreened BL plate for the lower front wings. The price leads me to believe that is what it is.

An alternative might be to scan the BL sticker (could use the aluminum plate as the original), size it based on the photo, and print it on glossy, adhesive backed paper using a color laser or ink jet. Depending on the paper used it might last a week or two, or a year or two. A better idea might be to print it on white plastic film like that used for certain shipping labels or name tags.

...just a thought...

Ray
 
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